Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
The Independent UK
The Independent UK
World
Will Worley

'You'll Never Walk Alone': German newspaper shows solidarity with Borussia Dortmund after bomb attack

Images of the back page of a German newspaper which featured the badge of the Borussia Dortmund football team above the phrase "you'll never walk alone" have been widely shared on social media. 

Fans wishing show solidarity with the team after its players were targeted in a bomb attack have been posting the picture which was created using the team colours, yellow and black, on the page of Bild that would usually feature football news. 

Originally associated with England's Liverpool FC, the song has been sung by Dortmund fans since the 1990s after it became popular when it was covered by a local band. 

German federal prosecutors, who usually investigate serious crimes including terrorism, are leading the investigation into the attack, which injured two people. 

The team’s defender and Spanish international, Marc Bartra, underwent surgery night after breaking his arm and suffering shrapnel wounds in the explosions.

A policeman escorting the team was also hurt.

Three explosions went off near the team bus ahead of a Champions League quarterfinal match against Monaco, which Dortmund’s chief of police said “targeted” the players.

The match was cancelled and the Signal Iduna Park stadium was later evacuated.

Two letters relating to the attack have been examined by police. One found near the scene, said the blasts were in response to Germany’s military involvement against Isis in Syria.

However, experts have said the attack didn’t fit the normal patterns of an Islamist terror attack and the letter could be an attempt to mislead investigators.

A second letter claiming responsibility, posted to an anti-fascism online portal, reportedly said the attack was in retaliation for what the letter called the soccer club's soft approach toward neo-Nazi and racist fans.

Some suspicion also fell on far right extremists following the blasts.

The club has recently experienced significant difficulties with a right wing hooligan element and official clamp downs resulted in death threats being sent to a manager. 

The match has been rescheduled for tonight but with an increased security presence. 

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.