Monaco CCTV footage shows suspect flee as manhunt launched | World | News
CCTV footage shows suspect fleeing on foot after horror attack in Monaco (Image: CCTV)
A terrifying explosion in Monaco has triggered a police investigation after a man fled on foot after a makeshift bomb went off, injuring three people.
The explosion occurred at around 21:00 on Monday, June 29, in Rue Reverend-Pere-Louis-Frolla, the most important center of the holiday.
CCTV footage shows a man dressed in a black hat and jumper throwing a backpack at the entrance of a block of flats before leaving the scene in a hurry.
According to Monaco’s chief prosecutor, Thibault Stéphane, two of the victims are in critical condition.
One of the victims has been confirmed locally as Ukrainian oligarch Vadim Ermolaev.
The 58-year-old is ranked as one of Ukraine’s richest men and made his fortune as a property developer before leaving the country with his family.
Police launched an investigation after the attack (Image: Getty)
According to reports, Ermolaev became a Cypriot citizen in 2019, and in December 2023, Ukraine imposed sanctions on him, including asset restrictions.
It is thought that a young man and his wife were injured in the “intentional explosion”.
The two adults were taken to Hospital Pasteur in Nice for treatment, along with the young victim who was treated at the scene.
The Monégasque government claimed that the incident was a “malicious act”.
Monaco’s Minister of State, Christophe Mirmand, told AFP that at first the explosion appeared to be an “attack” but later dropped the term, describing it as a “deliberate explosion”; The explosive device probably contained bolts and pellets.
“The police are currently investigating. As far as I know, this is the first time in history that such an action has occurred in the Principality,” Mirmand said.
Locally, 58-year-old Vadim Ermolaev was named as one of the victims (Image: undefined)
Following the incident, extensive security measures were taken in the region and work was initiated to capture the suspect.
Mr Mirmand said the suspect crossed the border into France on foot and was identified through video surveillance in Monaco and the neighboring French town of Beausoleil.
Eric Ciotti, mayor of neighboring Nice, commented on the incident about
Local residents described the attack as a ‘fireworks display’.
“I thought to myself, this is just another firework and pretty soon I started getting messages to see how I was doing,” Marine Cotta told BFMTV.
He said he learned about the incident from social media.
Marine added: “I could hear the police, the alarms, the firefighters, and then I thought, okay, something’s going on.”
