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Borussia Dortmund footballer injured after explosions ahead of Champions League match

A Borussia Dortmund footballer was injured following explosions near the team bus ahead of the Champions League quarter-final match against Monaco, German police said.

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Dortmund said the player was Spanish defender Marc Bartra and that he is currently in hospital. Dortmund said the player was "in safety" and that "there is no danger in and around the stadium".

The match, the first of two legs between the two sides in Europe's premier club competition, was called off until Wednesday.

Stadium spokesman Norbert Dickel informed fans of the cancellation, saying that "there is no reason for panic here at the stadium".

North Rhine-Westphalia police spokesman Gunnar Wortmann said there were "three explosions near the (Borussia Dortmund) team bus as they left the hotel to go to the stadium," adding: "There was one player injured inside and damage to a window."

Inside the packed stadium, supporters of Monaco, which plays in the French league, chanted "Dortmund, Dortmund" in sympathy for the German side.

The chief executive of Borussia Dortmund said Bartra was injured on the arm and hand.

Hans-Joachim Watzke said the injuries to the Spaniard were "nothing life-threatening".

Dortmund police spokeswoman Nina Vogt said investigators do not yet know the source of the explosions that went off as the team was preparing to leave their hotel.

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