Man detained over Dortmund bus blasts a suspected ISIS member
German prosecutors are yet to compile evidence to sentence the man held in connection with the Borussia Dortmund bus attack, but requested an arrest warrant to keep him in custody.
The detainee is a 26-year-old Iraqi national, according to BBC News, and is suspected to be a member of an affiliate of Islamic State (ISIS).
Abdul Beset A, as he has been identified while in police custody, is accused of leading an ISIS command unit in Iraq in 2014, and of conspiring to abduct and murder. He moved to Germany via Turkey in early 2016, and is understood to have remained in contact with ISIS jihadists.
But for now, there is no evidence to condemn him for Tuesday's three explosions which rocked Dortmund's team bus as it travelled to the Westfalenstadion for a Champions League quarter-final first leg against AS Monaco.
"The investigations have so far resulted in no evidence that the suspect had taken part in the attack," the prosecutor's office confirmed to Reuters.
A 28-year-old German man is also a suspect, but is yet to be arrested.
It's understood military detonators were used to set off the bombs, likely with the use of a mobile phone. Spain international Marc Bartra suffered a wrist injury in the attack and had to undergo surgery, and a spokesman for the Bundeskriminalamt noted metal shards inside the explosives.
"One of the metal shards in the explosive remained lodged in a seat headrest. It could have been worse," he said.
(Photo courtesy: Action Images)
Despite the shock from the three blasts, Dortmund manager Thomas Tuchel said the mindset of the club's team and coaches was "completely ignored" as UEFA ordered Der BVB to take on Monaco just a day later.
"We were never asked, we were informed by a text message that the UEFA made a decision in Switzerland. It felt lousy. And that sticks with us," Tuchel told reporters.
"Minutes after the attacks, the only question was whether the game could go through or not. We were treated as if a beer can was thrown at the bus. It gives you a feeling of impotence."
Dortmund lost at home to Monaco by a 3-2 scoreline. Turkish midfielder Nuri Sahin was emotional when recounting the bus blasts in a post-match interview.
"Last evening we felt how it is to be (involved in an attack). I don't wish a feeling like this on anyone. I don't know if people can understand this, but until I was on the pitch in the second half I did not think about football, to be honest," Sahin said.
"When I was on the bus last night, I can't forget the faces, I will never forget those faces. I sit next to (Marcel) Schmelzer and I will never forget his face. It was unbelievable."