Overview
- A loud blast around 9 a.m. on Sunday left about one third of the Martin‑Luther kindergarten at Schachtweg in rubble and other sections unstable, prompting a wide cordon and search-dog and drone checks.
- No one was injured because the facility was closed for the weekend, but the blast’s pressure wave shattered windows and damaged nearby homes and allotments.
- Police say they currently regard a technical defect as the probable cause while city spokespeople have not ruled out a gas explosion, and fire-department and criminal-police teams continue forensic and technical examinations.
- Emergency services including the fire brigade, Technisches Hilfswerk and Malteser secured the scene and municipal leaders arranged temporary care for roughly 90–100 children and replacement catering after the Kita’s kitchen, which made about 500 meals daily, was put out of service.
- Damage is initially estimated in the high six‑figure range, the building will stay closed indefinitely, and officials must decide next whether to repair or replace the facility after investigators finish their work.