Explosion in Monaco injures Ukrainian oligarch and his family; authorities investigate terrorist lead

On Monday evening, the Principality of Monaco was shaken by a powerful explosion that left three people injured, while authorities have launched an investigation treating the incident as a possible terrorist attack.

Immediately after the incident, police launched a large-scale operation to identify and arrest the suspected perpetrator, who is believed to have fled the scene shortly after the explosion.

According to initial information, the explosion occurred near the entrance to the Cuomo Foundation in the Moulins district. Preliminary suspicions point to a bomb placed on the ground floor of an apartment building. Witnesses said that a few minutes before the blast, a person had left several bags in the area, while investigators are also examining the possibility that an improvised explosive device was used.

The injured are three members of the same family of Ukrainian nationality: a man and a woman around 50-60 years old, as well as their teenage son. The two adults were taken to Pasteur Hospital in Nice, while the minor was transported to Lenval Children’s Hospital. So far, no information has been released about their medical condition.

French media report that the possible target of the attack was Ukrainian businessman Vladimir Ermolaev, together with his wife and son. According to Forbes magazine, Ermolaev ranks 23rd on the list of the 100 richest Ukrainians. However, at this stage, the authorities have not officially confirmed the identity of the person who may have been targeted.

After the explosion, the area was sealed off by numerous police forces and fire crews. Security cameras are believed to have captured a man leaving a backpack in the area shortly before the incident, while the search has also expanded to the neighboring town of Beausoleil, where the suspect is thought to have fled.

Both Monaco’s authorities and emergency services from neighboring France are taking part in the operation. The investigation is continuing to determine the motive for the attack and identify the perpetrator.

The Cuomo Foundation is a charitable organization that operates mainly in North Africa and the Middle East, focusing on education, social development, and support for communities in need.