An explosion rocked the German city of Augsburg early this morning when a hand grenade detonated in a passage in front of a jewelry store owned by an entrepreneur of Turkish descent. According to police, organized crime is considered the most likely explanation for the incident.
A 17-year-old girl and an 18-year-old young man were injured, both sustaining minor injuries, police told the German tabloid Bild. The exact number of casualties has not yet been confirmed. The blast wave shattered windows in nearby buildings.
Police received the emergency call at 3:15 a.m. According to the German outlet Focus, citing police sources, a large-scale police operation was launched right on the square in front of the station, and the entire area was cordoned off.
While inspecting the scene, officers discovered a suspicious object, prompting authorities to fully close Augsburg's main railway station. Train services through the station were temporarily suspended.
Initially, the restrictions applied only to the station building and the first platform, but the cordon was later extended to cover the entire station complex. Police do not believe the station itself was the target of the attack. Trains were rerouted to tracks at other platforms — the station has five in total — and passengers were directed to use alternative entrances.
Augsburg is a major railway hub through which several main lines pass, so the disruption affected a significant portion of rail traffic in the region. Streets around the station remain closed, with restrictions placed not only on private vehicles but also on public transport operations.
Source: novinky.cz