Germany friendly with Holland cancelled 90 minutes before kick-off as police confirm device was to be detonated inside the ground
- Germany were due to take on Holland in an international friendly at the HDI Arena in Hanover tonight
- But the match was cancelled around 90 minutes before kick-off and the ground was evacuated
- Police confirmed there were 'concrete plans' to cause an explosion and that there was a threat to the city
- Police had earlier removed a suspicious suitcase from the ground and closed off roads leading into the area
- German Chancellor Angela Merkel had been expected to attend the match with members of her cabinet
- Germany had been playing France in Paris last Friday when terrorists launched a coordinated attack on the city
Germany's friendly against Holland was cancelled just 90 minutes before kick-off due to a security threat.
Police
chief Volker Kluwe said there had been 'a concrete threat scenario for
all of Hanover' and that there had been 'serious plans to cause an
explosion'.
He added that a device was intended to be detonated inside the HDI Arena which has a capacity of 45,000.
The
postponement comes just four days after Germany's match against France
in Paris was targeted by terrorists as part of a coordinated attack on
the capital which killed 129 people. One bystander was killed and
several more injured while 79,000 supporters watched the match in the
ground.
The flags of Germany, France and Holland are unfurled on the pitch during the rehearsal before the match
Police forces secure the infield of the HDI Arena after a suspicious package was found inside the ground
Police gather outside the stadium after the match was cancelled, and told fans to move away from the ground
Police set up a road block outside the stadium while trains coming into Hanover were stopped after the threat
Special forces drive inside the HDI
Arena after a bomb alert prior to the match which was eventually
cancelled 90 minutes before kick-off
Two police officers in the stands before the match was called off and fans told to leave the ground
Police forces secure an entrance of the the HDI Arena prior the international friendly match between Germany and Holland
A supporter holds a French flag outside the HDI Arena stadium as the match is cancelled following a security alert
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