Sports, Europe

German footballers' bus hit by blasts on way to match

Borussia Dortmund coach struck as players head for Champions League quarter final

11.04.2017 - Update : 12.04.2017
German footballers' bus hit by blasts on way to match Coach Thomas Tuchel (2R) of Borussia Dortmund stands at their bus at the hotel L'Arrivee in Dortmund, Germany on April 11, 2017. The UEFA Champions League quarter-final soccer match between Borussia Dortmund and AS Monaco has been postponed after an explosion near the bus carrying the Dortmund team, injuring one player. (INA FASSBENDER - Anadolu Agency)

By Ayhan Simsek

BERLIN

Three minor explosions hit the team bus of Borussia Dortmund footballers on Tuesday, police said, hours before a Champions League quarter-final in the northwestern city.

Player Marc Bartra was injured as the windows of the coach were blown in. The fixture against Monaco was postponed.

The club confirmed on its Twitter account that Spanish defender Bartra was injured and taken to hospital.

Police said three explosions went off as the bus was leaving a hotel for the stadium. The cause of the blasts was not immediately clear.

Prosecutor Sandra Luecke told a press conference in Dortmund that they have discovered a letter at the scene of the explosions which claimed responsibility for the attack.

But she declined to make any comment on the content of the letter, saying authorities were still trying to authenticate it.

Dortmund police heightened security at the city as the game was rescheduled for Wednesday.


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