Man injured in Denmark explosion

COPENHAGEN, Denmark -- A car bomb has exploded near a hotel in the Danish city of Aarhus, seriously injuring the driver.

Police said Henrik Nielsen, 38, was in a critical condition after the device went off under his seat as he turned the key in the ignition of his Mercedes at around 1200 local time (1000 GMT) on Saturday.

The explosion happened in a car park below the four-story Hotel Atlantic in the country's second city, 200 kilometres (120 miles) northwest of the capital, Copenhagen.

The man was not connected to the hotel and no other damage was reported, said Deputy Chief Investigator Allan Lund.

The hotel was evacuated while bomb experts combed the area after the blast, but guests were allowed back later in the day.

Lund said police were still investigating possible motives for the blast but believed it may have been drug-related.

"The act is so violent and serious that something big must lie behind it, possibly a showdown among criminals involved in narcotics," Lund said.

The Associated Press & Reuters contributed to this report.

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