A powerful blast in central Monaco injured at least three people, two critically. Authorities suspect a deliberate attack; the suspect fled on foot.
11:43 PM
A powerful explosion struck the Principality of Monaco on Monday evening, wounding at least three people, two of them in critical condition, authorities said.
The blast occurred shortly before 21:00 local time on Rue Révérend Père Louis Frolla, a street near the French border. Surveillance cameras captured an unidentified man leaving a backpack at the entrance of a residential building as several people were entering. The suspect then fled on foot toward the neighboring French town of Beausoleil.
The three victims are members of the same Ukrainian family. Two adults, aged between 50 and 60, are in critical condition and in danger of life, according to authorities. A 13-year-old boy was also injured. All three were transported to hospitals in Nice, according to Monaco-Matin.
Christophe Mirmand, Monaco's Minister of State, told AFP that the explosion was "very probably a terrorist attack." He added that the explosive device likely contained bolts and ammunition. "The police are conducting the investigation," Mirmand said.
Prosecutor Stéphane Thibault stated that a suspect left a bag or package in the building's entrance hall before departing. At the time of reporting, no information had emerged indicating why the building may have been targeted, the prosecutor added.
The explosion was powerful enough to be heard several blocks away from the location. The Monegasque government characterized the incident as an "intentional attack."
Mirmand noted that, to his knowledge, this was the first time such an act had occurred in the Principality's history.
The suspect remains at large.
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