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Ansbach explosion: attacker was rejected Syrian asylum seeker, say German officials – latest Ansbach explosion: attacker was rejected Syrian asylum seeker, say German officials – latest
(35 minutes later)
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'Bomber was known to police' – minister
More from the press conference, Janek reports:
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Possibility of terror motive 'cannot be ruled out' – ministerPossibility of terror motive 'cannot be ruled out' – minister
Bavarian justice minister Joachim Herrmann said that because the dead man’s backpack contained pieces of metal, the possibility of an terrorist motivation for the incident could not be ruled out.Bavarian justice minister Joachim Herrmann said that because the dead man’s backpack contained pieces of metal, the possibility of an terrorist motivation for the incident could not be ruled out.
However, a spokesman for the prosecutor’s office in Ansbach said the attacker’s motive was not clear.However, a spokesman for the prosecutor’s office in Ansbach said the attacker’s motive was not clear.
“If there is an Islamist link or not is purely speculation at this point,” said the spokesman, Michael Schrotberger.“If there is an Islamist link or not is purely speculation at this point,” said the spokesman, Michael Schrotberger.
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Janek has sent another update about the press conference.Janek has sent another update about the press conference.
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According to Herrmann the suspect – who lived in Ansbach – had intended to disrupt the music festival, but failed to get into the event.According to Herrmann the suspect – who lived in Ansbach – had intended to disrupt the music festival, but failed to get into the event.
The minister confirmed that some of the wounded people had suffered serious injury. Earlier reports said three people had been seriously injured but Herrmann did not specify the exact number.The minister confirmed that some of the wounded people had suffered serious injury. Earlier reports said three people had been seriously injured but Herrmann did not specify the exact number.
He also said that there were 200 police officers taking part in the operation in Ansbach alongside 350 rescue workers and firefighters.He also said that there were 200 police officers taking part in the operation in Ansbach alongside 350 rescue workers and firefighters.
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Contents of bomb could have killed many more - minister Contents of bomb could have killed many more – minister
The contents of the backpack could have killed many more people, Herrmann said Reuters reports a news site as saying. The contents of the backpack could have killed many more people, Herrmann said.
The material used to make the bomb came from metal items used in “wood manufacturing”, Janek reports Herrmann as saying.The material used to make the bomb came from metal items used in “wood manufacturing”, Janek reports Herrmann as saying.
Herrmann did not specify whether these were nails or screws or some other item.Herrmann did not specify whether these were nails or screws or some other item.
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Suspect 'had abused our protection' - Bavarian interior minister Suspect 'had abused our protection' – Bavarian interior minister
Here’s more from the press conference via Janek ... Here’s more from the press conference via Janek:
Bavarian interior minister Joachim Herrmann, a member of Bavaria’s conservative CSU party, said:Bavarian interior minister Joachim Herrmann, a member of Bavaria’s conservative CSU party, said:
It is terrible that someone abuses the opportunity to find protection here in such a way. I am appalled by that.It is terrible that someone abuses the opportunity to find protection here in such a way. I am appalled by that.
We have to do all we can so that such violence in our country committed by asylum seekers who have come to our country will not spread any further.We have to do all we can so that such violence in our country committed by asylum seekers who have come to our country will not spread any further.
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Herrmann has said that the dead man was denied asylum but was allowed to remain in Germany because of the “situation in Syria”.Herrmann has said that the dead man was denied asylum but was allowed to remain in Germany because of the “situation in Syria”.
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Janek Schmidt, our reporter in Munich, is following the press conference.Janek Schmidt, our reporter in Munich, is following the press conference.
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Suspect 'had tried to commit suicide twice before' – ministerSuspect 'had tried to commit suicide twice before' – minister
Joachim Herrmann, the Bavarian interior minister, has told the press conference that the bomber had been denied asylum a year ago, Reuters reports.Joachim Herrmann, the Bavarian interior minister, has told the press conference that the bomber had been denied asylum a year ago, Reuters reports.
He had tried to “commit suicide twice before”, Herrmann said. But it was not clear whether he had been trying to kill just himself or others as well in the explosion on Sunday.He had tried to “commit suicide twice before”, Herrmann said. But it was not clear whether he had been trying to kill just himself or others as well in the explosion on Sunday.
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The man had been in Germany two years, according to reports from the press conference which has just started in Ansbach.The man had been in Germany two years, according to reports from the press conference which has just started in Ansbach.
He blew himself up after being turned away from the music festival, officials said, according to AP.He blew himself up after being turned away from the music festival, officials said, according to AP.
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'Attacker was 27-year-old Syrian denied asylum''Attacker was 27-year-old Syrian denied asylum'
The suspect was a 27-year-old Syrian asylum seeker who had been denied the right to stay in Germany, Bavaria’s top security official has said.The suspect was a 27-year-old Syrian asylum seeker who had been denied the right to stay in Germany, Bavaria’s top security official has said.
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Ansbach is the base for a US army garrison at Katterbach army airfield outside the town. It is home to hundreds of troops of the 12th combat aviation brigade, which its website says provides “full-spectrum combat aviation operations in support of the United States Army”.Ansbach is the base for a US army garrison at Katterbach army airfield outside the town. It is home to hundreds of troops of the 12th combat aviation brigade, which its website says provides “full-spectrum combat aviation operations in support of the United States Army”.
The garrison has dispatched troops all over Europe and the Middle East and South Asia in reent years.The garrison has dispatched troops all over Europe and the Middle East and South Asia in reent years.
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Here are some responses to the bombing on Twitter.Here are some responses to the bombing on Twitter.
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We’re still waiting for the press conference which was due to start at 3am German time (2am BST) but seemes to have been delayed.We’re still waiting for the press conference which was due to start at 3am German time (2am BST) but seemes to have been delayed.
In the meantime, footage of the music festival from earlier in the evening has been posted on Facebook by the organisers, Ansbach Open. It shows people in a picturesque old square swaying and waving their arms in time to the music.In the meantime, footage of the music festival from earlier in the evening has been posted on Facebook by the organisers, Ansbach Open. It shows people in a picturesque old square swaying and waving their arms in time to the music.
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