Lead

A woman is the main suspect in Monday's parcel bomb explosion in Monaco that wounded three people, a judicial source said, and she has been seen in Germany. The attack targeted a Ukrainian-born wealthy businessman, now a Cypriot citizen, according to consistent reports. An arrest warrant has been issued, and an Interpol red notice is being circulated.

Coverage Comparison

Reports from The Guardian and TASS offer different angles on the investigation. The Guardian, citing a judicial source, highlighted the suspect's identity and her reported presence in Germany, and noted that the attack was believed to target Vadim Yermolayev, a Ukrainian-born oligarch. TASS, quoting Monaco's Prosecutor General Stephane Thibault, focused on ruling out a terrorist attack and detailing the legal charges, but did not name a suspect.

The Guardian reported that the suspect, captured on CCTV wearing a black fisher's hat, was believed to be a woman who had tried to pass as a man. France's Le Figaro and BFMTV also reported this, according to The Guardian. TASS articles, while not discussing the suspect's gender, provided details about the victims and the investigation.

Key Claims

  • The explosion occurred at the entrance of a residential building in Monaco on Monday evening, injuring three people who are members of the same family. This was reported by both The Guardian and TASS.
  • The suspect is a woman and has been spotted in Germany, as reported by The Guardian, citing a judicial source.
  • An arrest warrant has been issued, and the suspect will be subject to an Interpol red notice, according to Monaco's prosecutor's office, reported by The Guardian.
  • The investigation rules out a terrorist attack and concerns attempted murder and placement of explosives, as stated by Prosecutor General Stephane Thibault, reported by TASS.
  • The suspect acted alone and left the explosive device at the building's entrance, according to Thibault, reported by TASS. The device was filled with bolts and metal pellets, as per preliminary reports in TASS.
  • One of the victims is Vadim Yermolayev, a Cypriot citizen and former Ukrainian businessperson. TASS cites BFMTV for this identification, while The Guardian says consistent sources point to the same.
  • Ukraine's National Security and Defense Council imposed sanctions against Yermolayev in 2023, as reported by TASS.
  • The victim's condition has been stabilized, except for a woman whose condition had not yet stabilized, according to Prosecutor Thibault, reported by TASS.

Perspectives

Monégasque Prosecutor's Office

Prosecutor General Stephane Thibault has stated that the incident is not believed to be a terrorist attack. He described the investigation as concerning attempted murder and the placement of explosives in a public area. He emphasized that the suspect acted alone and left the device at the building's entrance. Thibault praised the work of police and international cooperation in identifying the suspect.

Judicial Source

A judicial source in Monaco told Reuters, as relayed by The Guardian, that the suspect is a woman who has been spotted in Germany. This information contributes to the ongoing search and arrest efforts, including the Interpol red notice.