DORTMUND, Germany — German police said on Wednesday they are investigating “in all directions” after three explosions went off near Borussia Dortmund’s team bus ahead of a Champions League quarterfinal match, injuring one of the soccer team’s players.
German news media reports citing unnamed sources said a note found at the scene contained radical rhetoric but that police were unsure whether that was genuine or an attempt to throw them off the track. Federal prosecutors took over the investigation; they typically handle especially serious cases, including those in which a terrorist motive is suspected.
The first-leg match against Monaco was called off shortly before kickoff on Tuesday evening following the blasts near the team hotel in suburban Dortmund, which authorities assume were a targeted attack.
Players and police were preparing to go ahead with the rescheduled match on Wednesday evening, with heavy security in place.
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.”
She said the direction of the probe remains “open.”
Die Welt newspaper and Sueddeutsche Zeitung reported online that the note made reference to Germany’s participation in the military coalition opposed to Daesh (the so-called IS). German Tornado reconnaissance planes are taking part in a noncombat role.
The papers said that experts on Islam were reviewing the note to try to determine its authenticity.
Meanwhile the dpa news agency reported that investigators were probing statements found on the web that indicated a left-wing motive to punish the club for allegedly not opposing racism strongly enough. Federal prosecutors were expected to make a statement for 1200 GMT. — AP
