Islamist held over team bus blasts
Print Edition
GERMAN investigators yesterday detained an Islamist suspect over three explosions that rocked Borussia Dortmund’s team bus, prosecutors said. They confirmed that the probe was examining a possible “terrorist link.”
The roadside blasts left Dortmund’s Spanish international Marc Bartra and a policeman injured, with the bombs “containing metal pieces” detonating minutes after the team bus had set off for a Champions League game against Monaco on Tuesday night.
The blast had a radius of more than 100 meters, federal prosecutors said, adding that it was lucky the toll was not more severe.
The match was put back to last night as security was ratcheted up around Dortmund and in Munich where Bayern Munich were to take on Real Madrid.
But a defiant Dortmund vowed not to “give in to terror,” with players returning to the pitch for training.
Extra forces were deployed around team hotels and their buses will take designated safe routes to the stadiums.
UEFA said “security procedures will be enhanced accordingly wherever needed.”
Federal prosecutor’s office spokeswoman Frauke Koehler said the probe was examining a possible “terrorist link” after three identical letters were found at the scene.
“An Islamist background appears to be possible,” she said, noting that the letter demanded Germany withdraw its deployment of Tornado reconnaissance missions in the anti-IS international coalition and close a US air base in the western German town of Ramstein.
“Two suspects from the Islamist spectrum have become the focus of our investigation. Both of their apartments were searched, and one of the two has been detained,” she added.
The assault was described by Dortmund city’s police chief as a “targeted attack,” while Chancellor Angela Merkel expressed horror at the “repugnant act.”
Dortmund’s chief executive Hans-Joachim Watze vowed his side would not give in to terror.
“We will play not only for ourselves today. We will play for everyone ... we want to show that terror and hate can never determine our actions,” he said.
Monaco vice President Vadim Vasilyev said “football must not be taken hostage,” and pledged the quarter-final would go ahead.
In a show of solidarity, German Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere will attend the match.
Germany has been on high alert since a series of jihadist attacks last year.
The explosives detonated minutes after the team bus pulled away from the squad’s hotel.
Bartra underwent surgery on a broken wrist after he was hit by flying glass, Dortmund President Reinhard Rauball said.
A policeman on a motorcycle escorting the bus suffered trauma from the noise of the blasts.
“We are assuming that they were a targeted attack against the Dortmund team,” said the west German city’s police chief Gregor Lange.
The explosives shattered the bus windows and the vehicle was burned on one side.
“The bus turned on to the main road, when there was a huge noise — a big explosion,” Dortmund’s Swiss goalkeeper Roman Burki told reporters.
“After the bang, we all crouched down in the bus. We did not know if more would come.”
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