A GERMAN football team’s bus was hit by three “bombs planted in a roadside hedge” injuring a player before a fourth “suspect” device was found near the team hotel.
Cops say a letter claiming responsibility was discovered near the crime scene after “serious explosive devices” detonated as the Borussia Dortmund team bus left the L’Arrivee Hotel.
They are now hunting a car with foreign registration plates after the blast shattered the bus's windows and injured player Marc Bartra in a "targeted" attack.
It's believed an attacker was "watching and waiting" to set off the explosives, which were intended for the team.
Detectives tonight revealed the letter is being forensically examined, but its authenticity has not yet been confirmed.
Police also found another "suspect device" near the team's hotel shortly after the bombing, but it was deemed harmless.
They will now investigate if the attack - which occurred seven miles away from the Signal-Iduna-Park stadium - was terror-related - with high levels of security in place because of the "risk" of further threat.
But they added they did not not want to jump to conclusions and confirm tonight's explosions was a terror attack against Germany.
A spokesman said: "After initial investigation, we assume that this was an attack with serious explosives."
What we know about the Borussia Dortmund explosions so far:
- THREE explosions planted in a roadside hedge detonated as the Borussia Dortmund team bus left the L’Arrivee Hotel.
- PLAYER Marc Bartra, a Spaniard who is Borussia Dortmund’s centre-back, was badly injured in the blast and is undergoing surgery on his injured arm to repair a fracture and remove shrapnel.
- A FOURTH “suspect” device was found near the team hotel after the bombing, but it turned out to be harmless.
- COPS discovered a letter claiming responsibility for the attack where the bus was targeted, but not other details have been released.
- THE match was rescheduled to go ahead tomorrow night at 5.45pm UK time with heightened security.
The bombs went off as the bus was travelling along Wittbräucker Strasse having left the team hotel minutes earlier - showering players in the back seat with shards of glass.
Goalkeeper Roman Bürk, 26, said: "The bus turned to the main road, when there was a giant bill - a real explosion.
"After the bang, we all crouched in the bus, who could, laid down on the ground. We did not know if more could happen. "
Bartra, 26, was taken to hospital following the blasts which blew out windows in the coach.
He is to undergo surgery on his injured arm to repair a fracture and remove shrapnel.
Dortmund Chief Executive Hans-Joachim Watzke said the injuries to the Spanish defender Tuesday night are "nothing life-threatening", but tonight police said he had worsened from "lightly" to "badly injured".
He said: "There has been an attack with explosives on the team bus.
There has been an attack with explosives on the team bus. The whole team is in a state of shock.
Dortmund Chief Executive Hans-Joachim Watzke
"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."
Tonight German chancellor Angela Merkel's spokesman, Steffen Seibert, tweeted: "Tonight we are all with Borussia Dortmund".
It's believed the team bus was fitted with strong safety glass, which is thought to have prevented more serious injuries.
The match in Dortmund was cancelled in the wake of the bombs, which were allegedly hidden out of sight in a roadside hedge.
A statement on the German club's Twitter account said: "Bomb explosion on the team bus at the team hotel. Players are safe."
The local police force - Polizei Nordrhein-Westfalen Dortmund - then stated on Twitter: "We can confirm that there have been three explosions in the area of the @BVB team bus."
Borussia Dortmund explosions: A timeline of events
- 6.15pm: Three explosions are heard close to L'Arrivee Hotel where the Borussia Dortmund team are travelling to Signal Iduna Park stadium for a Champions League tie with Monaco.
- 6.30pm: It's revealed Marc Bartra is being rushed to hospital after being injured in the blast, which blew in the large rear window's of the team bus.
- 7.50pm: Dortmund Police announce postponement of the match and ask fans to stay inside the stadium.
- 8.05pm: Bartra's injuries are described as 'nothing life-threatening' by chief executive of Borussia Dortmund Hans-Joachim Watzke.
- 8.20pm: Watzke makes a statement about the blast, confirming there was an attack with explosives on the team bus, adding 'the whole team is in a state of shock'.
- 9pm: At a press conference detectives say after initial investigation, 'we assume that this was an attack with serious explosives'.
- 10.20pm: Police confirm it was a targeted attack against Borussia Dortmund team.
- 10.30pm: It's revealed a letter claiming responsibility for the attack was discovered outside the hotel where the team bus was targeted. State prosecutor Sandra Luecke said: 'The authenticity of the letter is being examined.'
- 10.32pm: Bartra undergoes operation for broken hand, as police confirm he was 'badly' injured in the attack.
- 10.41pm: The press conference ends and police tweet message saying the investigation must be 'concentrated and professional' adding, 'speculation does not help'.
They added that various windows were broken due to the force of the explosions.
Officers said the devices were detonated outside the bus but appealed for internet users to refrain from "rumours and speculation."
Thank you so much for the calm and prudent departure from the stadium! #Exemplary #Thank you #Dortmund
Dortmund police
They thanked fans for "calm and prudent" departure from the stadium after it was announced the match had been postponed.
It will now go ahead under heightened security tomorrow night, police said - as plans are put in place to ensure safety at Leicester City's clash with Atlético Madrid.
Monaco released a statement saying: “Faced with this difficult situation, AS Monaco wishes to express its full support for the whole Borussia Dortmund team and club.”
READ MORE ON THIS STORY
- Dortmund’s clash with Monaco rescheduled for Wednesday after blast on German side’s team bus
- Marc Bartra has surgery for broken radial bone after being caught up in blast on Borussia Dortmund bus
- Roman Burki, who sat next to Marc Bartra, reveals Dortmund players all dived to the floor in panic
- Monaco fans offered beds by Borussia Dortmund as Champions League game rearranged after bomb
- Monaco fans chant for Dortmund in show of solidarity after explosion on team bus calls game off
Last night Germany's interior minister Thomas de Maziere said: "My thoughts are with the team.
"Now we have to find out what lay behind this. I hope that tomorrow football will once again take centre stage."
We must work on the theory that this was a targeted attack against Borussia Dortmund.
Police president Gregor Lange
Police president Gregor Lange said at a late night press conference in Dortmund: "We must work on the theory that this was a targeted attack against Borussia Dortmund.
"A strong police presence is now deployed and explosive-detection dogs in use.
"We are also searching the crime scene from the air.
"At the present time it it clear what is the background of the deed."
An hour before the planned 8.45pm kick off the Champions League game was called off.
A spokesman at the already crowded stadium informed fans of the cancellation, saying that "there is no reason for panic here at the stadium."
Monaco fans were heard chanting for Borussia Dortmund in solidarity following the blasts.
In summer last year it was feared Islamic State terrorists were planning to attack England supporters at the Euros.
Intelligence experts warned terrorists were targeting football stadiums in their latest evil plot - although it has not been confirmed tonight's events were linked to terror.
Germany has been on a high alert since last December's attack in Berlin, when a Tunisian national hijacked a truck and rammed it into a crowd, killing 12 people.
The German national team, which included some Dortmund players, was involved in the November 13, 2015 Paris attacks which left about 130 dead.
The German team spent the night at the Stade de France, which was one of the attacks of the Islamist militants.
Their match against France had gone ahead despite the attacks by suicide bombers. They flew home the next morning.
Four days later, a Germany-Netherlands friendly in Hanover was called off at short notice because of fears of an attack.
Keep up to date with all the latest scores with SunSport's live Champions League blog
Bartra's former team Barcelona quickly expressed sympathy to the player and the German club. "All of our support to @MarcBartra, @BVB and their fans".
Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy also wished Bartra "a speedy recovery," on his Twitter account.
Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone said: "I'm speechless and concerned. That's the first thing that comes to my mind."
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Monaco fans from inside the ground showed their support for the German side, joining together to sing "Dortmund" in solidarity.
As home fans worriedly checked their phones for information and filed out of the ground, the visiting French fans made the touching gesture.
Chanting "Dortmund Dortmund", the football fans clapped their German counterparts - with the Borussia fans clapping back in return.
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