Köln

The series of explosions in Cologne and the surrounding area continues. As the police and public prosecutor’s office in the North Rhine-Westphalian city announced, there was one on Wednesday night Detonation in a café on the ground floor of an apartment building. The restaurant then burst into flames and windows and doors were destroyed.

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The investigators see still has no connection to the series of explosions of the past few weeks. The background for the most recent act on Wednesday is probably more in the private sectorsaid a spokesman for the public prosecutor’s office.

Eyewitnesses observed two suspects fleeing the crime scene, one of whom, according to investigators, turned himself in to the police on Wednesday accompanied by a lawyer. However, he later denied the crime and was released again.

No evidence was found in his apartment “that would support the urgent suspicion required for an arrest warrant,” as the investigators explained. There is also “regarding the commission of the crime and the target group”. no apparent connection to the other explosions. The investigations against the man, who comes from the café owner’s family environment, continued.

A search is also underway for a suspected second suspect. Police officers were searching for him combed through an allotment garden without success.

The fire brigade brought around 20 people from their apartments to safety after the explosion in a Cologne café. When the rescue workers arrived, the restaurant was fully ablazeas a spokesman for the Cologne fire department said.

About an hour later, around 4 a.m., the fire was extinguished. The residents were then able to return to their apartments in the Pesch district in the north of Cologne.

residents had reported a loud bang shortly before 3 a.m. that night. Shortly afterwards the café burned and the windows were shattered. So far there is no evidence of an intentionally caused explosionsaid a police spokesman.

Cafe owner apparently on vacation

According to police, two residents of the multi-story apartment building were slightly injured and treated on site with suspected smoke poisoning. They were then released by the rescue workers. No one was injured by the explosion itself.

The building was evacuated while the fire was being extinguished and residents were then able to return to their apartments. According to police reports, the house is located in the Pesch district in the north of Cologne.

The crime scene was cordoned off with red and white tape and investigators secured evidence. The café only opened a few months ago Owners are currently on vacationthis is how the employee of a nearby bakery described it. According to the police, it is not known to what extent other shops and apartments in the building were damaged. The investigation is ongoing and the police are looking for witnesses.

“Unprecedented cases of violence and serious crime”

The police and public prosecutor’s office are currently investigating Series of explosions that recently shook Cologne. Last week there were two explosions in the city center within a few days. One happened in front of a fashion store on Ehrenstrasse; witnesses saw a man about 1.80 meters tall running away.

Another incendiary device exploded in front of a discotheque on Hohenzollernring. There were also several incidents in Cologne and the surrounding area at the weekend. There was also an explosion in Bonn just last Sunday.

According to the police spokesman, it is still unclear whether the latest explosion is connected to the series. According to witnesses, two unknown people were seen running away.

“We as the Cologne police are currently facing major challenges Challenges posed by unprecedented levels of violence and serious crimewhich has never existed in Cologne before,” said the head of the Cologne criminal police, Michael Esser, last week. More than 60 investigators worked on the complex.

Possible connection to missing drugs

A connection to the previous explosions with a suspected criminal background in the Cologne area According to the current status of the investigation, there is no recent history, emphasized the police and public prosecutor.

Last week there were several explosive and arson attacks on buildings and cars in Cologne and the surrounding area. The security authorities suspect members of the Moroccan-Dutch mafia behind these acts. Some media speak of the crime in the context of the crimes “Mocro Mafia”.

The background to the acts is therefore Conflicts between gangs. “There are obviously unfinished business in the milieu that are still being settled,” said Esser. According to Chief Public Prosecutor Ulrich Bremer’s assessment last week, one of these outstanding bills relates to this An estimated 300 kilograms of cannabis disappeared.

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