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Bavarian interior minister does not rule out blast in Ansbach was terrorist attack

The person suspected of organizing a blast in the German city of Ansbach, near Nuremberg, is a 27-year-old Syrian refugee

© EPA/DANIEL KARMANN

BERLIN, July 25. /TASS/. The German authorities investigating the blast in the city of Ansbach, near Nuremberg, are considering the version of a terrorist attack, Bavarian Minister Of Interior Joachim Herrmann told a press conference on Monday.

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14 people injured in Ansbach blast

"At least, this cannot be ruled out," Herrmann said. "The obvious intention to kill as many people as possible points to Islamist footprint," he added.

The person suspected of organizing the blast was a 27-year-old Syrian refugee who came to Germany two years ago and applied for asylum. One year ago his application was rejected. Herrmann said he will contact the federal Office for Migration and Refugees to learn the reasons for rejection.

The minister added that the suspect attempted suicide twice and received treatment in a psychiatric hospital. The attacker planned to detonate the explosive device at the music festival with about 2,500 in attendance. However, he did not manage to enter the territory of the festival. The concert was interrupted, people were evacuated, and the city center was cordoned off. Some local residents could return to their homes for several hours.

Spokesman for Bavarian police Roman Fertinger said that the explosive device the attacker carried in his backpack was filled with metallic elements. "If he had entered the territory of the festival with the backpack, there would have been much more victims. However, he was not allowed in because he did not have a ticket," Fertinger added.

Experts also found a cell phone that they believe belonged to the suspected attacker.

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