German Train Station Reopens After Blast, Suspicious Object Found Harmless

A train station in the southern German city of Augsburg was reopened on Wednesday after an early morning explosion near the transport hub injured two people and a second suspicious object was later found at the station.

The blast occurred at around 3:15 am in a building passageway near Augsburg's main railway station. A 17 year old girl and an 18 year old man, both Ukrainian citizens, suffered minor injuries, including acoustic trauma. The explosion also damaged windows in nearby buildings.

Police later discovered another suspicious object at the main station, prompting authorities to shut the transport hub at around 8:30 am and suspend train services. Road traffic and local public transportation in the surrounding area were also disrupted.

Explosives experts from the Bavarian State Criminal Police Office were deployed to examine the object. Police subsequently determined that it was harmless, ruling out a bomb threat. The station was reopened at about 10 am and trains resumed, although authorities warned of possible delays and cancellations.

The circumstances surrounding the original explosion remain under investigation. Police have not publicly identified a suspect, motive or the exact nature of the device that exploded. German media have reported that the blast may have involved a hand grenade, but police have not officially confirmed that detail.

Local reports said the explosion occurred in a passageway near a jewellery store and that the station itself may not have been the intended target. Police have not yet confirmed that theory. Authorities remain at the scene and are investigating the circumstances and possible background of the incident.

Augsburg, a Bavarian city of about 308,000 residents, is roughly 78 kilometres northwest of Munich and is an important regional rail hub.