Thuringia: LKA: swastika explosive device no pipe bombs

Straußfurt (dpa/th) - After the discovery of explosive devices with a swastika inscription at a train station in Straußfurt, the background is still unclear.

Thuringia: LKA: swastika explosive device no pipe bombs

Straußfurt (dpa/th) - After the discovery of explosive devices with a swastika inscription at a train station in Straußfurt, the background is still unclear. The forensic investigation revealed "that the two explosive devices found were not pipe bombs and not remotely detonable explosive devices," said a spokeswoman for the State Criminal Police Office (LKA) on Tuesday in Erfurt. One of the explosive devices was "completely unsuitable" to cause an explosion. The second explosive device would probably have caused damage if it had been triggered in the immediate vicinity.

It was still not clear on Tuesday who deposited the objects with the explosive device there and why or with what purpose. Witnesses could contact the police around the clock with information, the spokeswoman said.

State security took over the investigation. Because a swastika was written on one of the two packages of explosives found, there was a suspicion of politically motivated crime, it was said as a justification. According to the LKA, further witness interviews are currently taking place. Service dogs are also on site.

"The discovery of the bomb shows that extreme right-wingers feel confirmed by the ongoing agitation and are increasingly willing to use violence and commit crimes," said Madeleine Henfling, spokeswoman for domestic affairs for the Greens in the Thuringian state parliament. Hate speech and calls for criminal offenses would have to be pursued consistently and the incidents would have to be extensively clarified.