A scary story came out of Dortmund yesterday. Germany's Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA) informed the public that it had thwarted a possible bomb attack against Bundesliga league leaders Borussia Dortmund. Three suspicious objects containing explosive substances were found around the clubs stadium, the Signal Iduna Park. They were subsequently made safe by the authorities.The police announcement came following the arrest on Tuesday of a 25-year-old man of German nationality at a hotel in Cologne, which is about 100 kilometres south of Dortmund. The suspect told investigators he had planted the devices near the club's stadium.
A police spokesman said, "We can confirm that investigations relating to suspect explosive devices are under way in North-Rhine Westphalia. During a search around the Signal Iduna Park, three suspect explosive devices were discovered and diffused or made safe."
"Investigations into their functionality as well as the potential use of the discovered chemicals are continuing. Preliminary indications, however, do not point towards an acute threat to the public," the spokesman added.
On Saturday Borussia Dortmund are hosting third placed Hannover 96 in a top league clash with the 80,720 capacity stadium already sold out. The head of board of Borussia Dortmund Hans-Joachim Watzke has said security would be enhanced at Saturday's game. If the game itself was the target of a possible attack or if the suspect only wanted to blackmail the security forces is unknown at the moment.
Little is known about the suspect at the moment, but there is said to be no links to terrorism of any kind, which is the security forces biggest worry.
