SUSPECT DETAINED IN BVB BUS EXPLOSION

Spanish defender Marc Bartra was injured in the
blast, and underwent wrist surgery on Tuesday
evening
German police have detained a suspect following
Tuesday night's explosion near Borussia Dortmund's
team bus.
Bartra op went well after bus attack
The "Islamist" suspect is being held after three
explosions detonated near the team bus as it was
travelling to Signal Iduna Park for a Champions
League quarter-final match against Monaco.
The game was called off and is scheduled to be played
on Wednesday evening, while Dortmund defender Marc
Bartra underwent surgery on a broken wrist after
being the only person hurt in the blast.
A spokeswoman for Germany's federal state
prosecutor in Karlsruhe, Frauke Koehler, said: "Two
suspects from the Islamist spectrum have become the
focus of our investigation. Both of their apartments
were searched, and one of the two has been
detained."
The police were investigating two letters found near
the blast site that claimed responsibility for the
attack.
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The Chancellor of Germany, Angela Merkel, had
earlier offered Dortmund words of encouragement
after getting in touch with the club to express her
support.
"Chancellor Angela Merkel got in touch with BVB CEO
Hans-Joachim Watzke early Wednesday afternoon to
offer her support," a brief statement on the club's
official website reads.
"Merkel and Watzke discussed the situation in a
lengthy phone conversation.
"The chancellor sees it as a positive sign that the
team does not bow to terror and will play the match
despite the difficult circumstances.
"She is continually staying up to date regarding the
latest developments and keeps her fingers crossed for
BVB on Wednesday evening."
Dortmund club president Reinhard Rauball provided a
positive update on Bartra's surgery on Wednesday
morning, telling n-tv: "We have heard that everything
went well."
CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke also visited the team prior
to their morning training session and issued a rallying
cry to everyone associated with the club.
"I have just told the team in the dressing room to
show society that we will not bow to terror," Watzke
told the club's website.
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"The BVB family was particularly strong when it had
to cope with difficult situations.
"This is perhaps the most difficult situation we have
had in the past decades and I am sure that we will
show ourselves as BVB as strong and united as never
before.
"We do not just play for us. We play for everyone. No
matter whether Borussian, Bavarian or Schalke.
"We want to show that terror and hatred can never
determine our actions. And of course we play for
Marc Bartra, who wants to see his team win!
"We ask all BVB fans to support our team with full
energy for 90 minutes."
In addition to Dortmund's rescheduled tie with
Monaco, Wednesday will also see Atletico Madrid host
Leicester City and Real Madrid head to Bayern Munich,
with UEFA being moved to reconsider safety
arrangements for the three games.
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"While there has been no specific intelligence
regarding any threat to tonight’s matches, we would
like to assure teams, officials and supporters that
UEFA always insists upon the highest standards of
safety and security arrangements for competition
matches, and that the safety of everyone attending
UEFA's matches is our highest priority," read a
statement from European football's governing body.
"Following last night's incident in Dortmund, UEFA - in
co-operation with the police, security services,
stadium management and the clubs involved - is
reviewing the security arrangements for tonight's
matches and security procedures will be enhanced
accordingly wherever needed.
"We kindly ask all supporters to allow extra time for
the possibility of enhanced security checks."