An explosion in Monaco on Monday evening has left three people injured, including Ukrainian billionaire oligarch Vadim Ermolaev, according to local reports. The blast occurred shortly after 9pm on June 29 on Rue du Révérend Père Louis Frolla, a residential street in the principality.
All three victims are believed to be Ukrainian. Alongside Ermolaev, the injured include a woman in her 50s or 60s and a teenage boy. Ermolaev, one of Ukraine's wealthiest men, is understood to have fled the country following the recent outbreak of conflict with Russia.
Suspect at Large After Backpack Bomb
Monaco police are actively hunting a suspect who remains at large. According to French media, CCTV footage captured a man depositing a backpack at the entrance of a residential building shortly before the explosion. The suspect is described as wearing a black long-sleeved top, a bucket hat, and khaki bottoms, based on images circulating on social media. No official identification has been released.
Security cameras tracked the suspect moving through Monaco and into the neighboring French commune of Beausoleil. Officers from the Nice Anti-Crime Squad, along with emergency response units from Nice and Menton, have been deployed to reinforce the Beausoleil area.
Authorities Describe 'Likely Attack'
Monaco's Minister of State has described the incident as "likely to be an attack," adding that the explosive device is thought to have contained bolts and shrapnel. "Police services are currently gathering evidence," he said. "To my knowledge, this is the first time in history that such an act has occurred in the Principality."
The explosion caused panic in the usually tranquil city-state, known for its luxury and safety. The injured were taken to local hospitals, and their conditions have not been disclosed.
