Following the explosion of a homemade bomb on a children’s playground in Leipzig on Thursday, the Saxon police are warning the public against touching unidentifiable objects, as they may contain explosive devices. In a statement published on Friday, the police emphasized the danger posed by illegal pyrotechnics and self-made explosives, which can cause significant harm to life and limb. The warning comes as a 40-year-old man remains hospitalized with severe injuries after finding the bomb on the playground and attempting to dispose of it in a trash can.
The police are urging people to exercise caution and not touch objects whose contents or origins are unknown. Instead, they should contact the fire department or the police under the emergency numbers 110 or 112 and maintain a safe distance. The police have not released any information on the motives behind the incident, but experts speculate that the bombs may have been deliberately placed to cause harm and death.
The incident occurred on the early afternoon of Thursday in a park in the Stötteritz district of Leipzig. The man, who was attempting to dispose of the object in a trash can, was severely injured when the bomb detonated. He underwent an 11-hour operation and was fortunate to have his left hand saved.
The police are still investigating the circumstances of the incident, including the possibility of intentional placement of the bomb. No suspects have been named or arrested.
This is not the first time such an incident has occurred in Leipzig. In 2021, a series of similar events took place, in which a 34-year-old man had placed homemade explosives in various locations, including an old clothes container, a footpath, and near a elementary school. Two passersby were injured when they touched the packages. The perpetrator was later found to have hidden over 40 more explosives in his home and was sentenced to five and a half years in prison for multiple counts of causing an explosion and bodily harm.