Monaco Parcel Bombing: Suspect Identified, Arrest Warrant Issued, and Yes, They Were Wearing a Fishing Hat
A woman in a fishing hat is wanted for a Monaco parcel bombing that injured a sanctioned oligarch and his family, proving even the ultra-secure can have bad days.
Monaco’s prosecutor’s office has announced that a suspect has been identified in the parcel bombing that seriously wounded a sanctioned Ukrainian-born oligarch and two others. An arrest warrant has been issued, and an Interpol Red Notice is forthcoming - because nothing says international manhunt like a black fisherman’s hat.
According to French media, CCTV captured the suspect, believed to be a woman attempting to pass as a man, wearing said hat. Monaco’s public prosecutor, Stéphane Thibault, declined to confirm the hat’s fashion implications but praised “effective international criminal cooperation” for swiftly identifying the perpetrator. A judicial investigation for attempted murder and other charges is underway, led by three investigating judges.
The attack occurred Monday evening when a package was left in an apartment building near the French border. The explosive device detonated as three residents - a couple and a 13-year-old - entered, injuring all. The target is believed to be Vadym Iermolaiev, 58, a wealthy Ukrainian-born Cypriot businessman sanctioned by Ukraine since December 2023 for operating an alcohol business in Russian-annexed Crimea. He, his partner, and his son were hospitalized; Iermolaiev is no longer in critical condition, but his partner remains unstable.
Iermolaiev, a Monaco resident since 2021, has been accused by Kyiv of paying taxes to Moscow after Russia’s 2022 invasion. A source noted that many would have lined up to target the construction magnate in his native Dnipro. The bombing has rattled Monaco, the ultra-secure playground for the world’s ultra-rich, where such incidents are decidedly not part of the luxury package.
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