Berlin car bomb, which killed one, thought to be linked to organised crime
German police believe the car bomb that killed one man in the capital Berlin this morning was related to organised crime, local media is reporting.
An explosive device planted inside a silver Volkswagen Passat caused the blast, which occurred at about 8am (7am GMT) in the western district of Charlottenburg.
"The car exploded while driving and has then overturned," the police said this morning.
The identity of the man has not been made public yet, however Bild is reporting that he had connections with organised crime.
Police are now working on the basis that it was a homicide, rather than terrorism.
Images posted by Berlin police on Twitter show the immediate aftermath of the explosion.
Gemäß unserer Kolleg. vort Ort, ist der PKW während der Fahrt explodiert und hat sich dann überschlagen.
^yt pic.twitter.com/Ae1K6OvkdG— Polizei Berlin (@polizeiberlin) March 15, 2016
Unsere Entschärfer überprüfen derzeit das Fahrzeug.
^yt pic.twitter.com/kLa89gw5Ns— Polizei Berlin (@polizeiberlin) March 15, 2016
Hier nochmal die Durchsage der Kolleg. vor Ort. Die Entschärfer treten jetzt an den Wagen heran. pic.twitter.com/FQOwSZCCiD
— Polizei Berlin (@polizeiberlin) March 15, 2016
Local residents were initially told to keep their windows shut while the bomb squad carried out a sweep of the area, but by 11:30am (10:30am GMT) had been given the all clear.
More to follow…