Explosion wrecks Mannheim café on 26 October, one person lightly injured, owner speaks of attack

What happened

In the early hours of Monday, 26 October 2026, an explosion wrecked a café in the Neckarstadt district of Mannheim, in the German state of Baden-Württemberg. Police said one person was slightly injured and was treated in hospital. They gave no details on the cause or the amount of damage, and the Kriminalpolizei is investigating in all directions. Asked directly, an officer ruled out a gas explosion, but said police did not know what had set off the blast.

The owner's account

The owner, Francesco Silva, told dpa that someone had smashed the window and thrown a "bomb" into the café, and he described the event as an attack. Black-and-white surveillance footage, which he had seen on his phone, reportedly shows a burning object resembling a firecracker flying through the entrance door. A person inside spotted it and ran toward the back, and then the explosion followed. Silva said police had informed him early in the morning and that he could not explain the background. He said he owns several bars, has had no trouble with anyone, and told dpa:

“I am a peaceful person. I just work.”

Damage and disruption

The blast damaged a shop window, and glass lay scattered across the street while crime scene technicians examined the café. Police closed the street at short notice, and tram services were temporarily suspended. The fire brigade attended because smoke had developed. According to the owner, an employee was still inside cleaning when the explosion happened, although the bar had closed only shortly before. Reporting also said an employee fled toward the back of the café and was slightly injured.