Blasts at French Petrochemical Plant Appear 'Malicious'

Two explosions which sparked huge fires at a petrochemical plant in southern France early Tuesday are believed to have been the result of a "malicious act", sources said.

Police said no-one was injured in the explosions that happened in Berre-l'Etang near Marseille-Marignane airport at 3:00 am (0100 GMT).

Two tanks full of petrol and naphtha -- a flammable liquid distilled from petroleum -- caught fire after the blasts and a thick cloud of smoke was visible several kilometers away.

The fire in the first tank of petrol was extinguished fairly quickly, but firefighters only managed to put out the second blaze by late morning using foam, local authorities said.

The plant is operated by chemical firm LyondellBasell, which said the fires were not toxic.

A source close to the case said investigators believed the explosions were the result of "a malicious act."

"The probability that these two fires in tanks 500 meters (1,640 feet) apart could be accidental is very low. Investigators are leaning towards the theory of a voluntary act," another informed source said.

Prosecutors have opened a probe into the incident.

Asked whether there was any link with the theft earlier this month of explosives and detonators from a military base some 30 kilometers (19 miles) away, local official Jean-Marc Senateur said it was too early to tell.

Thieves broke into a vast army logistics base in Miramas overnight on July 5, stealing at least 150 detonators and a stock of plastic explosives.

The facility, which houses some 200 soldiers, is used to stockpile weapons for foreign missions, such as those in Africa.

The thieves have still not been caught.