Monaco Identifies Suspect in Bombing; Possibly a Woman

Monaco authorities announced on Thursday that they have identified the person suspected of carrying out the bombing on Monday evening in the vestibule of a residential building near the French border. The explosion injured three people—a couple and a 13-year-old teenager. According to reliable sources, the attack was targeted at Ukrainian-born businessman Vadym Yermolayev, now a Cypriot citizen, as well as his partner and son.

French media outlets "Le Figaro" and BFMTV reported that the suspect, seen on surveillance cameras wearing a black fisherman's hat, is believed to be a woman who attempted to disguise herself as a man. Monaco prosecutor Stéphane Thibault did not confirm this in his statement but announced a press conference for Friday.

The prosecutor praised Monaco's police forces and effective international cooperation that enabled the rapid identification of the suspect. A judicial investigation has been opened for attempted murder, and three investigating judges have been assigned to the case.

Yermolayev, a resident of Monaco since at least 2021, has been under Ukrainian sanctions since December 2023 for operating an alcohol trading business in Russian-occupied Crimea. He reportedly paid taxes to Russia even after the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Following the attack, the two adults were taken to Nice University Hospital in life-threatening condition, while the teenager was hospitalized at Lenval Children's Hospital in Nice. By Wednesday, the businessman's condition was no longer life-threatening, but his partner's condition remained unstable.