Female Suspect in Disguise Hunted After Unprecedented Monaco Bombing
Authorities have launched an international manhunt for a female suspect accused of dressing as a man to orchestrate an unprecedented bomb attack in Monaco. The explosion on Monday targeted the Ukrainian-born businessman Vadym Yermolaiev and shocked the typically peaceful city-state.
The primary suspect has been identified as 39-year-old Anastasiia Berezovska who is now the subject of an Interpol Red Notice. The Ukrainian national most recently resided in Germany and is distinguished by a large tattoo running down her right arm which investigators believe depicts a snake.
Following the blast the attacker fled into neighbouring France before driving to Italy in a German-registered rental car. Prosecutors noted that the sophisticated nature of the explosive device strongly suggests the involvement of a wider network. While two men were initially detained by Monegasque authorities they were later released due to a lack of evidence.
A calculated assassination attempt
The explosion occurred as Yermolaiev, an unidentified woman and a child returned to a luxury apartment building after dining at a seaside restaurant. According to investigators the suspect planted a remote-controlled device in the entranceway and detonated it after turning to check the victims’ proximity.
Surveillance footage captured the suspect scouting the location on multiple occasions while wearing a masculine disguise consisting of a black jumper, light-coloured trousers and a black bucket hat. On one separate occasion the same route was scouted by a woman displaying identical behavioural patterns which allowed police to deduce her true identity.
The blast left one victim fighting for their life, another seriously wounded and a third with minor injuries. Two pedestrians outside the building were also hurt by flying glass. The injured woman has not been named but is confirmed not to be Yermolaiev’s wife who told the Ukrainian broadcaster Suspilne that she was absent during the attack and unharmed.
Shock in a high-security state
Monaco’s prosecutor Stephane Thibault has characterised the incident as an attempted assassination. This marks the first recorded bombing of its kind in the principality which is globally renowned for its exceptional security apparatus.
Despite covering an area half the size of Central Park the city-state is monitored by 556 police officers and an extensive network of 1,387 CCTV cameras. The location is so heavily protected that it recorded zero murders or attempted murders last year.
As the multi-nation inquiry continues German authorities have already searched an apartment and vehicle linked to Berezovska and intend to share their forensic findings directly with Monegasque investigators.
