How Africa
A footballer has been injured after three explosions close to a Champions League team bus ahead of the quarter final.
Spanish defender Marc Bartra has been taken to hospital where he had to have surgery to his wrist over cuts caused by shards from the window.
Police are working on the assumption that the blasts were caused by ‘serious explosive devices,’ which may have been hidden in a hedge near a car park.
They went off as the bus left the hotel where the team had been staying ahead of the match.
Borussia Dortmund had been due to play Monaco this evening, but the match has been postponed until Wednesday.
Dortmund goalkeeper Roman Buerki said the team bus had just pulled out of the hotel driveway when an explosion – a ‘huge bang’ – happened and sent glass flying.
The Switzerland international told Swiss daily Blick that he was sitting in the last row of the bus, next to Bartra.
Bartra was hit by shards from the broken back window, he added. Players ducked for cover, wondering whether there would be more explosions.
‘We’re all shocked – nobody thought about a football match in the minutes after that,’ he said.
A statement on the club’s Twitter account said: ‘Bomb explosion on the team bus at the team hotel. Players are safe.’
People waiting in the stadium were told to stay calm, as police said they were investigating what happened.
Police Dortmund said in a statement: ‘In the run-up to the Champions League game between BVB (Dortmund) and AS Monaco, there was just after 7pm tonight an explosion close to the BVB team bus.’
The statement added: ‘According to what we currently know, the wheels of the bus (totally or partly) burst and one person was injured.
‘It is not yet possible to say exactly what the explosion was or exactly where something exploded.’
Thanks for your patience and understanding and the "Dortmund! Dortmund" chants, dear supporters of @AS_Monaco_EN! pic.twitter.com/Gcz9XGQY0J
— Borussia Dortmund (@BVB) April 11, 2017
#bvbasm has just been postponed until Wednesday, 12 April 1845 CET. Tickets remain valid. Thanks to everyone involved in the decision.
— Borussia Dortmund (@BVB) April 11, 2017
All of our support to @MarcBartra, @BVB and their fans
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) April 11, 2017
Dans l'attente de la décision de l'UEFA, les supporters de l'@AS_Monaco scandent des "Dortmund Dortmund" #BVBASM pic.twitter.com/wuZ5IDirOi
— Nicolas Werquin (@NicolasWerquin) April 11, 2017
