Monaco Bombing: Police Hunt Suspect After Deliberate Explosion Wounds Three
Monaco police and their French counterparts are hunting for a suspect after a makeshift bomb detonated in a residential building in the Mediterranean principality on Monday evening, injuring three people, including a teenager, officials confirmed Tuesday. The attack sent shockwaves through one of Europe’s smallest and wealthiest sovereign states, shattering Monaco’s reputation as one of the safest jurisdictions on the continent and prompting a coordinated cross-border manhunt.
Explosion Rocks Wealthy Riviera Enclave
The blast struck at approximately 9 p.m. local time (19:00 GMT) on Monday in a residential building in central Monaco, the tiny city-state nestled on the French Riviera between France and the Mediterranean Sea. Monaco’s Minister of State Christophe Mirmand initially described the incident to AFP as “an attack,” but later dropped that term, calling it instead a “deliberate explosion.” Three people were wounded: a couple in their 50s or 60s sustained life-threatening injuries, while a 13-year-old who authorities say was “very likely related to the couple” suffered less serious wounds. Ukrainian oligarch Vadym Yermolaiev, a multimillionaire Monaco resident, was also among those injured, according to a source close to the investigation who spoke to AFP on condition of anonymity.
Device Contained Bolts and Buckshot
Investigators said the improvised explosive device appeared to contain bolts and buckshot, suggesting an intent to maximize casualties beyond the initial blast. Monaco’s public prosecutor, Stéphane Thibault, said the suspect left a bag or package in the building’s lobby before departing. French newspaper Le Figaro reported that surveillance camera footage showed a man dropping a backpack at the entrance of the residential building shortly before the explosion. Monaco’s Prince Albert II swiftly condemned the act, describing it as a “heinous crime” and “a shock to the entire Monegasque community.” A French Interior Ministry aide told reporters that police were working urgently to locate and apprehend the fleeing perpetrator.
Historic Attack for the Riviera Haven
“This is the first time in history, to my knowledge, that such an act has taken place in the principality,” Minister Mirmand told AFP. Monaco, a sovereign microstate of fewer than 40,000 residents, is globally known as a sanctuary for billionaires, luxury yachts, and high-net-worth individuals, and boasts one of the lowest crime rates in Europe. The attack marks a jarring departure from that reputation and has rattled residents and officials alike. An AFP photographer at the scene described a heavy police presence with the surrounding area cordoned off and a helicopter circling overhead well into Tuesday morning. The nature of the device, packed with ball bearings, is particularly concerning to investigators, who say it points to a deliberate effort to cause indiscriminate harm.
Investigation Underway as Police Search Widens
Monaco’s police are coordinating closely with French national authorities given the principality’s shared border with France and the suspect’s probable flight into French territory. Yermolaiev, identified by Ukrainian security services as the subject of sanctions stemming from alleged alcohol business activity in Russian-occupied Crimea since December 2023, adds an international dimension to the case that investigators are now examining. His involvement has raised questions about whether the attack was politically motivated, though prosecutors have declined to confirm whether he was a specific target. French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez’s office said cooperation between Monaco and Paris was fluid and ongoing, with border checkpoints reinforced but not formally closed.
What Happens Next
Police have released surveillance footage to the public and are urging anyone with information to come forward. French and Monegasque investigators are reviewing additional camera footage from the surrounding area and cross-checking border crossings. Monaco’s government has not declared a state of emergency but has significantly boosted visible security patrols across the principality. A fuller picture of the suspect’s identity and motive is expected once prosecutors release their next official statement, which officials say could come within 48 hours.
