Support The Moscow Times!

German-Russian National Arrested in Dortmund Bomb Attack

Police officers stand in front of Dortmund's damaged team bus after explosions which injured two people before the Champions League quarterfinal football match between Borussia Dortmund and AS Monaco in Dortmund, western Germany, April 11, 2017. Martin Meissner / AP

A 28-year-old German-Russian national has been arrested on suspicion of attacking the Borussia Dortmund football team with three homemade bombs.

German police detained the suspect — named only as Sergei W. — in the Tuebingen area of southwest Germany on Friday morning, the Associated Press reported.

They believe he detonated three bombs alongside the Borussia Dortmund tour bus on April 12 as it traveled to a Champions League match against AS Monaco.

Defender Marc Bartra and a police officer traveling with the team were both injured in the attack.

Despite early concerns linking the attack to terrorist groups, investigators now say that the attack was financially motivated.

Prosecutors claim that the suspect had bought a large number of put option shares in Borussia Dortmund, guaranteeing a set price for the shares if he wanted to sell them later.

If the value of the shares dropped dramatically, however — as the result of a terrorist attack, for example — he would have stood to make a substantial profit, police said.

The man faces charges of attempted murder, causing an explosion and serious bodily harm.

Sign up for our free weekly newsletter

Our weekly newsletter contains a hand-picked selection of news, features, analysis and more from The Moscow Times. You will receive it in your mailbox every Friday. Never miss the latest news from Russia. Preview
Subscribers agree to the Privacy Policy

A Message from The Moscow Times:

Dear readers,

We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."

These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.

We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.

Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.

By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.

Once
Monthly
Annual
Continue
paiment methods
Not ready to support today?
Remind me later.

Read more