Ukrainian billionaire Vadim Yermolayev, 58, and his wife are in critical condition after a bomb exploded in a residential building in Monaco on Monday evening, June 30. A 13-year-old boy also sustained injuries in the attack, which authorities have described as a deliberate explosion.
Details of the Attack
Emergency services were called to rue Révérend-Père-Louis-Frolla at around 9pm local time. Fifty firefighters, including 10 from France, and 84 police officers responded to the scene. The injured were transported to hospitals in Nice, while four other people were treated at Princess Grace Hospital for shock or minor injuries.
Prince Albert II, who cut short a visit to Germany following the incident, described the explosion as 'a shock to the entire Monégasque community.' Monaco's Minister of State Christophe Mirmand confirmed it was a 'deliberate explosion.'
Suspect Hunt
CCTV footage shows a suspect dumping a backpack near the explosion site before fleeing on foot towards Beausoleil, a town just across the French border. French authorities are assisting Monaco in the hunt for the suspect. Access points to the principality were immediately secured, and a judicial investigation has been opened.
Victims
Yermolayev is the 23rd richest man in Ukraine according to Forbes and is understood to have fled Ukraine following the Russian invasion in 2022. The six unoccupied apartments in the targeted building were secured by authorities.
Official Statements
Prince Albert II praised the response of Monaco's public security forces and confirmed they would work closely with French authorities. He said: 'My thoughts go first to the victims, their loved ones and the residents directly affected by this odious act. Princess Charlene, my family and I wish to express our compassion and unwavering support. More than ever, the Principality of Monaco will remain united and determined in the face of violence and crime.'
The Government of Monaco described the incident as a 'violent explosion' and confirmed that forensic police teams collected evidence until late in the evening. The Prosecutor General is expected to release initial details of the investigation later on Tuesday.
