Bomb Blast in Baby Carriage Kills Terrorist

A convicted terrorist was killed and a woman companion seriously injured when a bomb they allegedly had hidden in a baby carriage exploded prematurely outside a computer center, West German authorities reported Monday.

Sunday night’s blast shattered offices housing a construction company computer center and another computer company. Police said damage totaled at least $1 million.

The federal prosecutor’s office identified the dead man as Johannes Thimme, 28, who served prison terms in 1978 and 1981 totaling 18 months for membership in a terrorist group and for recruiting for the extreme left-wing Red Army Faction.

West German authorities have blamed the gang for a wave of recent bomb attacks in support of a hunger strike by gang members serving prison terms for terrorism. On Saturday, leftists demonstrated in four West German cities in support of the inmates, who are seeking prisoner of war status under the Geneva Conventions.

Th prosecutor’s office in Karlsruhe identified the injured woman as Claudia Margarete Wannersdorfer, 23. She was arrested at the scene and taken to a Stuttgart hospital for treatment of severe injuries.

Arrest Warrant Sought

The prosecutor’s office asked a court to issue a formal arrest warrant accusing her of membership in a terrorist group.

The prosecutor’s statement said that police searched several buildings in southern Germany after the explosion and detained a number of people, but details of the raids were withheld.

Police sources said the bomb may have been intended for an office of the German Research and Test Installation for Air and Space Travel, situated near the blast site.

A state police office 150 yards from the site was another possible target, officials said.

Authorities were uncertain what type of explosive was used in the bomb. However, it appeared to be a large device that was not homemade.