DEVELOPING: German Soccer Match Canceled, Crowd Evacuated Amid ‘Serious Plans’ of Attack

By J.D. DurkinNov 17th, 2015, 2:06 pm
 


A soccer match between Germany and the Netherlands in the German city of Hannover was suddenly canceled this afternoon and the stadium is being evacuated. CNN reports, “Police said all visitors at the Hannover stadium have been asked to calmly leave.”

According to NBC News, German Chancellor Angela Merkel was supposed to be in attendance at the friendly match alongside other top officials “to show they will not bow to terrorism.” The interim president of the German football association (DFB) Reinhard Rauball said, “For the team to play against the Dutch only a few days after the terrible experiences in Paris is a necessary signal.”

Security measures were reportedly increased for today’s match after the terror attacks in Paris Friday night that included coordinated blasts outside of Stade de France.

We will update with more information as it becomes available.

UPDATE — 2:19 p.m. ET: BNO News is reporting that German police have uncovered “serious plans” to launch an attack at the stadium.

Unconfirmed reports from Conflict News indicate a truck bomb may have been discovered near the stadium.

UPDATE — 2:54 p.m. ET: Tom Steinfort of Channel 9 Australia News has taken to Twitter to provide the following update according to unconfirmed reports:

UPDATE — 3:26 p.m. ET: Breaking News Feed has Tweeted that a second object has been discovered at the Hannover train station. A reporter from NTV in Germany told CNN’s Brooke Baldwin at 3:23 p.m. ET, “And now we hear that there is also a device found in the train station just a few minutes ago, also there was an evacuation is ongoing now.”

UPDATED — 5:13 p.m. ET: Fox News’ Shep Smith Tweeted out the following clarifying information after several reports:

  [featured image via Twitter]

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