By Ayhan Simsek
BERLIN (AA) – A Syrian suicide bomber killed one and wounded 12 people, three seriously, at a music festival in southern Germany, officials said Monday.
Bavarian Interior Minister Joachim Herrmann told reporters the suspect, a 27-year old failed asylum seeker, was known to police and had tried to commit suicide twice before. He had previously received psychiatric treatment.
“According to the initial investigation he arrived in Germany nearly two years ago and applied for asylum. His application was rejected last year,” Herrmann said.
He said the suspect blew himself up Sunday night at the entrance to an open-air music festival in Ansbach after being denied entry, apparently for not having a ticket.
The minister said initial investigations showed the bomb in the suspect’s backpack was packed with shrapnel.
Herrmann said no link to terrorism had yet been discovered but refused to rule it out.
The festival, attended by around 2,000 people, was cancelled following the blast.
