German soccer stadium, concert arena reportedly evacuated amid security threats
Published November 17, 2015
A German soccer stadium and nearby concert arena were evacuated less than two hours before a friendly soccer match between Germany and the Netherlands Tuesday as police cited a "concrete" security threat, German media report.
Police found a suspicious suitcase inside or near the stadium in Hannover, according to Sky News. There had been a bomb threat about an hour before the evacuation.
Members of the German government including Chancellor Angela Merkel had been scheduled to attend the match to send a signal that Germany wouldn't bow to terrorism in the wake of the Paris attacks.
Police told soccer fans, "Move away from the stadium. Do not stand still." They say the match was canceled.
There were no signs of panic, with most fans seemingly accepting the decision with resignation. Streets leading to the stadium had been sealed off before the all-clear was given.
Security was very tight, with police armed with machine guns surrounding the stadium and maintaining a very obvious presence in the city. Reporters arriving for the game were searched, while a sniffer dog was deployed to check their bags.
It's unclear whether the security scare is linked to the Paris attacks that targeted a stadium and several restaurants, killing more than 120 people Friday. French president Francois Hollande was at the stadium that night, and safely evacuated.
The TUI-Arena was also evacuated, German newspaper Bild reports. The German pop band Söhne Mannheims had been scheduled to perform there
http://www.foxnews.com/world/2015/11/17/german-soccer-stadium-evacuated-security-concerns-cited/
Published November 17, 2015
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The stadium in Hannover after Tuesday's evacuation. (Dion Farnes)
A German soccer stadium and nearby concert arena were evacuated less than two hours before a friendly soccer match between Germany and the Netherlands Tuesday as police cited a "concrete" security threat, German media report.
Police found a suspicious suitcase inside or near the stadium in Hannover, according to Sky News. There had been a bomb threat about an hour before the evacuation.
Members of the German government including Chancellor Angela Merkel had been scheduled to attend the match to send a signal that Germany wouldn't bow to terrorism in the wake of the Paris attacks.
Police told soccer fans, "Move away from the stadium. Do not stand still." They say the match was canceled.
There were no signs of panic, with most fans seemingly accepting the decision with resignation. Streets leading to the stadium had been sealed off before the all-clear was given.
Security was very tight, with police armed with machine guns surrounding the stadium and maintaining a very obvious presence in the city. Reporters arriving for the game were searched, while a sniffer dog was deployed to check their bags.
It's unclear whether the security scare is linked to the Paris attacks that targeted a stadium and several restaurants, killing more than 120 people Friday. French president Francois Hollande was at the stadium that night, and safely evacuated.
The TUI-Arena was also evacuated, German newspaper Bild reports. The German pop band Söhne Mannheims had been scheduled to perform there
http://www.foxnews.com/world/2015/11/17/german-soccer-stadium-evacuated-security-concerns-cited/