The explosion was the second in a week in Cologne’s city center. Police said it was still too early to say if there was a connection. Sniffer dogs were on the site as officers investigated.
The most relevant part is at the very bottom of the article:
There have been reports in recent months of small explosions across the state of North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW), where Cologne is located, due to gang-related activity.
In the Netherlands, setting off small explosions outside buildings is a common intimidation tactic for some drug traffickers. NRW borders the Netherlands and is on the obvious route from there to central and eastern Europe, as well as the rest of Germany.
Yeah, the Netherlands has been averaging more thank one of these a day for more than 2 years now. It’s a real headache for police.
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https://www.dw.com/en/germany-second-explosion-shakes-cologne/a-70245020
Grandad thinks it’s WWII again and stole a Spitfire!