Explosion in Monaco: Manhunt for Suspect, Clues About Escape Route and Preparation

Monaco – 02.07.2026: After the explosion in front of a residential building in the principality at the end of June, authorities are investigating attempted murder. Three people were seriously injured, including a businessman with ties to Ukraine, his partner and a teenager. A terrorist motive has not been established so far, according to the public prosecutor’s office. The search for a fleeing suspect continues. A person initially detained has been released.

According to consistent reports, investigators are examining extensive video and surveillance material. According to these accounts, the alleged perpetrator is said to have crossed the nearby border into France on foot immediately after the detonation and left the principality’s territory towards Beausoleil. Reconstructing the route taken, the placement of the package in front of the building entrance and the subsequent flight is considered a central element of the investigation. Authorities are relying on footage from the vicinity of the scene as well as on private cameras along the suspected route.

Cooperation between Monaco and France has been intensified, according to the public prosecutor’s office. Responsible on the Monegasque side is the Parquet général; on the French side police authorities on the Côte d’Azur are providing support. Because the scene of the incident is only a few steps from the border, the teams are using established mechanisms of cross-border legal assistance, such as the rapid exchange of image material, forensic reports and witness statements. Investigators are also checking whether the suspect carried out possible reconnaissance at the building before the attack.

Among the injured is a businessman whose condition has stabilized, according to official statements. His partner remains in critical condition. Authorities did not give names. Several media outlets, however, identified the man as Vadim Ermolaev, an entrepreneur known in the region. The injured teenager has reportedly been questioned. There are no official details about the construction of the explosive device or a possible triggering mechanism; investigations into the type of explosive used are ongoing.

Investigators are asking the public for information, in particular about observations on the night of the incident in the area of the scene and along the suspected escape route. At the same time, traffic and mobile phone data are being analyzed to help verify the perpetrator’s movement patterns before and after the explosion. So far there is no reliable information about an instigator or a clear motive. Authorities emphasize that every lead is being carefully examined and that speculation should be avoided.