In a rare and shocking case, a blast went off in a residential building in Monaco, leaving seven people injured.
Who was the target of Monaco's explosion?
According to the authorities, Ukrainian oligarch Vadym Yermolaiev and his family sustained serious injuries and the tycoon was likely the target of the attack.
Yermolaiev and his wife are in critical conditions after the explosion, while a 13-year-old child, who was "likely related to the couple", was also reported to be badly injured.
As per authorities, four other people were suffering from shock and cuts as a result of broken windows.
Two adults and a child were taken to hospitals in France with injuries, minister of state Christophe Mirmand said, who described the blast as a "deliberate explosion".
Details about the Monaco blast
The blast ocurred before 9 p.m. local time after a bag was left outside the entryway of a residence on Rue Révérend Père Louis Frolla, near the border with France.
The unattended package was filled with bolts and metal pellets, along with explosives.
French and Monaco authorities are searching for the attacker, who was seen crossing the border into France on foot and was identified via video surveillance in both Monaco and the neighbouring French town of Beausoleil.
"No event of this nature has ever happened in the Principality before," Mirmand told French news channel BFM TV.
About Vadym Yermolaiev
Vadym Yermolaiev is a Ukrainian businessman and investor and is rated the 23rd richest person in Ukraine by the Focus magazine.
He founded the industrial and trading group Alef, and his fortune was estimated at $220 million in 2021.
Yermolaiev left Ukraine and renounced his Ukrainian citizenship in 2019 and became a citizen of Cyprus.
In 2023, he was placed under Ukrainian sanctions by President Volodymyr Zelensky, who imposed a 10-year sanctions package over allegations tied to his alcohol business operations in Russia-occupied Crimea.
Prince Albert II breaks silence on shocking explosion
Monaco's Prince Albert II released an official statement to address the blast, which he described as a "heinous crime" and a "shock to the entire Monegasque community".
"The criminal explosion that occurred this evening in Monaco has shocked the entire Monegasque community. My thoughts are first and foremost with the victims, their families, and the residents directly affected by this heinous act. Princess Charlene, my family, and I wish to express our deepest sympathy and unwavering support," the statement read.
It further added, "Now more than ever, the Principality of Monaco will remain united and resolute in the face of violence and crime. The security of our community has always been a priority; it will remain so more than ever, regardless of the threats. H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco."
Notably, officials are set to provide more details in a press conference on Tuesday, June 30.
