A German music festival in the town of Ansbach saw a man set off an explosive device, 12 people have been injured with three in serious condition. The 27-year-old perpetrator had been denied asylum last year and had a history of suicide attempts.
Joachim Herrmann, Bavarian interior minister, argued that the attack was caused by an “islamist” suicide bomber, “My personal view is that I unfortunately think it is very likely this really was an Islamist suicide attack. The obvious intent to kill more people at least indicates an Islamist background.”
The town’s population is at 4,000 people with over 2,000 people attending the festival. The man is said to have arrived at the festival with a backpack at 10pm on Saturday, he was turned away for not having a ticket. The backpack contained metal items used in wood manufacturing, it has not been confirmed if they were nails or screws.
Herrmann continued, “It’s terrible … that someone who came into our country to seek shelter has now committed such a heinous act and injured a large number of people who are at home here, some seriously.
“It’s a further, horrific attack that will increase the already growing security concerns of our citizens. We must do everything possible to prevent the spread of such violence in our country by people who came here to ask for asylum.”
Following the explosion the area was evacuated and the festival cancelled, rock band Jethro Tull were set to perform. The country has been on alert after a shooting at Munich shopping centre which killed 9 people and an axe attack on a train injuring 5 others.
