Hannover bomb threat - live updates
http://www.dw.com/en/hannover-bomb-threat-live-updates/a-18856763Germany's match against the Netherlands has been called off after a bomb threat at Hannover's main football stadium. The area has been evacuated and spectators have been moved to safe areas.
All updates in Universal Coordinated Time (UTC)
Germany remains on alert after the friendly international match between Germany and the Netherlands was called off at the last minute on Tuesday evening due to a bomb threat.
The game was due to be played at the main football stadium in Hannover, just four days after the Paris attacks - some of which targeted a France vs Germany friendly match at the Stade de France.
Volker Klume, Hanover's chief of police, told German TV that a device was found that was "intended to be set-off inside the stadium."
Police ordered the stadium to be evacuated and fans were instructed not to hang around the area.
Police vans with loudspeakers ordered fans to leave and the city's TUI multi-purpose arena was also evacuated, where a concert was about to start.
Local media reported that an ambulance had been found close to the stadium packed with explosives, although this has not been confirmed.
Later the main train station in Hannover was closed due to another security alert.
Chancellor Angela Merkel along with several other ministers were due to attend the match. She had not yet arrived at the stadium when the game was called off.
Germany's Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere held a press conference following the bomb scare.
Earlier on Tuesday, seven people were arrested in the western German city of Aachen in connection with last Friday's Paris attacks but they were released a few hours later without charge.
21:15: Hannover chief of police Volker Kluwe says German authorities "had concrete warnings that someone in the stadium wanted to detonate explosives."
"We received a serious indication that a bomb attack was planned inside the stadium tonight," he tells German public broadcaster ARD.
21:10: A second stadium in Hannover has been evacuated. Fans had been waiting to see German band "Söhne Mannheims."
20:46: Pistorius: Security efforts couldn't have been faster #gerned
20:42: Pistorius: "Contrary to reports, no explosives have been found."
20:42: Lower-Saxony Interior Minister Boris Pistorius: no arrests have been made until now and no explosives found.
20:40: De Maiziere: "There have not been any arrests made."
20:38 Rauball: "German players on way back to club teams, Dutch flying home." #GERNED
20:37: de Maiziere: "Information came from a foreign source. Central station partially closed off as are some public transport stops."
20:27: de Maiziere has confirmed he recommended cancelling tonight's game between Germany and Holland.
20:25: A press conference is underway in Hannover with German Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere.
20:15: Police in Hanover have closed a section of the city's central train station as another object has been discovered.
18:52: Fans are asked to evacuate the stadium in an orderly fashion and not to remain in the area amid an ongoing safety alert.
18:33: Police say the match between Germany and the Netherlands has been called off for "security reasons."
