Detained 'Islamist' cleared over Dortmund blasts

German federal prosecutors said on day they had cleared the sole suspect in custody for a bomb attack against the Borussia Dortmund football team bus of involvement.

The announcement marked a setback for investigators, who described the three blasts late Tuesday as a "terrorist" act and said they are focusing on suspects in the "Islamist spectrum". "The investigation has not found evidence that the suspect took part," the prosecutors office said in a brief statement. It said it was nevertheless seeking an arrest warrant for a 26-year-old Iraqi national, identified only as Abdul Beset A. for alleged ties to the Islamic State group. Investigators had zeroed in on two suspects believed to belong to a large jihadist scene in the Ruhr region, after three identical letters were found at the scene. Only Abdul Beset A. was detained. The letter demanded that Germany stop its Tornado reconnaissance missions in the international anti-IS coalition and close the US air base at Ramstein in western Germany.

The daily Bild newspaper said police had placed Abdul Beset A. under surveillance for several months and believed, based on tapped telephone conversations, that he might be hiding explosives in his flat. However a raid on his home drew a blank, the report said. Even as the probe appeared to be in its preliminary stages, Dortmund officials criticised the decision to play its postponed Champions League match just 24 hours after the attack.