Suspect Accused Of Plotting To Bomb Signal Iduna Park Apprehended

The German police have apprehended a man suspected of being involved with the three explosives found outside Borussia Dortmund’s Signal Iduna Park. The suspect, a 25-year-old German man, was arrested in Cologne and a search of his apartment found three other explosive devices, although tests are still being conducted to determine whether the devices found outside the stadium or at his apartment could have exploded.

Any concerns about the plot being part of a greater plan and a threat to civilians were quickly shot down by the interior ministry, which stated that the suspect had “no links to terrorist or Islamist” groups. “The suspect was apparently acting on his own with a criminal motivation. There was no danger to any third parties at any time.”

Dortmund are scheduled to host Hannover on Saturday at Signal Iduna Park and they will go ahead with that match as official moved to ease any safety concerns.“We expect no security threat at all for the upcoming Bundesliga match on Saturday,” a spokesman for the Dortmund police department said. “The visitors are invited to come to Dortmund. They will be safe here.”

The investigation into a possible attack began in February when anonymous tips were sent to the German embassy in Islamabad, the Pakistani capital. The tips offered information about two planned attacks and when the suspect was detained, he admitted to sending the tips and making up details of the attack, according to German police. He then told the police about the explosive in his apartment, which were later found.

In addition to the explosives, the search of the apartment turned up extensive written material on making chemical weapon as well as information to a possible motive. “The possible connection to an attempted extortion against a business in 2010 has been confirmed during the search,” a police statement said.