Menu
Events and Attractions

German Authorities Investigate Explosions Near Dortmund Bus, Arrest One

German authorities investigating explosions beside a bus carrying the Borussia Dortmund football team said that they have "detained a suspect" with what prosecutors described as links to "the Islamist spectrum," according to Oltermann & Connolly of the London GUARDIAN. The explosives used in the attack "were pipe bombs" with a 100m range, according to Frauke Köhler, a spokesperson for Germany's federal state prosecutor in Karlsruhe. A metal part from one of the bombs "had lodged in the headrest of one of the seats." Köhler: "The consequences could have been far worse. 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." One Dortmund player, 26-year-old defender Marc Bartra, "was hit by shards of glass and had surgery for a broken wrist." Köhler said that "three letters had been found near the scene, all of which suggested a possible radical Islamic motive." She said that the message referred to German reconnaissance plans "deployed as part of the military campaign against Islamic State in Syria," and called for the closure of the U.S. military base at Ramstein in western Germany. She "also referred to an online claim of responsibility by an anti-fascist group," but said that there was "serious doubt about its validity" (GUARDIAN, 4/12). In London, Ed Malyon reported investigators said that the letter "may have been an attempt to mislead authorities over the true identity of those behind the attack," according to Süddeutsche Zeitung newspaper. The explosions occurred "shortly before" the Champions League clash at Signal Iduna Park around 7:15pm on Tuesday. A police officer, who had been traveling on a motorbike in front of the bus, was injured. He "is said to be suffering from blast trauma and shock" (INDEPENDENT, 4/12).

HEAVY SECURITY: In London, Boyle, Hall & Sawyer reported "heavy security was in place" for the rescheduled Champions League match in Dortmund on Wednesday night after the letter found at the scene "reportedly claimed that sports stars and others" in "crusader nations" are on an "Islamic state death list" (TELEGRAPH, 4/12). In London, Matt Maltby wrote Dortmund players and fans "showed their unified support" for Bartra by "wearing T-shirts and holding up banners." The team showed up at the stadium "with a number of police vehicles" and there was "an armoured tank parked outside the venue" (DAILY MAIL, 4/12). The BBC reported despite the apparent claim of an Islamist motive, "the attack does not have much in common with previous such attacks," according to the BBC's correspondent in Berlin, Damien McGuinness. The explosives "were not designed to cause maximum damage in a crowd -- or to target the stadium itself," which is several kilometers away. Left-wing and right-wing extremists "could also be to blame" (BBC, 4/12).

FOOTBALLERS SHOW SOLIDARITY: In London, Ben Topliss reported Bartra "shared a photo showing his wrist in plaster after the operation and confirmed that he was recovering."

A number of footballers tweeted to "show their support for Dortmund," including Henrikh Mkhitaryan, the ManU forward who played for the German side from '13-16 (LONDON TIMES, 4/12). 'WE PLAY FOR EVERYONE': The BBC reported Dortmund "will not bend before terror," club CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke said. He added, "We want to show that terror and hatred can never dictate our actions." Watzke said that he had spoken to players in the dressing room, urging them "to show society that we do not bend before terror." He said, "We do not just play for us today. We play for everyone -- no matter whether Borussia, Bayer or Schalke supporters. And of course we play for Marc Bartra, who wants to see his team win" (BBC, 4/12). REUTERS' Nasr & Carrel reported German Chancellor Angela Merkel was "appalled by the attack," her spokesperson, Steffen Seibert, said. Seibert: "The chancellor was last night, like people in Dortmund, like millions everywhere, appalled by the attack on the BVB team bus. One can only be relieved that the consequences were not worse" (REUTERS, 4/12). The LONDON TIMES reported German FA (DFB) President Reinhard Grindel slammed the "cowardly" attack. He had "planned to attend" Wednesday's Bayern Munich-Real Madrid match, but instead attended the Dortmund-Monaco game "in solidarity." He said in a statement, "It is important to me personally and in my position as DFB president to be in Dortmund today to show that all German football is united with Borussia Dortmund" (LONDON TIMES, 4/12). The AP reported Bartra will be out of action for "several weeks." Dortmund said that he "had to have an operation on his arm and wrist," but said that it "went well" (AP, 4/12). ESPN.com's Dermot Corrigan reported German police put in place "extra security measures ahead of Real Madrid's Champions League quarterfinal at Bayern Munich," and UEFA said that security was reviewed for all three of Wednesday's Champions League games. Real Madrid's team bus was given a police escort "during its prematch journey." An additional 80 security personnel were also "added to duty at the stadium" (ESPN.com, 4/12).

SBJ Morning Buzzcast: March 25, 2024

NFL meeting preview; MLB's opening week ad effort and remembering Peter Angelos.

Big Get Jay Wright, March Madness is upon us and ESPN locks up CFP

On this weekā€™s pod, our Big Get is CBS SportsĀ college basketball analyst Jay Wright. TheĀ NCAA Championship-winning coach shares his insight with SBJā€™s Austin KarpĀ on key hoops issues and why being well dressed is an important part of his success. Also on the show, Poynter Institute senior writer Tom Jones shares who he has up and who is down in sports media. Later, SBJā€™s Ben Portnoy talks the latest on ESPNā€™s CFP extension andĀ who CBS, TNT Sports and ESPN need to make deep runs in the menā€™s and women's NCAA basketball tournaments.

SBJ I Factor: Nana-Yaw Asamoah

SBJ I Factor features an interview with AMB Sports and Entertainment Chief Commercial Office Nana-Yaw Asamoah. Asamoah, who moved over to AMBSE last year after 14 years at the NFL, talks with SBJā€™s Ben Fischer about how his role model parents and older sisters pushed him to shrive, how the power of lifelong learning fuels successful people, and why AMBSE was an opportunity he could not pass up. Asamoah is 2021 SBJ Forty Under 40 honoree. SBJ I Factor is a monthly podcast offering interviews with sports executives who have been recipients of one of the magazineā€™s awards.

Shareable URL copied to clipboard!

https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Global/Issues/2017/04/13/Events-and-Attractions/Dortmund-Explosion.aspx

Sorry, something went wrong with the copy but here is the link for you.

https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Global/Issues/2017/04/13/Events-and-Attractions/Dortmund-Explosion.aspx

CLOSE