Dortmund's police chief says "everything humanly possible" will be done to ensure Borussia Dortmund's Champions League fixture against Monaco takes place safely this evening after a bomb attack damaged the German side's team bus.
Three explosions occurred as the Dortmund squad were travelling to the Signal Iduna Park stadium for Tuesday's quarter-final first leg and the game was subsequently postponed.
German police are probing a possible Islamisc extremist link to three explosions that rocked the Borussia Dortmund football team bus, after a letter found at the scene referred to the Berlin Christmas market attack, national media reported.
The letter also mentioned Germany's deployment of Tornado reconnaissance missions as part of an international coalition battling the so-called Islamic State group, according to the daily Sueddeutsche Zeitung, regional broadcasters NDR and WDR and national news agency DPA, who did not name their sources.
The game between Dortmund and Monaco has been rescheduled for 5.45pm (Irish time), with increased security measures in place.
The attack left Dortmund defender Marc Bartra requiring surgery on a broken bone in his wrist.
"The stadium and the surrounding area remain the focal point for police," said Police chief Gregor Lange Lange.
"We're preparing a major police presence for tomorrow and will do everything humanly possible to ensure the match can take place safely."
The police earlier said in a statement that the explosives "may have been hidden in a hedge near a parking lot".
Monaco fans left facing an extra night in Germany were offered accommodation by Dortmund fans via the hashtag #bedforawayfans on social media, while the club said on Twitter that all their supporters staying in Dortmund on Tuesday night would be reimbursed up to €80 by the club.
The French club added in a statement: "Faced with this difficult situation, AS Monaco wishes to express its full support to the Borussia Dortmund team and all the components of the club."
Goalkeeper Roman Burki was sitting at the back of the team bus alongside Bartra, and told Swiss newspaper website blick.ch how events unfolded.
Burki said: "We left the hotel at 7:15pm and went down the street. The bus turned down the main street, and there was a giant explosion.
"I was sitting in the back row next to Marc Bartra, who was hit by fragments of the broken glass.
"After the bang, we all ducked in the bus and those who could threw themselves to the ground. We did not know had happened.
"The police were quick on the scene, and we were safe.
"We're all shocked - nobody thought of a football match in this moment."
UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin was "deeply disturbed" by events in Dortmund and backed the decision to reschedule the match.
He said in a statement: "I was deeply disturbed by the explosions which occurred in Dortmund. The decision taken to postpone the UEFA Champions League match between Borussia Dortmund and AS Monaco was the correct one since we must always prioritise the safety and security of all fans, team officials and players."
The Dortmund players returned to their hotel following the explosions.
Live coverage of Bayern Munich v Real Madrid, along with highlights of Atletico Madrid v Leicester City and Borussia Dortmund v Monaco on RTÉ2 from 7.00pm.
