Völklingen explosion: Suspect released from pre-trial detention

A 45-year-old suspect has been released from pre-trial detention in connection with a fatal explosion that occurred in an underpass in Völklingen, Saarland, in April. The explosion killed a 32-year-old man and left four others injured.

The Public Prosecutor's Office in Saarbrücken requested the lifting of the arrest warrant, stating that while the man remains a suspect following extensive investigations, the requirements for “urgent suspicion” necessary for detention are no longer met. The investigation has shifted to a standard suspicion.

Authorities are still working to determine how the explosive package reached the victim. Investigators previously suspected the package may have been disguised as a drug shipment, as drugs and bomb-making chemicals were discovered in the suspect's apartment during a search. The exact nature of the explosive used remains under investigation.