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Monaco’s Minister of State Christophe Mirmand told AFP that the blast at a residential building was very likely an attack and that police had opened an investigation. The explosion took place around 21:00 local time after a bag was left at the entrance on Rue Révérend Père Louis Frolla. Mirmand added that the device appeared to contain bolts and pellets, and he described the event as unprecedented in the principality.
French media and the AP reported that the victims included a Ukrainian magnate, his partner and a related 13-year-old, with the couple in their 50s or 60s sustaining critical injuries while the child suffered less serious wounds. All three were transported to hospitals in France for treatment. One report identified the businessman as Vadim Ermolaev, one of Ukraine’s richest men.
Public prosecutor Stephane Thibault stated a suspect had placed the bag in the lobby before fleeing on foot into France, prompting a joint manhunt with French authorities. CCTV footage from the area captured the individual departing immediately after leaving the package. No immediate motive has been established for targeting the building, according to the prosecutor.
Prince Albert II called the incident an odious act and said all national services were mobilized to maintain security, according to AP reports on the reaction from Monaco’s leader. The unusual attack stunned the elite Mediterranean principality, which rarely sees such violence. Mirmand, the head of government, told AFP this was the first time in his knowledge that such an act had taken place in Monaco.
The response included rapid deployment of police and emergency personnel to secure the scene near the French border for forensic work. Cooperation between Monegasque and French forces has intensified since the suspect crossed into the neighboring country. Officials continue to examine evidence from the explosive device as the search proceeds.
Investigators have not ruled out any possibilities while reviewing the background of the targeted family and potential links to broader regional tensions. The incident has focused attention on security protocols in a jurisdiction that prides itself on safety for its affluent residents and visitors. Updates on the condition of the injured and the status of the manhunt are expected in the coming days.
