Monaco’s Minister of State Christophe Mirmand has described Monday evening’s explosion as “in all likelihood an attack”, saying it is the first such act in the Principality’s history to his knowledge.
The victims are a couple aged between 50 and 60, both in a critical condition, and a 13-year-old child believed to be connected to them who sustained less serious injuries. The device, which contained bolts and metal pellets, was placed in the entrance hall of a residential building between the boulevard d’Italie and the rue Révérend-Père-Louis-Frolla, exploding at around 21h00.
Prosecutor general Stéphane Thibault confirmed that bomb disposal experts and judicial police officers are at the scene, and said nothing immediately indicates why the building was targeted. A man seen on CCTV depositing the bag remains at large. French and Monégasque authorities are cooperating in the search, a source close to the Interior Minister confirmed.
Political figures across the region have expressed solidarity, including Nice mayor Eric Ciotti, Alpes-Maritimes prefect Charles-Ange Ginésy, Région Sud president Renaud Muselier and MP Alexandra Martin.
News.mc will continue to follow this story as it develops.