Police in Germany called off an international football match against the Netherlands less than two hours before kick-off due to a “serious security threat” on Tuesday evening.
The international game in Hannover was due to get underway at 8.45 p.m. local time (1945GMT) but was cancelled at around 7.10 p.m. (1810GMT).
“We have concrete information that someone wanted to ignite explosives in the stadium,” Hannover’s police chief Volker Kluwe told German press agency DPA.
Police evacuated the 49,000-capacity HDI Arena, telling supporters not to panic and to return home.
Chancellor Angela Merkel and her Cabinet were expected to attend the friendly between Germany and the Netherlands in a stance against terrorism in the aftermath of Paris attacks that left 129 dead.
Included in Friday night’s targets was an international fixture between France and Germany at Stade de France in northern Paris. Suicide bombers detonated their explosives outside the ground, killing themselves and a bystander.
Tuesday’s friendly between Belgium and Spain in Brussels was called off Monday over security fears.
