Suicide Bomber; Injures 12 Outside German Bar

A suspected suicide bomber has killed himself and injured 12 others, three seriously, in an explosion outside a wine bar in the German city of Ansbach.

Detectives have said the attacker was a 27-year-old Syrian man who had been denied asylum in Germany.

Security officials say he detonated an explosive device after being turned away from a music festival being attended by thousands of people because he didn't have a ticket. 

Joachim Herrmann, Bavaria's interior minister, said the contents of his backpack had the potential to kill and injure many more victims as they included both explosives and metal parts. 

"Due to the situation in Syria, he was not deported. In spite of the rejected application, he was given exceptional leave to remain," Mr Herrmann said.   

The suspect was known to the authorities and had repeatedly received psychiatric treatment, including for attempted suicide.  

"We don't know if this man planned on suicide or if he had the intention of killing others," Mr Herrmann said.
"My personal view is that I unfortunately think it's very likely this really was an Islamist suicide attack," he told German news agency DPA.

"The obvious intention to kill more people indicates an Islamist connection."
But a spokesman for the prosecutor's office in Ansbach, Michael Schrotberger, took a more cautious line.
"If there is an Islamist link or not is purely speculation at this point," he said.

A large-scale operation involving 200 police and 350 rescue workers was launched, and a helicopter brought in.

Armed police have raided a building used to house asylum seekers three kilometres from the scene.
Detectives have asked anyone with mobile phone footage taken at the scene to send it in.