Mikel Merino Recalls Escaping Dortmund Team Bus Bombing
Mikel Merino has recalled the Borussia Dortmund team-bus bombing that he believes he was fortunate to survive, revealing that he had moved from his customary seat shortly before explosives were detonated on the route to the Westfalenstadion.
The Arsenal midfielder was a 20-year-old Dortmund prospect when the attack took place before the club’s Champions League quarter-final against Monaco. Merino escaped physical injury, but a fragment of shrapnel later found in the headrest beside Marc Bartra’s seat had been heading towards the place where he would normally have been sitting.
Merino’s narrow escape
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Dortmund’s bus was travelling to the stadium when pipe bombs concealed in hedges beside the route exploded. The devices contained metal pins and had an estimated effective range of around 100 metres.
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Merino had changed seats shortly before the blast because his legs felt tight. He chose a reclining seat nearer the front of the coach rather than his usual position further back.
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The midfielder recalled an overwhelming explosion which almost caused the bus to overturn. He then saw blood on the floor, smoke inside the vehicle and teammates screaming amid the confusion.
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Bartra suffered serious injuries, including a badly cut wrist, and Merino later waited at hospital for his teammate.
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The following day, Merino was told that a large piece of shrapnel had become lodged in the headrest next to Bartra. The seat where he usually sat had been empty.
Merino said he felt as though he had “an angel on my shoulder” and considered himself extremely lucky to be alive. He said the experience had strengthened his belief that events happen for a reason, given that a minor physical complaint had prompted the decision that may have saved him.
Attack, investigation and sentence
The squad avoided any loss of life, despite the design of the explosives and the damage caused to the bus. The attack nevertheless left significant physical and psychological consequences for those involved.
Authorities eventually identified Sergej Wenergold, who was 29 when the crime was committed. He was charged with 28 counts of attempted murder and received a 14-year prison sentence.
During the case, Wenergold maintained that he had not intended to kill Dortmund’s players. He said his aim had been to make money from an expected fall in the club’s share price after the attack.
Tuchel’s anger over Monaco decision
UEFA ordered Dortmund’s quarter-final fixture with Monaco to be played the day after the bombing, a decision that drew fierce criticism from then-head coach Thomas Tuchel.
Tuchel said the club had been informed of the decision by text message and objected to a ruling made without Dortmund being consulted. He described a sense of powerlessness within the group and argued that the players’ views had not been considered.
Although individuals were permitted to withdraw from the match, no Dortmund player chose to do so. Tuchel felt UEFA had shown too little understanding for a squad asked to play less than 24 hours after a life-threatening attack.
