Germany detains Islamic suspect in Dortmund soccer team bombing

Confirming possible ‘terrorist link,’ prosecutors say 2 people ‘the focus of our investigation’ after explosions near team bus

By AP and AFP 12 April 2017, 4:41 pm

Edit

A window of Dortmund's team bus is damaged after an explosion before the Champions League quarterfinal soccer match between Borussia Dortmund and AS Monaco in Dortmund, Germany, April 11, 2017. (AP/Martin Meissner)

German police have detained an “Islamist” suspect over three explosions that struck the Borussia Dortmund soccer team bus, prosecutors said on Wednesday, confirming that the investigation was examining a possible “terrorist link.”

“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,” lead prosecutor Frauke Koehle told reporters.

Dortmund’s Spanish international Marc Bartra and a policeman were injured in the roadside blasts set off as the team headed to a Champions League game against Monaco on Tuesday night.

Koehler said the explosive devices used in the attack contained metal pins, one of which buried its way into a headrest on the vehicle. Investigators are still working to determine how the devices were detonated on Tuesday night and what substance was used, she said.

Investigators were checking the authenticity of a letter claiming responsibility that they found near the scene, and were refusing to give any details of its contents, citing the ongoing probe. Police spokeswoman Nina Vogt told ZDF television that “of course our investigations have to go in all directions to begin with.”

Dortmund's Marcel Schmelzer talks to police officers outside the team bus after it was damaged in an explosion before the Champions League quarterfinal soccer match between Borussia Dortmund and AS Monaco in Dortmund, Germany, April 11, 2017. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner) — Dortmund’s Marcel Schmelzer talks to police officers outside the team bus after it was damaged in an explosion before the Champions League quarterfinal soccer match between Borussia Dortmund and AS Monaco in Dortmund, Germany, April 11, 2017. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

Die Welt newspaper and Sueddeutsche Zeitung reported online that the unsigned note made reference to Germany’s participation in the military coalition opposed to Islamic State. German Tornado reconnaissance planes, based in Turkey, are taking part in a noncombat role. The papers said experts on Islam were reviewing the note to try to determine its authenticity.

Investigators were also probing statements found on the web that indicated a left-wing motive to punish the club for allegedly not opposing racism strongly enough, the DPA news agency reported.

Dortmund is one of Germany’s most popular teams and a regular contender for the Bundesliga title, which it last won in 2011 and 2012. It is in fourth place with six games left to play this season, 18 points behind leader Bayern Munich — Germany’s dominant club of recent years.