Explosives found in German Stations

BERLIN, Germany (AP) -- Federal prosecutors began an investigation Tuesday after a suitcase and another piece of luggage with explosive material were found [at the Dortmund and Koblenz central stations, they] contained a propane gas tank, a detonator, batteries and three bottles of gasoline, prosecutors said. An examination of the materials determined that they were potentially explosive, but authorities could not say why they did not explode or if they were intended to do so. . .Both pieces of luggage and their contents were being examined in an attempt to determine how they were linked and whether they were intended to be crude bombs, or whether they were explosive materials intended for other uses, prosecutors said.
In 2003, a suitcase containing a fully functional bomb with a propane gas tank was found on a platform in Dresden's central station during a busy holiday weekend. An engineer was tried and found guilty of planting the explosives and sentenced to 12 years in prison. (AP, August 2, 2006)