Marc Bartra suffers broken wrist in explosions near Dortmund team bus

Posted Wednesday, April 12, 2017 by ESPN

Borussia Dortmund defender Marc Bartra had surgery on Tuesday night after suffering a broken wrist following explosions that rocked the team bus.

Windows in the German club's bus were shattered as three explosions occurred near the bus as it drove to Tuesday's Champions League game, which was postponed until Wednesday.

Bartra, the only person injured in the incident, was taken to a hospital and Dortmund's media director later confirmed the extent of his injury at a news conference.

"Bartra is undergoing surgery right now," Sascha Fligge said. "He has a broken radial bone in his right wrist. He has several foreign objects in his arm.

"The team has been on the phone with me. Everyone's shocked, their thoughts are with Marc.

"The schedule does not allow another option to play this match. We hope that the BVB family closes ranks to play this difficult match."

Dortmund goalkeeper Roman Burki told Swiss outlet Blick that he was seated next to Bartra.

"The bus turned into the main street when there was a giant bang, an explosion. I sat in the last row next to Marc Bartra, who was hit by the shattered glass of the rear window," Burki said.

"We all ducked after the bang, and those who were able took cover lying on the floor. We did not know if had already ended. The police were on site soon. We are all shocked, and nobody thought about a football match during those minutes."

Dortmund players were escorted from the scene of the explosion by armed police.

Fligge said the team told her the seriousness of the situation was quickly apparent on the bus.

"I had direct contact with [club captain] Marcel Schmelzer," Fligge said. "We did not talk about the match tomorrow, but rather about what happened.

"Schmelzer first believed somebody had thrown a stone, but it soon became evident it was not a stone, with Bartra giving a signal [that he was hurt].

"[Sven] Bender then apparently saw one of the detonations out of the corner of his eye."

Bartra, a centre-back who can also play at right-back, is in his first season with Dortmund after his summer move from Barcelona. He swapped the Camp Nou Camp for Westfalenstadion on a four-year deal for a reported fee of €8 million.

His former club sent him a message of support as it prepared to kick off against Juventus in the day's other match:

All of our support to @MarcBartra, @BVB and their fans

- FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) April 11, 2017

The 26-year-old has been a key player for Dortmund, having made 30 appearances, and played an important role in his side's run to the last eight of the Champions League, featuring in seven of their eight games so far.

A product of Barcelona's famed youth set-up, he made his debut for the Spanish giants in 2011 aged 20, while still regularly representing Barcelona B in the Segunda Division.

He was never a regular, though, managing only 59 starts in the next five years. Bartra is also a Spain international with 12 caps for his national team.