Three people were left injured after an explosion rocked Monaco on Monday evening. The horror blast occurred in Rue Reverend-Pere-Louis-Frolla in the major holiday hotspot at approximately 9pm local time.

Three people have been injured, with two being seriously hurt, officials said.

Vadim Ermolaev, one of Ukraine's wealthiest men, has been named as one of those seriously injured in the incident.

A man was captured on CCTV leaving a backpack at an apartment block before the blast. A manhunt has now been launched to locate the suspect after he fled to the French border.

Nice Mayor Eric Ciotti commented the incident on X, saying in a translated message: "The attack carried out this evening is a tragedy that strikes Monaco. Thoughts for the victims, their families, and the people of Monaco. Total support for the security forces and emergency services mobilised."

Monaco's minister of state Christophe Mirmand initially told AFP the blast appeared to be "an attack", but later dropped that term, describing it as a "deliberate explosion". He also said: "This is the first time in history, to my knowledge, that such an act has occurred in the Principality."

Monaco's Attorney General, Stéphane Thibault, told France Télévisions that no arrests had been made so far. "The possibility of a terrorist attack has been ruled out", the magistrate also said.

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