Two explosions at a petrochemical plant in southern France early Tuesday that started potentially catastrophic fires are believed to have been the result of a "criminal act", French interior minister Bernard Cazeneuve said Wednesday, reports FRANCE 24.
“The initial evidence that has been communicated demonstrates that it was in fact caused by a criminal act, the motive of which has not been established,” Cazeneuve said.
The fires broke out on Tuesday after two tanks exploded at a plant owned by the company LyondellBasell Industries in the small town of Berre-l’Etang, northwest of Marseille. No one was injured in the blasts.
The interior minister added that prosecutors would give more details later on Wednesday.
Earlier in the day, French media quoted a source close to the investigation as saying that debris from an electronic device had been found at the plant site, and was being analysed to see if it were capable of triggering a fire.
“Investigators have found elements that could constitute, if they are identified as such, a pyrotechnic chain,” the source said.
“These elements were found not far from one of the two tanks [that exploded] but not in its immediate proximity. At this stage, we can’t yet confirm that it is an explosive device,” the source added.
The fires came a week after explosives, detonators and 40 grenades were stolen from an army base in the nearby town of Miramas. So far, however, there was no evidence of a link between them and the thefts.