He said: “This is the first time in history, to my knowledge, that such an act has taken place in the principality.”
Local media reported that the victims were from the same Ukrainian family. A man and a woman, both aged between 50 and 60, are in hospital with life-threatening injuries.
A 13-year-old who was “very likely related to the couple” sustained less severe injuries, Mirmand said.
The suspect is reported to have fled towards the neighbouring town of Beausoleil, which is just over the French border.
A British woman living in Monaco has told of the “commotion” at the police station following the explosion.
She told The Mirror: “We live next door to the police station so we are overlooking it. It all began at around 9pm when we saw lots of police in the street. First of all, we heard a big commotion outside and then there was a procession of police cars heading off.
“Everything is on high alert at the police station. There are now two armed police outside who are being ultra-cautious, they are checking everyone who is going past.
“I imagine [the suspect] has just disappeared into France.”
French rescue teams are said to be helping the emergency services in Monaco respond to the explosion.
Eric Ciotti, the right-wing mayor of nearby Nice, across the border in France, wrote on X: “The attack committed this evening is a tragedy for Monaco.”
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