Police in Monaco and neighboring France are actively searching for a man suspected of detonating a makeshift bomb in the heart of the wealthy Mediterranean principality, an incident that seriously injured three people.

The explosion occurred around 9 p.m. local time on Monday in the lobby of a residential building in Monaco, a micro-state renowned as a sanctuary for the ultra-wealthy. Authorities described the incident as a "deliberate explosion."

Among the injured were a couple in their 50s or 60s who sustained life-threatening injuries, and a 13-year-old, believed to be related to the couple, who suffered less severe wounds. The explosive device reportedly contained shrapnel such as bolts and buckshot.

Monaco’s Minister of State Christophe Mirmand noted that this type of act was unprecedented in the principality’s history. The public prosecutor, Stephane Thibault, stated that a suspect left a bag or package in the building's lobby before fleeing the scene. Video surveillance footage reportedly shows a man dropping a backpack at the building's entrance shortly before the blast.

Ukrainian oligarch Vadym Yermolaiev, a multimillionaire resident of Monaco, was identified as one of the wounded by a source close to the investigation. Yermolaiev has been under sanctions from Kyiv since December 2023, reportedly due to his alcohol business activities in Russian-occupied Crimea.

Monaco’s Prince Albert II condemned the incident as a "heinous crime" and a "shock to the entire Monegasque community." An aide to French Interior Minister Laurent Nunez confirmed that police were working to apprehend the perpetrator.

Investigators are examining the circumstances surrounding the explosion, including the nature of the device and the motive behind the attack. The incident has prompted a significant police response, with the area cordoned off and surveillance efforts intensified.

The investigation is ongoing, with authorities collaborating across borders to gather intelligence and locate the suspect. The focus remains on understanding how such an event could occur in the typically secure principality and ensuring the safety of its residents.