Three people were wounded after a device exploded outside Place des Moulins in Monaco, authorities say, triggering a major manhunt and a criminal investigation that is ongoing.
Local officials reported that a backpack-style device was left at a public spot near Place des Moulins before it detonated, injuring three people and shocking a normally quiet, affluent quarter of the microstate. Police described the explosive as deliberate and said the device included assorted metal parts designed to increase harm, a tactic intended to cause “maximum damage.” Emergency services moved quickly to secure the scene and treat the wounded amid a heavy law enforcement presence.
Investigators have been combing the area for forensic clues, looking for surveillance footage and trace evidence that could point to the person who left the backpack. Authorities emphasized that the device was not a random accident but an assembled item left intentionally in a public, tourist-frequented space. Forensic teams are cataloging fragments and metal components to reconstruct the mechanism and learn how and where it was made.
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The three victims all appear to be members of a family of Ukrainian origin, according to a report from France24, and officials have said two are in critical condition. The injured include a couple believed to be in their 50s or 60s and a 13-year-old who is described as “very likely related” to the adults. Hospital staff have been treating blast and shrapnel wounds while police coordinate with medical teams to establish identities and next of kin.
Photos and short clips posted to social media showed debris scattered onto the street and signs of the blast’s force on nearby façades, prompting residents and businesses to reel from the sudden violence. Local authorities cordoned off surrounding blocks to preserve evidence and to protect bystanders from unexploded components or secondary hazards. Witnesses described confusion and fear in a neighborhood that usually draws shoppers and sightseers rather than scenes of emergency response.
A manhunt is underway for the person or people responsible, and police have appealed for anyone with information or relevant recordings to come forward, citing potential CCTV and dashcam footage as critical. No motive has been established and investigators have not publicly named any suspects, instead focusing on forensic leads and interviews with witnesses. Security sources say the investigation remains fluid, with teams following multiple lines of inquiry to determine whether this was an isolated act or part of a broader threat.
Officials have not linked the incident to any particular group or ideology, and they caution against speculation while work continues at the scene and in laboratories analyzing the device. Authorities have indicated that the explosive’s construction and the presence of metal fragments make it especially dangerous, which explains the elevated caution during evidence collection. Monaco’s small size and dense urban layout mean any attack has an outsized impact, so local agencies are coordinating with national and regional partners to share information.
The blast is drawing international attention as details emerge and the injured receive care, and residents are watching for further updates as the probe develops. Law enforcement presence remains visible in affected neighborhoods and officials say preventive patrols will continue while the investigation proceeds. At this stage, officials are focused on finding those responsible, preserving public safety, and determining the full sequence of events that led to the explosion.
