BERLIN: German police said there was no indication of a “terrorist” link to a car explosion in central Berlin which killed the driver on Tuesday morning and prosecutors said the victim was a 43-year old man previously investigated for drug dealing.

The blast caused by an explosive device “on or in the vehicle” occurred during morning rush-hour traffic on Bismarckstrasse, within sight of the Victory Column monument.

The explosion flipped over the vehicle, leaving its front severely dented and debris strewn several meters away.

No other injuries were reported, although the car rammed into a parked vehicle.

“We believe this was a homicide,” prosecutor’s office spokesman Martin Steltner told the daily Tagesspiegel.

Spiegel Online said the victim had previously been investigated by police for offenses including drug trafficking and that investigators believe Tuesday’s attack was linked to organized crime.

The Volkswagen Passat station wagon was heading downtown when the explosion struck close to the subway entrance to Deutsche Oper station, in front of one of Berlin’s three opera houses.

Police had asked residents to stay indoors and keep their windows shut. They later gave the all-clear after completing a sweep for further explosives.