At least 22 injured in explosion at German Nürburgring racetrack

Police initially blame the incident on the explosion of a compressed air cylinder

NÜRBURG (GERMANY), Aug. 3 (DPA/EP) –

At least 22 people have been injured, four of them seriously, in an explosion in one of the garages of the major German racing circuit of Nürburgring, presumably due to the rupture of a compressed air cylinder.

“Pending the results of further investigations, it is likely that the cause of the accident was the explosion of a compressed air cylinder behind a pit in the paddock area,” Koblenz police said in a statement.

According to official information from the organisers, the incident occurred in box 27 of the paddock, which was closed by the police, as well as the surrounding area. Four rescue helicopters and several ambulances, as well as chaplains, were dispatched to the circuit.

The incident occurred ahead of the ADAC Ruhr Cup, a six-hour race that will go ahead as planned today.