Bomb suspected in fatal Berlin car blast

Tue, 15 Mar, 2016 - 10:35

Update 11.24am: An explosion that destroyed a car and killed the driver in central Berlin during rush hour traffic was probably caused by a bomb, police said.

"(The) explosion occurred inside or on the vehicle," said Carsten Mueller, deputy chief spokesman for Berlin police.

"Our investigators are working on the assumption that it was an explosive device that caused this," Mr Mueller said.

He said investigators are still trying to determine the man's identity but confirmed that nobody else was injured in the blast despite heavy traffic.

Experts checked the vehicle but found no further explosive devices, Mr Mueller said.

Police are looking into all possible scenarios that might have led to the blast, he said.

Earlier: Police in Berlin say they suspect a bomb caused an explosion which killed a man who was driving through the German capital.

The explosion occurred at about 8am local time (7am Irish time) in the western district of Charlottenburg, deputy chief spokesman for Berlin police Carsten Mueller said.

Mr Mueller said "investigators are working on the assumption that it was an explosive device" inside or on the vehicle that caused the blast.

He said investigators are still trying to determine the man's identity and could not immediately provide details about the vehicle.

A picture posted by Berlin police on Twitter showed the wreckage of a silver Volkswagen Passat estate on the street with its windows blown out and its front end smashed in.