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Dortmund bus explosion: What we know

Three explosions occured near the Borussia Dortmund soccer team's bus as they made their way to the stadium for a Champions League match. Much remains unclear, here are the facts as we have them.

  • Borussia Dortmund Teambus nach Explosionen (picture-alliance/AP Images/M. Meissner)

    Triple blast

    Three explosions occured near Borussia Dortmund's team bus on the way to their stadium for a Champions League match against AS Monaco. Police have said that the explosives were placed on the street, in a location where the bus would have been forced to slow down. Some media reports have said that the bombs were made from homemade materials.

  • Dortmund - Explosionen an BVB-Bus (picture-alliance/dpa/B. Thissen)

    Mysterious letter

    Prosecutors have said that a note was found near the bombs claiming responsibility for the attack. This led police to confirm that the incident was indeed a "premeditated attack." Later, German media reported that federal prosecutors had taken over the case. This usually indicates suspicion of terrorism or a similarly serious crime.

  • Fußball Bundesliga Borussia Dortmund - FC Ingolstadt 04 Marc Bartra (picture-alliance)

    Multiple injuries

    Dortmund defender Marc Bartra was injured by flying glass and taken to the hospital. A police officer who was nearby on his motorcycle was also hurt. The bus was badly damaged.

  • UEFA Champions League Borussia Dortmund v AS Monaco Fans (Getty Images/Bongarts/D. Mouhtaropoulos)

    Fans receive praise

    Fans were told to wait inside the stadium until the situation was cleared. The game was then postponed, and will be played Wednesday instead with heightened security. Police praised fans for their calm response.

  • Dortmund - Explosionen an BVB-Bus (picture-alliance/dpa/I. Fassbender)

    Pulling together

    The rearranged fixture will be a "huge challenge," according to CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke, who added that the players were professional enough to do the job. "The whole team is in a state of shock, you can't get pictures like that out of your head," he said. "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."

  • Borussia Dortmund Spieler nach Anschlag (picture-alliance/AA/I. Fassbender)

    Heightened security

    Both teams will receive extra personal security for Wednesday's game, as there is some speculation the attack was carried out to hurt Dortmund's chances. Prosecutors have said they are seeking suspects on attempted murder charges.

  • Explosion am BVB Bus (picture-alliance/AP Photo/M. Meissner)

    What we don't know

    Although police said they found a note by the explosives, they have not made public its contents, so a motive remains unclear. However, German media claimed that it said "in the name of Allah, the merciful." Authorities have said they do not yet have a suspect in the case, nor are they completely certain that the Dortmund team was the intended target.


  • Borussia Dortmund Teambus nach Explosionen (picture-alliance/AP Images/M. Meissner)

    Triple blast

    Three explosions occured near Borussia Dortmund's team bus on the way to their stadium for a Champions League match against AS Monaco. Police have said that the explosives were placed on the street, in a location where the bus would have been forced to slow down. Some media reports have said that the bombs were made from homemade materials.

  • Dortmund - Explosionen an BVB-Bus (picture-alliance/dpa/B. Thissen)

    Mysterious letter

    Prosecutors have said that a note was found near the bombs claiming responsibility for the attack. This led police to confirm that the incident was indeed a "premeditated attack." Later, German media reported that federal prosecutors had taken over the case. This usually indicates suspicion of terrorism or a similarly serious crime.

  • Fußball Bundesliga Borussia Dortmund - FC Ingolstadt 04 Marc Bartra (picture-alliance)

    Multiple injuries

    Dortmund defender Marc Bartra was injured by flying glass and taken to the hospital. A police officer who was nearby on his motorcycle was also hurt. The bus was badly damaged.

  • UEFA Champions League Borussia Dortmund v AS Monaco Fans (Getty Images/Bongarts/D. Mouhtaropoulos)

    Fans receive praise

    Fans were told to wait inside the stadium until the situation was cleared. The game was then postponed, and will be played Wednesday instead with heightened security. Police praised fans for their calm response.

  • Dortmund - Explosionen an BVB-Bus (picture-alliance/dpa/I. Fassbender)

    Pulling together

    The rearranged fixture will be a "huge challenge," according to CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke, who added that the players were professional enough to do the job. "The whole team is in a state of shock, you can't get pictures like that out of your head," he said. "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."

  • Borussia Dortmund Spieler nach Anschlag (picture-alliance/AA/I. Fassbender)

    Heightened security

    Both teams will receive extra personal security for Wednesday's game, as there is some speculation the attack was carried out to hurt Dortmund's chances. Prosecutors have said they are seeking suspects on attempted murder charges.

  • Explosion am BVB Bus (picture-alliance/AP Photo/M. Meissner)

    What we don't know

    Although police said they found a note by the explosives, they have not made public its contents, so a motive remains unclear. However, German media claimed that it said "in the name of Allah, the merciful." Authorities have said they do not yet have a suspect in the case, nor are they completely certain that the Dortmund team was the intended target.


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