The international police organization on Friday identified the suspect as Anastasiia Berezovska, who remains at large. She is sought on allegations of attempted murder, placing an explosive device in a public place with criminal intent and criminal conspiracy.

Authorities in Monaco said Monday’s explosion occurred at the entrance of an apartment building, injuring three members of the same family who appeared to have been deliberately targeted. Prosecutors also reported that two additional people sustained minor injuries during the blast.

Media reports identified one of the wounded as Vadym Yermolaiev, a construction businessman who has said he renounced his Ukrainian citizenship nearly a decade ago. He was placed under Ukrainian sanctions in 2023 over alleged ties to Russia. Monaco authorities have not officially identified the victims.

One of the targeted victims remained in life-threatening condition as of Friday, prosecutors said.

Investigation Focuses on Possible Accomplices

Monaco’s deputy prosecutor, Morgan Raymond, said investigators are examining whether the suspect acted alone or on behalf of another individual.

He told a news conference that the sophistication of the explosive device and the method used to carry out the attack suggest additional people may have been involved. According to prosecutors, the bomb was remotely detonated, and its remains have been sent to neighboring France for forensic analysis.

Authorities have not publicly identified a motive for the attack.

Surveillance Review Redirected Investigation

Raymond said investigators initially believed the suspect was a heavily built man based on early surveillance footage. However, additional CCTV recordings and witness testimony led investigators to conclude the suspect was a woman disguised as a man.

Interpol’s Red Notice describes Berezovska as having dark hair, speaking German and bearing a tattoo, possibly depicting a snake, extending from her right shoulder to her elbow.

The notice also includes photographs appearing to show the suspect wearing a white striped T-shirt. In one image, she is seen holding what appears to be an electronic device connected to a cable.

Cross-Border Investigation Expands

Investigators traced a rental vehicle with German registration plates that was allegedly used during the operation in Monaco. Prosecutors said the suspect’s movements were tracked from France into Italy before continuing through several European countries toward her country of residence.

Raymond said the suspect’s last known address was in Germany.

German police and prosecutors announced Friday that officers, including special forces, searched a rented apartment near Frankfurt linked to a 39-year-old Ukrainian woman as part of the investigation. Authorities also searched and seized a vehicle believed to have been used by the suspect. Evidence collected during the searches will be transferred to Monaco’s investigators.

German authorities said the woman remains at large and declined to provide further details while the investigation continues.

Regional Security Context

The bombing has drawn attention because of reports identifying the apparent target as a businessman previously sanctioned by Ukraine over alleged links to Russia.

Although prosecutors have not connected the attack to the war in Ukraine, the incident comes amid heightened concern over targeted attacks linked to the broader conflict. Ukraine has previously acknowledged responsibility for certain operations targeting Russian officials during the war, while Western intelligence officials have recently said Russia has intensified a campaign of targeted killings following its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

Monaco’s head of state, Albert II, described the bombing as “an odious act” and said public services had been mobilized to help ensure security as the investigation continues.

Tags: Monaco, Interpol, Anastasiia Berezovska, Bombing, Vadym Yermolaiev, Germany, Ukraine, France, Criminal Investigation, Explosive Device, Law Enforcement, Europe

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Duterte Taken Into Custody Upon Arrival in Manila

Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte was arrested Tuesday on an International Criminal Court (ICC) warrant for crimes against humanity linked to his deadly anti-drug campaign. Duterte was detained at Manila’s international airport upon arrival from Hong Kong with his family, marking the first time an Asian leader has been arrested by the global court. He was later transported to Villamor Air Base, though it remains unclear where he will be taken next.

Clad in a dark jacket, a visibly irate Duterte protested his arrest, demanding authorities show the legal basis for his detention. His daughter, Veronica Duterte, captured the moment on video and shared it on social media.

“Show me now the legal basis for my being here,” Duterte demanded. “You have to answer now for the deprivation of liberty.”

Duterte Allies Protest Airport Arrest

The sudden arrest caused a commotion at the airport, with Duterte’s lawyers and aides loudly protesting their restricted access to him.

“This is a violation of his constitutional right,” said Senator Bong Go, a close Duterte ally. Duterte’s legal team swiftly filed an appeal with the Supreme Court in Manila to block any attempt to extradite him to the ICC in The Hague, Netherlands.

ICC Investigation: Mass Killings Under Duterte’s Crackdown

The ICC has been investigating mass killings linked to Duterte’s anti-drug campaign, spanning from his tenure as Davao City mayor to his presidency. While Philippine authorities report 6,000 drug-related deaths, human rights groups estimate the toll could be as high as 30,000.

Upon his arrest, the Philippine prosecutor general served Duterte an ICC arrest notification, confirming he is now in custody.

The ICC warrant, issued on March 7, states that “there are reasonable grounds to believe” the killings were “widespread and systematic”, occurring over several years and resulting in thousands of deaths. The court justified Duterte’s arrest, citing concerns that he would ignore legal summons and potentially interfere with investigations.

“Mindful of the resultant risk of interference with investigations and the security of witnesses and victims, the chamber is satisfied that the arrest of Mr. Duterte is necessary,” the ICC ruling states.

Families of Drug War Victims Celebrate Arrest

Duterte’s arrest stunned victims’ families and critics, prompting emotional reactions. Randy delos Santos, uncle of Kian delos Santos—a teenager killed in a controversial police operation—said it was a “long-awaited day for justice.”

“Now we feel that justice is rolling. We hope that top police officials and the hundreds of officers involved in illegal killings will also face accountability,” he told reporters.

The killing of Kian delos Santos in 2017 led to the rare conviction of three police officers, but families of other victims believe justice remains elusive in the Philippines. This, they say, justified bringing their cases to the ICC.

Critics Hail Arrest as a Blow to Impunity

Former Senator Antonio Trillanes, one of Duterte’s fiercest critics and a key figure in filing the ICC complaint, described the arrest as “historic.”

“This is like the downfall of an emperor,” Trillanes said. “The next step is ensuring that all his accomplices face justice.”

The Philippine government confirmed that Duterte, 79, is in good health and has been examined by government doctors following his arrest.

Duterte’s Government Tried to Block ICC Probe

The ICC’s investigation covers the period from November 1, 2011, to March 16, 2019—including Duterte’s time as mayor of Davao City and president of the Philippines. In 2019, Duterte withdrew the country from the Rome Statute, which established the ICC, a move widely seen as an attempt to escape accountability.

His administration argued that the Philippines was already investigating the killings, claiming that ICC intervention was unnecessary. However, in 2023, the ICC rejected these objections, ruling that the investigation could resume.

Philippines’ Current Administration Takes a Neutral Stance

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., Duterte’s successor, has refused to rejoin the ICC and distanced himself from his predecessor’s policies. However, the Marcos administration has stated that it will cooperate with international law enforcement if the ICC issues a Red Notice—a global request for law enforcement agencies to locate and temporarily detain a suspect.

What’s Next?

Duterte’s legal team is expected to challenge his arrest and potential extradition to The Hague. Meanwhile, families of victims and human rights advocates hope this marks the beginning of a broader push for accountability in the Philippines.

As legal battles unfold, the arrest of the former president underscores a historic shift in global justice, sending a clear message that no leader is above the law.

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