Prince Albert releases statement after explosion in Monaco

Prince Albert has released a statement after an explosion in the Principality of Monaco.

The Prince of Monaco commented after a makeshift bomb exploded and injured several in the Mediterranean principality around 9 pm local time.

The Sovereign Prince said in a statement:

“The criminal explosion that occurred this evening in Monaco is a shock to the entire Monégasque community.

“My thoughts are first and foremost with the victims, their families, and the residents directly affected by this heinous act. Princess Charlene, my family, and I wish to express our deepest sympathy and unwavering support.

“We also wish to commend the remarkable work of the public security forces, who are managing the situation with rigour and composure, and have ensured the swift care of the victims and the securing of the area.

“Under the authority of the Government, all relevant state services are currently mobilised, working in close cooperation with the French authorities. We trust them to quickly clarify the circumstances of this tragedy, identify those responsible, and provide all necessary responses at every level.

“More than ever, the Principality of Monaco will remain united and determined in the face of violence and crime. The safety of our community has always been a priority; it will remain so more than ever, whatever the threats.”

The suspect is still on the run, with both the French and Monegasque police searching for the perpetrator who used a “parcel bomb,” according to BFM TV.

Monaco’s Minister of State, Christophe Mirmand, said, “No event of this nature has ever ​happened in the principality before.”

The French newspaper Le Figaro has said video surveillance shows a man dropping a backpack at the entrance of a residential building.

French emergency services provided backup after the explosion injured many, two of whom have life-threatening injuries.

One of those with critical injuries from the “deliberate explosion” is Ukrainian oligarch Vadym Yermolaiev, according to a source speaking to French news outlet France 24.