An 'armed and dangerous' Ukrainian woman is suspected of setting off a bomb in central Monaco, targeting billionaire Vadim Ermolaev, 58, his mistress Anna Nasobina, 46, and their young son. Interpol is working to issue a Most Wanted red notice after an arrest warrant was issued.
Suspect identified by witness
The woman, not yet publicly named, was filmed outside the 'Sun's Palace,' a lavish apartment block owned by Ermolaev. At around 9pm Monday, a rucksack exploded in the foyer after she triggered it using a mobile phone. Nasobina had her legs amputated following the blast; both she and Ermolaev suffered severe shrapnel wounds and burns.
'The prime suspect was identified by a witness,' said an investigating source. 'She is a Ukrainian woman in her thirties.'
Disguise and escape
Surveillance footage showed the woman wearing a black bucket hat, disguised to look like a man, fleeing on foot across the border to France, where there are no checkpoints. Investigators believe she headed into the French town of Beausoleil and then made her way to Italy.
'She is armed and dangerous, and thought to be in the company of accomplices,' said the source. 'She should be approached with extreme caution.'
Investigation and charges
Judicial authorities in France and Monaco have opened a criminal enquiry for attempted murder, planting an explosive device on a public road with criminal intent, and criminal conspiracy. Cameras first picked up the suspect in the area Monday morning before she returned to place the bomb, according to security sources.
The wounded boy has made a rapid recovery and is providing evidence to police and prosecutors. 'He is telling them exactly what he saw, although clearly his memory is very blurred,' said a security source. 'It appears that his mother took the full force of the blast, while he suffered relatively minor burns and shrapnel injuries.'
