German Soccer Player Hurt in Bus Explosions

It's unclear who is responsible for the explosions
By Newser Editors and Wire Services
Posted Apr 11, 2017 4:11 PM CDT
German Soccer Player Hurt in Bus Explosions
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, western Germany, Tuesday, April 11, 2017.   (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

A German soccer team says defender Marc Bartra was injured when three explosions went off near the team bus and is being treated at a hospital, the AP reports. Borussia Dortmund tweeted the news after its Champions League quarterfinal first leg game against Monaco was called off because of the explosions as the players were leaving their hotel for the match Tuesday. The team did not provide any details about Bartra's condition. The chief executive of Borussia Dortmund says police informed him that the explosives that went off near the team bus were hidden by the exit of a hotel and detonated as the bus passed. Hans-Joachim Watzke said the team "is totally shocked" by the explosions

Dortmund Police Chief Gregor Lange told reporters that police decided at an early stage that the soccer team was the target of the explosions and are not excluding any possible angles in their investigation. A prosecutor says a letter found outside the hotel the team bus was departing from when the explosions happened "takes responsibility for the act." Prosecutor Sandra Luecke says authorities won't give details of the letter at this stage, citing the ongoing investigation. Police say investigators "are working on the assumption" that the explosions were caused by "serious explosive devices." Bartra was injured in the arm and hand. (More explosion stories.)

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