Explosion near Augsburg Main Station: Two injured, train traffic suspended for hours
A nighttime explosion in a building passage near Augsburg Main Station slightly injured two young people. Train traffic was completely halted for over an hour due to a bomb alert.
Detonation in Augsburg passage – rail and local transport severely disrupted
In the night leading into a weekday, an explosion shook a building passage near Augsburg Main Station at around 3.15 am. Two young people – a 17-year-old girl and an 18-year-old – suffered blast trauma as a result. According to WELT, investigators assume that the two became victims by chance as passers-by.
Several media outlets, including the "Augsburger Allgemeine" and "Bild", reported that it was a hand grenade. The police did not initially confirm this. The precise background also remained unclear. "This is all subject to investigation", a police spokesperson explained.
Both newspapers also reported that the detonation occurred in front of a Turkish jeweller's. Whether the attack was actually directed at the shop has not yet been confirmed. The police also left open the possibility of a targeted attack on one of the other businesses in the complex – which houses several medical practices and shops. "These are currently speculations", the spokesperson said. The detonation damaged window panes in the surrounding area.
About four hours after the nighttime explosion, an unidentified object in the neighbouring station building itself triggered a bomb alert. The police subsequently sealed off the entire station area, and train traffic was completely halted. Both regional and ICE services were affected for more than an hour.
Augsburg is located on the heavily-trafficked line between Munich and Stuttgart; in the morning rush hour, the closure affected numerous commuters and travellers. Bomb disposal experts from the Bavarian State Criminal Police Office and explosives detection dogs supported Augsburg criminal police on site for hours.
The suspicious object in the station ultimately proved to be harmless. Trains were able to resume service, although Deutsche Bahn pointed out possible subsequent delays and short-notice cancellations. The Augsburg transport association reported considerable disruptions to local transport: scheduled buses and trams were temporarily unable to serve stops near the station; replacement buses were deployed, and regular buses were redirected to other terminal stations.
Whilst the main station was reopened in the morning, the area around the nighttime explosion site remained cordoned off. "The road closures are being maintained due to forensic work at the scene", the police spokesperson said.
Source: WELT