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12 April 2017

3 explosions hit Borussia Dortmund bus: Monaco match cancelled as Marc Bartra taken to hospital



Borussia Dortmund bus explosions: Monaco match cancelled as Marc Bartra taken to hospital





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The Borussia Dortmund team bus after the incident

Barney Henderson 11 APRIL 2017 • 10:50PM

Three explosions hit Borussia Dortmund team bus
Centre-back Marc Bartra injured and in hospital
Match against Monaco delayed until Wednesday
Letter 'takes responsibility for the act'
Borussia Dortmund fans offer stranded Monaco supporters accommodation
Who is Marc Bartra?

Borussia Dortmund's team bus was hit by three explosions while on its way to the Champions League semi-final against Monaco on Tuesday evening, leaving one player injured in hospital.

German security sources said it was a targeted attack on the team bus, leaving the vehicle's windows shattered. Police said "serious explosive devices" were used.

A German prosecutor said a letter found near the site of the attack "takes responsibility for the act".


Police said there are high levels of security in place due to the risk of a terror attack - but that they did not want to jump to conclusions and say the Dortmund explosions was terror-related.

Germany is on high terror alert following a spate of recent attacks, several of which have been claimed by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant terror group.

Spanish international, Marc Bartra, was receiving treatment for a hand injury, while other players were left in shock.

The game was postponed to Wednesday evening, with Borussia Dortmund fans offering Monaco supporters accommodation in the city so they can watch the match. Monaco fans had chanted in solidarity with their Dortmund rivals.

Hans-Joachim Watzke, Dortmund chief executive, said: "The whole team is in a state of shock, you can't get pictures like that out of your head.



"I hope the team will be in a position to be able to compete tomorrow on the pitch.

"In a crisis situation like this, Borussia pulls together."

Lukasz Piszczek, a defender for Dortmund, said: "As we were driving alongside a number of cars, a bomb went off at the side of the road. Bartra has cast on his arm. He's in the hospital."
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High security levels 'due to risk of terror attack'

German police have said there are high levels of security in place due to the risk of a terror attack - but that they do not want to jump to conclusions and say the Dortmund explosions was a terror attack.

Letter found near attack site 'takes responsibility for the act'

A German prosecutor has said the letter found near the Dortmund team bus "takes responsibility for the act".

Bartra being operated on for broken hand

The club's centre-back is undergoing an operation for a broken hand, Dortmund's spokesman has said.

Letter found near Dortmund bus blast

A police press conference is underway. The German state prosecutor has said a letter was found near the site of the blasts and is being examined.

'No evidence of terrorist connection'

Police have so far found no evidence of a terrorist connection, the German Press Agency (DPA) is reporting.

'We are all with Borussia Dortmund'

Angela Merkel's spokesman, Steffen Seibert, has tweeted: "Tonight we are all with Borussia Dortmund":

Footage from the Monaco fans chanting in solidarity with Borussia Dortmund

Monaco fans chant in solidarity with Borussia Dortmund
00:27

'Serious explosive devices' used in attack

German police have said they working on the assumption "serious explosive devices" were used in the attack on the Dortmund team bus.

'Targeted attack on the Dortmund team bus'

Spiegel magazine is reporting that German security sources believe it was a targeted attack on the team bus, writes Justin Huggler in Berlin.
The explosives were probably hidden in a hedge by the side of the road. 
Bartra's injuries are not thought to be serious.
Lukasz Piszczek, a defender for Borussia Dortmund, told Poland's Przeglad Sportowy newspaper: "As we were driving alongside a number of cars, a bonb went off at the side of the road. Bartra has a cast on his arm. He's in the hospital."

Dortmund making efforts to help Monaco fans make it to the game tomorrow.


The damaged team bus

The Borussia Dortmund team bus is seen after an explosion near their hotel before the game
The Borussia Dortmund team bus is seen after an explosion near their hotel before the game CREDIT: REUTERS
Players after the incident:
Head coach Thomas Tuchel, right, and players of Borussia Dortmund stand outside their team bus after it was damaged in an explosion before the Champions League quarterfinal
Head coach Thomas Tuchel, right, and players of Borussia Dortmund stand outside their team bus after it was damaged in an explosion before the Champions League quarterfinal CREDIT: AP

'The whole team is in shock'

Hans-Joachim Watzke, the Borussia Dortmund CEO, has said: "The whole team is in a shock. You will not get those pictures out of your head. I hope that the team is able to compete on the field." 

The stadium announcement

The scoreboard announces the postponment of the game prior to the UEFA Champions League Quarter Final first leg match between Borussia Dortmund and AS Monaco at Signal Iduna Park
The scoreboard announces the postponment of the game prior to the UEFA Champions League Quarter Final first leg match between Borussia Dortmund and AS Monaco at Signal Iduna Park CREDIT: GETTY

Police secure Borussia Dortmund hotel

Police near the Borussia Dortmund team hotel after the explosion 
Police near the Borussia Dortmund team hotel after the explosion  CREDIT: REUTERS

Who is Marc Bartra, the player injured in the team bus explosion?

Bartra, 26, joined the German club last summer from Barcelona, where the Catalan had graduated from the famed La Masia academy.
The centre-back has represented Spain 13 times since his international breakthrough in 2013, and has also played five non-competitive matches for Catalonia.
Dortmund's Spanish defender Marc Bartra (L) and Bayern Munich's Polish forward Robert Lewandowski vie for the ball during the German first division Bundesliga football match FC Bayern Munich v BVB Borussia Dortmund in Munich, southern Germany, on April 8, 2017
Dortmund's Spanish defender Marc Bartra (L) and Bayern Munich's Polish forward Robert Lewandowski vie for the ball during the German first division Bundesliga football match FC Bayern Munich v BVB Borussia Dortmund in Munich, southern Germany, on April 8, 2017 CREDIT: AFP
Bartra has been a regular feature for Dortmund in his first season with the club, making 18 league appearances and seven more in the Champions League, scoring one goal and making three assists along the way.

'Bartra sustained hand injury in blasts'


'No threat to anyone inside the stadium'


Barcelona express concern for their former player, Marc Bartra


Solidarity shown by the Monaco fans in the stadium


First images of the team bus


Match postponed

Officials confirm the Champions League quarter final has been postponed to Wednesday.
Message displayed on the big screen within the ground reads ' BVB of Twitter: Bei Abfahrt unseres Busses hat sich ein Vorfall ereignet. Eine Person wurde dabei verletzt. Weitere infos folgen.' 'BVB on Twitter: When we left our bus, an incident occurred. One person was injured. More information will follow
Message displayed on the big screen within the ground reads ' BVB of Twitter: Bei Abfahrt unseres Busses hat sich ein Vorfall ereignet. Eine Person wurde dabei verletzt. Weitere infos folgen.' 'BVB on Twitter: When we left our bus, an incident occurred. One person was injured. More information will follow CREDIT: EMPICS SPORT

Three explosions went off near team bus

Police have said that three explosions went off near the team bus as it approached the stadium in Dortmund.

Marc Bartra named as injured Borussia Dortmund player

The Spanish centre-back has been named as the injured player.
A file picture dated 06 December 2016 of Borussia Dortmund's Spanish defender Marc Bartra
A file picture dated 06 December 2016 of Borussia Dortmund's Spanish defender Marc Bartra CREDIT: EPA

Decision on whether match will be abandoned at 19:30 BST

Fans are awaiting the verdict in the stadium.

'Windows broken' during explosion

Windows were broken during the explosion, according to a statement from Dortmund police. 
The bomb went off as the bus passed a junction at Schirrmannweg and Wittbraucker Strasse, which is near the L'Arrivée hotel and spa. 


Borussia Dortmund tells fans - stay calm

The club has asked those in the stadium to remain calm as it investigates, adding that emergency workers were at the scene. 
"We will inform you as soon as there is news," the club added in a tweet. 

More on the reported explosion

Reports that one person has been injured

This from German newspaper Bild

Although we cannot confirm whether the explosion was ON the bus or NEAR the bus. 

'Explosions' near Borussia Dortmund team bus

Reports are coming in that there has been an explosion near the Dortmund team bus. More as soon as we have it.

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