Police from Monaco and France are hunting a suspect after a powerful explosion ripped through a residential building in the principality on Monday evening, leaving three Ukrainian members of the same family in a critical condition in what local officials have described as a terror attack.
The blast occurred at around 9pm on Rue du Révérend Père Louis Frolla, with CCTV footage reportedly showing a suspect dumping a backpack at the location shortly before the explosion. Three people were injured, two of them seriously. Monaco prosecutor Thibault Stéphane told Le Figaro that two of the victims were in critical condition, confirming that bomb disposal experts and judicial police officers were at the scene. All three victims are understood to be Ukrainian nationals from the same family.
Monaco has activated what is known as a “red plan” in response to the incident — a pre-established emergency protocol designed to mobilise a graduated increase in resources in response to events resulting in multiple casualties, according to the Principality of Monaco’s official website.
Eric Ciotti, Mayor of neighbouring Nice, was unequivocal in how he characterised the incident. “The attack carried out this evening is a tragedy that strikes Monaco,” he wrote on X. “Thoughts for the victims, their families, and the people of Monaco. Total support for the security forces and emergency services mobilised.”
The identity of the suspect and the motive behind the attack remain unknown at this stage as the joint French and Monégasque police operation continues.
