A bomb went off late Saturday night in central Budapest, seriously injuring two police officers. Preliminary information suggests that an explosive device was detonated in a store located on Teréz Körút and the nails found in the area indicate that it may have been a nail bomb. The two officers were patrolling the area when the bomb went off, shortly before 11 pm on Saturday. The area around the intersection of Király utca and Teréz Körút, as well as the ring road from Oktogon all the way to Wesselényi utca remain closed off by police on Sunday and residents are only allowed to return to their apartments if they produce photo ID. Tram service along this portion of the 4-6 line has been suspended.
Teréz Körút closed off on Sunday morning, with investigators looking for clues following the explosion Saturday night. Photo: Péter Lakatos/MTI.
The scene of the explosion in Budapest, with investigators and police Sunday morning. Photo: Péter Lakatos/MTI.
The bomb blast caused serious damage to the ground floor of the apartment building at Teréz Körút 4, while the windows of some apartments in the area were shattered and cars were damaged. The National Bureau of Investigation (Nemzeti Nyomozó Iroda) has launched an investigation into attempted murder targeting multiple individuals.
According to M1, the country’s public broadcaster, CCTV cameras in the area show an unknown individual placing a bag in the area where the bomb exploded. One theory appearing in the Hungarian media Sunday morning is that the two police officers were examining the bag or package on the street when the explosion in the nearby store occurred. According to the owner of a Gyros restaurant across the street from the site of the explosion, the police are looking for a white male in his forties, wearing a white fisherman hat in connection to the bombing.
But much of what is appearing in the media Sunday is speculation, as the police and the Centre for Counter-Terrorism (Terrorelhárítási Központ – TEK) have yet to hold a news conference.
The two injured police officers – a male and a female – remain in hospital and are said to be in serious condition.
Police talk to pedestrians near the scene of the explosion. Photo: Péter Lakatos / MTI.
