Dortmund bus explosion: Monaco tie tonight, Bartra having surgery, letter found at scene
BORUSSIA DORTMUND’s Champions League tie with Monaco was postponed after three explosions near their team bus as it drove towards the stadium last night.
The Dortmund team bus was hit by explosions shattering the window
Dortmund goalkeeper Roman Buerki says the team bus had just pulled out of a hotel driveway at about 7.15 p.m. when it was rocked by an explosion.
Buerki told Swiss daily newspaper Blick last night that "there was a huge bang, literally an explosion" that sent glass flying about.
Police have said there were three explosions near the bus.
The Swiss keeper says he was sitting in the last row of the bus, next to Spanish defender Bartra. The team earlier identified Bartra as the only player to have been injured.
Buerki says Bartra was hit by shards of glass from the broken back window.
EPA
Police remain on the scene in Dortmund after explosions near the team bus
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GETTY
Sven Bender, Marcel Schmelzer and Nuri Sahin of Borussia Dortmund walk to a car after the team bus o
He says players ducked for cover, wondering if there would be more explosions.
Buerki added that police were at the scene quickly.
He said: We're all shocked. Nobody thought about a football match in the minutes after that."
A police spokesman said: "Various windows were broken due to the force of the explosions."
“Shortly after the departure of the Borussia Dortmund team bus from the hotel to the stadium there was an incident. The bus has been damaged in two places," Dortmund said in a statement.
"One person has been injured and is in the hospital. At this point we will inform as soon as we know more."
Police have revealed that they discovered a letter near the scene of the crime and are trying to authenticate it - although they have not disclosed the contents of the letter.
They say the letter contains a claim of responsibility but haven't revealed who.
Monaco fans show solidarity after explosions near Dortmund bus
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 is not clear what is the background of the deed."