Germany explosion: blast outside refugee centre in Zirndorf sparks panic

An explosion has taken place near to a migration centre in Germany, sparking panic in the town of Zirndorf.

The incident happened this afternoon in the Bavarian town, which is close to Nuremberg, according to Munich-based broadcaster Bayerischer Rundfunk.

However, police said the blast, near to a refugee reception centre, may have been caused by an aerosol can inside it, and there was no evidence of explosives being involved.

The building provides refugee accommodation and houses a branch of the country's office for asylum-seekers.

"Up to now, there is no evidence that the suitcase was detonated by explosives," a police statement statement. "At no point were any people in danger."

A spray can in the suitcase may have triggered the explosion, causing the suitcase to burst into flames, police said.

Police said they were looking for a man around 30 years of age and a woman of about 25-years-old who may have owned the suitcase.

Photographs from the scene showed police officers surrounding the remains of a suitcase on a footpath, which lies about 200 metres from the reception centre.

Police said nobody was injured during the blast.

The area is in northern Bavaria, which has seen five attacks in the past ten days, two of which the Islamic State group has claimed responsibility for.

Failed Syrian asylum seeker Mohammad Daleel blew himself up in a suicide bombing outside a music festival in the Bavarian town of Ansbach on Sunday.