Device thrown into Mannheim cafe injures 1, police probe cause

An explosion tore through a cafe in the Neckarstadt-West district of Mannheim, Germany, in the early hours of Monday, slightly injuring 1 person, police said. Investigators have ruled out a gas leak as the cause and are examining the scene for other evidence.

Security camera footage shown to the German news agency dpa by the cafe's owner, Francesco Silva, appears to show a burning object resembling a firework thrown through the entrance door shortly before the blast. A person inside spotted the object and ran; the explosion that followed wrecked the interior, according to WELT, ORF and the Kurier.

Silva told dpa he could not explain why his cafe had been targeted. "I am a peaceful person. I just work," he said, adding that he owns several bars and has no conflicts with anyone. A staff member had been cleaning the premises shortly before closing for the night when the device was thrown in, he said.

German tabloids have described the incident as a suspected explosive attack, citing the surveillance footage, though Mannheim police have not confirmed that characterisation and said only that detectives are investigating "in every direction." Officers have not released photographs from the scene or given details on the cost of the damage.

The blast shattered the cafe's shop window and scattered glass across the street, according to ORF. Trams running through the area were briefly halted and the street was closed while officers examined the scene, before both reopened later on Monday morning.

Neckarstadt-West is a busy district of Mannheim lying just north of the river Neckar, according to the Kurier, and the explosion disrupted public transport there during the early hours. Silva was informed of the incident by police and said he only learned the details after reviewing the surveillance footage himself.