Germany: Explosion near Augsburg Central Station: Current Information on the Incident

On Wednesday morning, there was significant activity at Augsburg Central Station following an explosion that occurred around 3:15 AM. Initially, it was believed that the station itself was affected, but it was later determined that the incident took place in a nearby shopping passage on Bahnhofstraße.

Due to a separate incident, train services were temporarily halted, but they have since resumed normal operations. Here are the facts that are currently known about the situation:

• The explosion occurred in a passage on Bahnhofstraße, according to police reports, involving an unknown object.
• Initially, there were concerns that the central station might be directly impacted, leading to a large police presence at the scene.
• During the morning rush hour, police evacuated part of the station forecourt, allowing commuters to access the platforms at that time.
• Later, a police officer discovered another suspicious object in the station tunnel, which a bomb-sniffing dog had indicated.
• The nature of this object has not been disclosed by the police, but it prompted a complete lockdown of the central station and a suspension of train services.
• Many commuters were stranded and had to seek alternative transportation options, such as other train stops or taxis.
• Specialists examined the suspicious object and were able to provide an all-clear by around 10 AM, allowing train services to resume and other traffic disruptions to be lifted.

It has now been confirmed that the central station was not the target of an attack, nor was it the site of the explosion.

Where did the explosion occur? The explosion took place in a building across from Augsburg Central Station on the city center side. This building houses various establishments, including a self-service branch of VR-Bank and a jewelry store. The incident reportedly occurred in a passage within this building, which also contains offices, medical practices, and several shops.

What are the suspected motives? According to information from our editorial team, the suspected attack may have targeted the Turkish jewelry store located in the passage. However, this has not been confirmed. Reports suggest that the explosive device may have ricocheted off the bulletproof glass of the jewelry store’s display window. A spokesperson for VR-Bank stated that there was no damage to their branch, and surveillance footage confirmed that no one was present in the bank at the time of the explosion.

Were there any injuries? Two young adults, aged 17 and 18, who were reportedly in the vicinity at the time of the explosion, sustained minor injuries. The police confirmed that these injuries were classified as blast trauma. The individuals, a man and a woman of Ukrainian nationality, are considered victims and are not suspected of any wrongdoing.

What are the next steps? The extensive lockdowns at the central station have been lifted, but the section of Bahnhofstraße where the incident occurred remains cordoned off. This area continues to affect access to medical practices and shops, which remain inaccessible. The police are conducting investigations in all directions but have not provided further details regarding the background of the explosion. Currently, they are interviewing passersby and potential witnesses. Additionally, the owner of the jewelry store is reportedly being questioned by the police. The State Criminal Police Office is also involved in the investigations.

Source: augsburger-allgemeine.de