A Ukrainian-born business tycoon, Vadym Yermolaiev, his wife and their teenage child have been severely injured after a parcel bomb exploded in their apartment in France.
The explosion occurred after a suspect allegedly left the explosive-laden package at the building’s entrance, leading to the number of injured victims who were rushed to hospital.
Authorities disclosed that the mishap happened at about 9 p.m. on Monday after which they also disclosed that the device, believed to have been packed with bolts and buckshot, caused extensive damage and triggered a manhunt after CCTV footage captured the suspect fleeing toward the French border.
Reports also made know that the incident which happened in Monaco lrf to four other people treated for shock and minor cuts caused by shattered glass from the explosion.
Images circulating online showed significant damage to the entrance of the upscale residential building, with debris scattered across the lobby. Surveillance footage released by investigators reportedly captured the suspected bomber leaving the scene moments after the explosion.
French media also published a still image of the suspect, who was seen wearing a dark top and a bucket hat, as police intensified efforts to identify and apprehend the individual.
Confirming the incident on Tuesday, Prince Albert II condemned the attack as “an odious act” and assured residents that all of Monaco’s security services had been fully mobilised to track down those responsible and determine the motive behind the bombing.
Monaco’s Minister of State, Christophe Mirmand, described the incident as unprecedented in the country’s history and called for “extreme vigilance” as investigators worked to establish the circumstances surrounding the attack.
“To my knowledge, this is the first time in history that such an act has taken place in the principality,” Mirmand told a press conference.
He said preliminary investigations indicated that the explosive device had been packed with bolts and buckshot, suggesting it was designed to inflict maximum casualties. Authorities have yet to establish a motive for the attack or confirm whether the businessman was specifically targeted, while investigators in Monaco and neighbouring France continue to search for the suspect.