Prince Albert II and Princess Charlene visited Monaco’s public security headquarters and fire station on Tuesday afternoon to express their personal support for the teams who remained mobilised throughout the night following Monday’s parcel bomb attack — the most serious security incident the Principality has seen in its modern history.

The visits took place after the Prince and Princess had been kept informed of the investigation’s progress overnight. The couple had been in Rust, Germany with their children Prince Jacques and Princess Gabriella as well as Princess Stéphanie for the official inauguration of Europa-Park’s new Monaco-themed district when the attack struck shortly before 9pm on Monday.

Accompanied by Minister of State Christophe Mirmand, Interior Minister Lionel Beffre and Secretary of State for Justice Samuel Vuelta Simon, the princely couple visited the Direction de la Sûreté Publique in the early afternoon, where they received a full operational briefing from the Controller and his senior command. According to the Palace, they then travelled to the Caserne des sapeurs-pompiers, where they were received by Colonels Tony Varo and Maxime Yvrard and spoke directly with the intervention teams who responded to Monday night’s explosion.

The visits came less than 24 hours after Prince Albert II issued an overnight statement from the Palace calling the explosion a “criminal act” and a shock to the entire Monégasque community, pledging that the security of the Principality would remain a priority “whatever the threats”.

The suspect, caught on CCTV leaving a package at the building before fleeing on foot towards Beausoleil, remains at large. Monégasque and French authorities are working jointly on the investigation.

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Photo credit: Michael Alesi, Prince’s Palace