Three people have been injured following a major explosion in Monaco this evening – two of them critically.
A suspect is on the run after being seen on CCTV dumping a backpack on Rue du Révérend Père Louis Frolla. The street is located on the border with France.
The blast, which has been described as an ‘attack’, occurred at around 9pm. Three people have been injured, two critically.
The victims are a couple in their 50s and 60s as well as a 13-year-old boy, who is less seriously injured. They are Ukrainian, and said to be from the same family.
The explosive device likely contained bolts and shot, officials said. The suspect fled on foot towards the town of Beausoleil, which a Brit resident of Monaco explained “is just over the border into France”. They told the Mirror: “I imagine he has just disappeared into France.”
New UpdatesView PostView PostView PostView PostView PostView PostView PostView PostToday22:57 BST
The blast occurred shortly before 9pm.
Tannur AndersToday22:56 BST
The suspect remains at large following the explosion in Monaco but he has been tracked using security cameras making his way through Monaco and to Beausoleil.
Police officers from the Nice Anti-Crime Squad (BAC), as well as emergency response units from Nice and Menton, have been sent to reinforce the Beausoleil area.
A police cordon in place following the explosion(Image: AFP via Getty Images)
Monaco’s Minister of State Christophe Mirmand told AFP that the explosive device is believed to have contained “bolts and shot” which would have been designed to cause maximum injuries.
“The explosive device likely contained bolts and pellets,” he said. “The police are currently gathering evidence.”
The incident happened outside a residential property(Image: X)
Today22:45 BST
French rescue teams are helping Monaco emergency services following the explosion.
“Following the explosion this evening in Monaco, French rescue teams are on site to reinforce the operation and police cooperation has been put in place to find the perpetrator who fled,” a source close to Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said, reported TF1.
Emergency services at the scene(Image: X)
Monaco’s head of state, Christophe Mirmand says: “The police are currently gathering evidence.
“This is the first time in history, to my knowledge, that such an act has occurred in the Principality.”
Tim HanlonToday22:31 BST
Charles Ange Ginésy, President of the Alpes-Maritimes Council, wrote on X: “In the face of the attack that occurred in Monaco this evening, I express my deep solidarity with the victims, their families, and the people of Monaco.
“I also extend my support to the security forces and emergency services engaged on the ground.”
Tim Hanlon
Today22:29 BST
The victims are a couple in their 50s and 60s, both in critical condition, and a 13-year-old boy “likely connected to the couple” and less seriously injured, Mirmand said.
Local sites earlier reported they all came from the same Ukrainian family.
Ethan BlackshawToday22:25 BST
Monaco’s Minister of State, Christophe Mirmand, told AFP: “This is likely an attack.”
The explosive device likely contained bolts and shot, he added. “
The police are currently investigating… This is the first time in history, to my knowledge, that such an act has occurred in the Principality.”
Ethan BlackshawToday22:25 BST
The suspect ran off in the direction of Beausolei which is just over the border in France, says a British resident in Monaco.
Talking to The Mirror she explained: “The road where the explosion happened is about 20 minutes away from where we are and he has gone to the neighbouring town of Beausolei which is just over the border into France basically.
“So I imagine has has just disappeared into France. A lot of people live there and maybe spend their lives in Monaco because it is cheaper there.”
Tim Hanlon
Today22:21 BST
A British resident living in Monaco has told of the “commotion” at the police station following the explosion.
She told The Mirror: “We live next door to the police station so we are overlooking it. It all began at around 9pm when we saw lots of police in the street. First of all we heard a big commotion outside and then there was a procession of police cars heading off.
“Everything is on high alert at the police station. There are now two armed police outside who are being ultra-cautious, they are checking everyone who is going past.”
According to local reports the suspect fled towards the neighbouring town of Beausoleil, which the Brit explained “is just over the border into France”.
They added: “I imagine he has just disappeared into France.”
Tim HanlonToday22:18 BST
National Councillor and lawyer Régis Bergonzi shared a photo from the scene saying “we stand with the victims of this tragedy”.
He wrote on Instagram: “Big explosion in Monaco tonight near plaza des Moulins, after our legislative session.
“We all stand with the victims of this tragedy, their families, and our emergency services—firefighters and police officers—who responded in record time to provide assistance.”
Tim HanlonToday22:11 BST
Monaco prosecutor Thibault Stéphane told Le Figaro that two of the victims are in critical condition. He added that bomb disposal experts and judicial police officers are on the scene.
The site also reported that the victims were Ukrainian and all from the same family.
Ethan Blackshaw
Today22:04 BST
According to a police source speaking to BFMTV, the “red plan” has been activated in Monaco.
The red plan is “a pre-established action strategy for a sudden event resulting in, or likely to result in, numerous casualties. It allows for a gradual increase in resources depending on the number of victims”, according to the website of the Principality of Monaco.
Ethan BlackshawToday21:58 BST
The explosion occurred at a residential building on Rue du Révérend Père Louis Frolla at around 9pm.
Ethan BlackshawToday21:55 BST
The victims of the explosion in Monaco are Ukrainian, according to French police.
Ethan Blackshaw
Today21:53 BST
Armed police can be seen in the street following the explosion on Rue Révérend Père Louis Frolla in Monaco.
Tim HanlonToday21:49 BST
The suspect was seen fleeing on foot towards the neighbouring town of Beausoleil, according to local reports.
Ethan BlackshawToday21:45 BST
Police have reportedly said a man was seen leaving two bags outside the building at around 9pm before the explosion went off.
The incident occurred in a residential building on Rue du Révérend Père Louis Frolla.
Tim Hanlon
Today21:42 BST
Firefighters are at the scene including a crew from the Alpes-Maritimes are who have been called in as reinforcements.
A suspect is reported to have fled on foot towards Beausoleil shortly before the explosion as people were entering the building.
Tim HanlonToday21:37 BST
A man is suspected of leaving a backpack by the doors of a building at about 9pm on Rue Révérend Père Louis Frolla, in Monaco.
The incident has been described by the local government as a “deliberate” act.
Tim HanlonToday21:36 BST
Officials say three people have been injured.
Two of them are said to have been seriously hurt.
Ethan Blackshaw
Today21:33 BST
Eric Ciotti, Mayor of Nice, which is just 12 miles from Monaco, said on X: “The attack carried out this evening is a tragedy that strikes Monaco.
“Thoughts for the victims, their families, and the people of Monaco. Total support for the security forces and emergency services mobilised.”