Monaco: A parcel bomb explosion in Monaco has injured a Ukrainian oligarch and two other people in what officials described as an unprecedented attack in the normally secure principality.
The blast occurred at around 9 pm inside the lobby of a residential building near Monaco’s border with France. According to a source familiar with the investigation, one of the injured was Ukrainian businessman Vadym Yermolaiev.
Monaco’s Minister of State, Christophe Mirmand, said that a couple believed to be in their 50s or 60s sustained life-threatening injuries, while a 13-year-old, believed to be related to them, suffered less serious wounds. Four additional people received treatment for shock and minor injuries caused by shattered glass.
Authorities reported that the explosion was triggered by a parcel bomb that had been left in the building’s entrance. Public prosecutor Stephane Thibault noted that the investigators believe a suspect deposited a bag or package in the lobby before fleeing the scene.
Surveillance footage reportedly captured the individual escaping towards the neighbouring French town of Beausoleil. Officials highlighted that the witnesses had provided information that could help identify the suspect. Mirmand added that the explosive device appeared to contain bolts and buckshot, increasing its destructive impact.
Around 50 firefighters and 80 security personnel responded to the scene, while police sealed off the area and a helicopter monitored the operation from above.
Monaco’s head of state, Prince Albert II, condemned the attack as a ‘heinous crime’ and described it as “a shock to the entire Monegasque community.” An aide to French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez stated that the French and Monegasque authorities were working together to locate the suspect, who remains at large.
Officials highlighted that there is currently no indication why the building was targeted. Mirmand noted that intelligence agencies are examining the victims’ backgrounds to determine whether others could face similar threats.
Yermolaiev, a multimillionaire who resides in Monaco, has been under Ukrainian sanctions since December 2023. Reports have linked the sanctions to his alcohol business activities in Russian-occupied Crimea.
Describing the incident as unprecedented, Mirmand stated that it was the first known attack of its kind in Monaco’s history. The public prosecutor is expected to provide further updates as the investigation continues.
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