Borussia Dortmund Postpone Game After Explosions Happen Near Team Bus

Written by ESPN Staff at ESPNFC.com

Borussia Dortmund defender Marc Bartra was injured following explosions near the team bus as it was driving to their home stadium for Tuesday’s Champions League match, which has been postponed.

The German club confirmed multiple reports that Bartra had been taken to the hospital after windows were shattered in three explosions near the team bus.

UEFA said the match, a quarterfinal first leg against Monaco, had been postponed until Wednesday at 6:45 p.m. local time (12:45 p.m. ET).

Dortmund originally said in a tweet that an “incident” occurred while the bus was departing for the Westfalenstadion, then confirmed an explosion.

Club CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke said the team’s location after the incident was not being shared for security reasons.

He said: “The current situation seems to be this. As the team came out of their hotel on the Wittbraucker Strasse, this is what I’ve been told by the police, there were explosive devices hidden in the hedge and they were somehow detonated. And there of course the team bus was affected.

“Marc Bartra was injured he has injuries on his hand and his arm and he is being treated. He is in hospital, but it’s not in any way life-threatening. The team of course is completely shocked, and our task is now to deal with it.”

A police statement said: “It is not yet possible to say exactly what the explosion was or exactly where something exploded.”

Fans had already begun to enter the stadium, and an announcement said the situation there was “safe” and that there was “no reason to panic.” They left the stadium when the game was called off, and Monaco then conducted a training session on the pitch.

To continue reading this article, click here.

×

Eye Popper Digital is the premier digital advertising technology and solutions firm. We’ve developed ad units that run across both desktop and mobile driving high-impact viewability, engagement and revenue for publishers and advertisers.

Learn more about us.