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A parcel bomb exploded in a residential building in Monaco on Monday evening, wounding three people, including Ukrainian oligarch Vadym Yermolaiev. The blast, which occurred at about 9pm local time on a street along the border with France, has been described by authorities as a deliberate act.

Coverage Comparison

The Guardian and the South China Morning Post both reported the incident, with slight differences in emphasis. The Guardian highlighted the unprecedented nature of the attack in the principality, while the South China Morning Post focused on the official description of the explosion as "deliberate." Both outlets cited a source close to the investigation who named Yermolaiev as one of the wounded.

Prince Albert II of Monaco called the incident a "heinous crime" and "a shock to the entire Monegasque community," as reported by The Guardian. The South China Morning Post quoted Monaco's Minister of State, Christophe Mirmand, who initially called it "an attack" before later describing it as a "deliberate explosion." An aide to France's Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said police were working to find the perpetrator, who has fled, according to both outlets.

Key Claims

  • A parcel bomb blast wounded Ukrainian oligarch Vadym Yermolaiev and two others in Monaco on Monday, as reported by both The Guardian and the South China Morning Post.
  • The explosion occurred at about 9pm in a residential building on a street along the border with France, as reported by both outlets.
  • A couple in their 50s or 60s suffered life-threatening injuries, while a 13-year-old suffered less serious injuries, according to Monaco's Minister of State, Christophe Mirmand, as reported by The Guardian. The teenager was "very likely related" to the pair, Mirmand added.
  • About 50 firefighters and 80 security personnel were deployed at the scene, according to The Guardian, which also reported that the explosive device apparently contained bolts and buckshot.
  • The public prosecutor, Stephane Thibault, said a suspect had left a bag or package in the building's lobby before leaving, as reported by both outlets.
  • Yermolaiev has been subject to sanctions from Kyiv since December 2023, as reported by The Guardian.
An AFP photographer at the scene saw a heavy police presence with access to the area cordoned off, while a helicopter circled overhead, according to The Guardian. The Monaco government said the explosion was caused by a "parcel bomb," and a suspect was seen on video surveillance fleeing towards the municipality of Beausoleil in France, as reported by The Guardian. Mirmand said witnesses had provided information to identify the suspect, and emergency services treated four other people for shock and cuts from shattered windows, according to the same report.