Monaco Blast Injures Prominent Ukrainian Businessman Amidst Targeted Attack Concerns
According to the International Desk of Webangah News Agency, Al Jazeera has provided new details regarding the unprecedented explosion that occurred in the Monaco region of France, reporting that three individuals, including prominent Ukrainian businessman Vadim Ermolaev, were injured by a bomb blast in Monaco. Regional officials have described the incident as “deliberate” and “unprecedented.”
Monaco’s Minister of State, Christophe Steiner, stated that a couple in their 50s or 60s sustained severe injuries in the explosion, without specifying their identities. A 13-year-old, likely related to the couple, suffered less serious injuries.
Steiner characterized the event as intentional, noting, “To my knowledge, this is the first time in history that this principality has witnessed such an act.” He added that the public prosecutor would hold a press conference on Tuesday.
Agence France-Presse, citing a source close to the investigation, reported that one of the injured is Ukrainian businessman Vadim Ermolaev. Ermolaev, a resident of Monaco, has been under sanctions from Kyiv since December 2023 due to his business activities in the spirits sector in Crimea, a peninsula annexed by Russia from Ukraine in 2014.
Emergency teams provided first aid to four other individuals who suffered from shock and injuries from shattered window panes caused by the blast.
Details of the Explosion
The explosion occurred around 9 PM local time in a residential building in Monaco, situated on a street bordering France. Agence France-Presse reported a significant security presence in the area and the establishment of a cordon to restrict access.
Stéphane Valeri, the public prosecutor, stated that a suspect placed a bag or package in the building’s lobby before fleeing. He added that there is no indication yet regarding the motive for the attack.
Local and French media outlets released surveillance footage showing a man placing a bag in the building’s lobby and then escaping. Reports indicate that the suspect fled towards the town of Beausoleil in France.
An aide to the French Interior Minister commented that police are working to apprehend the fleeing perpetrator.
Prince Albert II of Monaco described the incident as a “heinous and shocking crime” for the entire community.
