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International News Title: Police call off Germany-Netherlands match because of bomb threat Police call off Germany-Netherlands match because of bomb threat Tuesday's game between Germany and the Netherlands was cancelled shortly before it was set to begin because of the serious threat of an attack at the stadium in Hanover. A stadium announcement said the game had been cancelled as fans were arriving at HDI-Arena. Police said they believed there was "concrete evidence" at the stadium Tuesday, four days after Germany's game against France was attacked as part of the events in Paris last week. "A bomb attack was planned inside the stadium," Hanover police president Volker Kluwe said. "We want to avoid crowds of people, also at stations. That's why we have requested everyone go home." Lower Saxony Interior Minister Boris Pistorius, speaking at a late news conference, said no explosives had been found by then -- despite earlier reports of police saying otherwise -- and no arrests had been made. Pistorius said there was no confirmation of rumours that an explosive device was placed in an ambulance or another vehicle inside or outside the stadium. Federal Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere told the same news conference that indications of a planned attack became stronger as the match approached, and that the game was called off at his recommendation. De Maiziere said he could give few details because he needed to protect the source of information, and because "part of these answers would upset the population." Most fans were still waiting outside when the order to evacuate came about an hour and a half before kickoff. A police spokesperson told Bild: "The match has been cancelled. Spectators are being asked right now to leave the stadium quickly, but without panic." A spokesperson for the German Football Association (DFB) said the organisation was unaware of the events before arriving at the site. "Police redirected us on our way to the stadium, we are now at a safe location. We can't say more right now," Jens Grittner said, adding that the team had been taken to a safe location. About an hour earlier, police had briefly sealed off the stadium after receiving reports of a suspicious suitcase. People were not let into the stadium about two and a half hours before kickoff. Police then opened the doors and fans started coming in. After the cancellation announcement, the stadium was evacuated for a second time. Referring to the first threat, Kluwe said, "After the first object turned out to be harmless, we got a tip that had to be taken seriously that an attack was being planned." German Chancellor Angela Merkel and several cabinet ministers had been expected to attend the match. Police shut down parts of the main Hanover train station and several subway stations while searching the area around the stadium. A jazz concert at which around 900 concert-goers were expected was also cancelled. Germany were playing France in a friendly during the attacks in Paris on Friday. The game was played to its conclusion after suicide bombers sought unsuccessfully to enter the Stade de France and blew themselves up outside. On Monday, Belgian officials cancelled another friendly that was set for Tuesday, Belgium's home game against Spain in Brussels, because of security concerns. Armed officers were on site at Wembley Stadium in London for France's game against England. Poster Comment: Looks like they are now reconnoitering targets in Germany to see how the authorities respond to different types of threats. If the authorities are smart they will search any neighboring buildings/vehicles for suspicious people, take them into custody and not so gently ask them a few questions... Post Comment Private Reply Ignore Thread Top Page Up Full Thread Page Down Bottom/Latest
#1. To: ebonytwix (#0)
#19. To: SOSO (#18) Not all Europe is warzone, I have several dear friends in Europe. ebonytwix posted on 2015-11-16 21:37:13 ET Reply Trace Private Reply Care to rethink this? потому что Бог хочет это тот путь
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