An explosion at the entrance of a residential building in Monaco injured three people, two of them seriously, officials said.
What do we know so far?
Ukrainian oligarch Vadim Yermolayev was among the injured, AFP news agency reported. Additionally, a woman was also injured; Both he and Yermolayev are in life-threatening condition,
Monaco’s Minister of State Christophe Mirmand said a 13-year-old child, “related to the couple”, was also injured, while four others suffered shock and cuts as a result of broken windows.
Mirmand described the incident as a “deliberate explosion”.
Prince Albert II of Monaco called the incident a “heinous crime” and “a shock to the entire Monegasque community”.
The mayor of Nice, located on the French side of the border with Monaco, expressed solidarity with the emergency services, and called the incident a “tragedy that strikes Monaco”.
According to media reports, the blast resulted from an explosive device consisting of a bolt and buckshot.
French outlet BFMTV reported, citing local security officials, that a man was seen placing a backpack at the scene before fleeing, with CCTV footage showing a man wearing a dark hat running away. Public prosecutor Stéphane Thibault said the suspect had placed the bag in the lobby of the building.
Who is Vadim Yermolayev?
Yermolayev is subject to sanctions by his native Ukraine through December 2023. Ukrainian security services reportedly said the sanctions were imposed because of his alcohol business activity in Russian-occupied Crimea.
The Ukrainian millionaire lives in Monaco.
French authorities have joined forces with their Monaco counterparts to track down the suspect, who is still at large.
Edited by: Wesley Dockery