Man arrested in Paris after police cordon off Iranian consulate due to reported bomb threat - as it happened

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Summary of the day

• At least eight people were killed in a Russian missile attack on the Dnipropetrovsk region.

• Ukraine's foreign minister, Dmytro Kuleba, said two children were among those killed.

• Ukraine said it shot down a Russian Tu-22M3 strategic bomber for the first time.

• In a joint statement, foreign ministers from G7 countries reiterated their support for Kyiv.

• Two people have been detained in Poland on suspicion of attacking Leonid Volkov, an aide to the late Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda told reporters.

• Donald Tusk, the Polish prime minister, said that a Belarusian working for the Russians who is suspected of ordering two Poles to assassinate Alexei Navalny's aide has been detained.

• Asked about US aid for Ukraine, the secretary of state, Antony Blinken, said "most important thing is getting this aid voted and moving it forward."

• Blinken also added: "Is it too late? No. If it happens now, it's not too late. If it doesn't happen, or takes a lot more time, there is a real risk that yes, it will be too late."

• The European Council president, Charles Michel, sent a public message to Donald Trump, saying "the numbers speak for themselves. EU contribution to Ukraine: €143 billion ($150 billion)."

• During a visit to Finland, which had closed its border crossings with Russia, the European Commission president, Ursula von der Leyen, spoke of the instrumentalisation of migration, and said "I'm here to tell you that the European Union is there to support you in your efforts."

• The Finnish prime minister, Petteri Orpo, asked for EU assistance.

• French police arrested a man who had threatened to blow himself up at Iran's consulate in Paris.

Donald Tusk, the Polish prime minister, said that a Belarusian working for the Russians who is suspected of ordering two Poles to assassinate Alexei Navalny's aide has been detained.

Niedoszły zamachowiec na prezydenta Zelenskiego, Polak działający w porozumieniu z rosyjskimi służbami - aresztowany 2 dni temu. Białorusin pracujący dla Rosjan, który zlecił dwóm Polakom zamach na współpracownika Nawalnego - zatrzymany. Zamachowcy też już w areszcie. Powiązani…

— Donald Tusk (@donaldtusk) April 19, 2024

Man arrested in Iran consulate incident

French police arrested a man who had threatened to blow himself up at Iran's consulate in Paris, police said, Reuters reported.

A police source had told Reuters the man was seen at about 11 am (0900 GMT) entering the consulate, carrying what appeared to be a grenade and explosive vest.

The man exited the consulate and was not actually carrying explosives, a police source said.

"Americans are advised to avoid the area and follow instructions from local authorities," the US embassy in Paris said.

#SecurityAlert Paris authorities request people stay away from the vicinity of the Iranian diplomatic mission in Paris' 16 arrondissement in light of the ongoing security operation. Americans are advised to avoid the area and follow instructions from local authorities. Please… pic.twitter.com/DNvgv9zpvB

— U.S. Embassy France (@USEmbassyFrance) April 19, 2024

BFMTV reports that a man entered the Iranian consulate in Paris saying that he has explosives and wants to avenge his brother.

French police cordon off Iranian consulate

French police cordoned off the Iranian consulate in Paris, where a man was threatening to blow himself up, Reuters reported citing French media.

'Real risk' it'll be too late for Ukraine if aid doesn't come, Blinken says

Asked about US aid for Ukraine, the secretary of state, Antony Blinken, said "most important thing is getting this aid voted and moving it forward."

"Is it too late? No. If it happens now, it's not too late. If it doesn't happen, or takes a lot more time, there is a real risk that yes, it will be too late," he said.

At least 29 people were injured in Italy when a ferry carrying people from the island of Capri collided with a quay in Naples, Reuters reported.

G7 ministers reaffirm 'unwavering determination to support democratic Ukraine'

In a joint statement today, foreign ministers from G7 countries reiterated their support for Kyiv.

"We, the G7 Foreign Ministers of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States of America, and the High Representative of the European Union, strongly condemn Russia's ongoing war of aggression against Ukraine. We reaffirm our unwavering determination to support democratic Ukraine," they said.

They added:

We express our resolve in particular to bolster Ukraine's air defense capabilities to save lives and protect critical infrastructure. We will also work with partners towards this end. In this context we appreciate the Immediate Action for Air Defense Initiative (IAAD) proposed by Germany.

The ministers also said:

We will continue to explore all possible avenues to aid Ukraine in obtaining compensation from Russia, consistent with our respective legal systems and international law. As requested by Leaders, we will continue our work and advise ahead of the Apulia Summit on all possible avenues and feasible options by which immobilized Russian sovereign assets could be made use of to support Ukraine, consistent with our respective legal systems and international law.

Blinken holds press conference after G7 summit in Italy

'Let's get the facts straight', Michel tells Trump

The European Council president, Charles Michel, has sent a public message to Donald Trump.

"Let's get the facts straight. The numbers speak for themselves. EU contribution to Ukraine: €143 billion ($150 billion)," he said.

.@realDonaldTrump, don't be intimidated by Putin. We aren't.

Let's get the facts straight.

The numbers speak for themselves.

EU contribution to Ukraine: €143 billion ($150 billion).

— Charles Michel (@CharlesMichel) April 19, 2024

Ukraine's foreign minister, Dmytro Kuleba, said two children were among those killed in Dnipropetrovsk region this morning.

"This horror once again underscores how urgent is the provision of additional air defense systems and missiles and how necessary are the decisions we discussed yesterday at the G7 ministerial," he said.

A horrific Russian air strike on the Dnipropetrovsk region this morning. Two children are among those killed. A 14-year-old girl and a 8-year-old boy. Another 6-year-old boy was saved in the hospital.

The brutality of Russian terror against ordinary people, including innocent… pic.twitter.com/nuzdWjkz3z

— Dmytro Kuleba (@DmytroKuleba) April 19, 2024