Violent explosion in Cologne restaurant: drug war in focus!

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On June 20, 2025, an explosion occurred in a restaurant in Cologne-Kalk. The police are investigating possible drug-related crimes.

Am 20. Juni 2025 ereignete sich eine Explosion in einem Restaurant in Köln-Kalk. Die Polizei ermittelt wegen möglicher Drogenkriminalität.
On June 20, 2025, an explosion occurred in a restaurant in Cologne-Kalk. The police are investigating possible drug-related crimes.

Violent explosion in Cologne restaurant: drug war in focus!

In the early morning of June 20, 2025, there was a violent explosion in a restaurant in Cologne-Kalk. At around 4:30 a.m. an unknown explosive device detonated in the entrance area of ​​the restaurant on the corner of Deutz-Kalker Straße and Deutzer Ring. The force of the explosion was so strong that windows shattered and chairs were thrown onto the sidewalk. However, luck was on the residents' side as there were no guests in the restaurant at the time of the explosion.

The police have launched an immediate investigation. There is a clear suspicion: a connection with a drug war could be behind the crime. According to wa.de, the restaurant owner's son is said to be the founder of a drug gang that is active on a large scale. The origin of the conflict is traced to the theft of 350 kilograms of marijuana.

Subject and backgrounds

Prosecutors are investigating several theories about the motives for the explosion. One of the possible reasons could be related to violent clashes surrounding drug deals last year. This theory is being taken increasingly seriously, especially in light of similar incidents that have taken place recently to intimidate members of the drug crime scene. According to WDR everything indicates that the explosion was caused intentionally. The spokesman for the Cologne public prosecutor's office also did not rule out the possibility that ongoing trials before the Cologne regional court could play a role.

A picture of drug crime in Germany shows that this area represents a serious social problem. In 2023, around 347,000 cases of drug crime were recorded by the police, an increase of 2 percent compared to the previous year. The largest share of this is cannabis, which has been partially legalized since April 2024. Nevertheless, the illegal drug trade remains a shadow hanging over society, and the number of drug-related deaths in Germany rose to around 2,230 in 2023, according to Statista.

Escape and search

Investigators have already targeted several leads and people. Witnesses reported two people who fled towards the Deutz Technical University immediately after the explosion. Police have released photos and videos of the suspects and are calling on the public to help. A comprehensive cordon has been set up in the area surrounding the scene and forensics are in full swing.

The situation remains tense. Investigations and the search for others involved are ongoing. The authorities are asking anyone who has information about the explosion or the escapees to contact the police by phone or email. In this critical situation, we can only hope that those responsible are caught quickly and security is restored in the district.