Cancellation of Germany-Netherlands Football Match Due to Bomb Threat

Reports indicate that a friendly football match scheduled for Tuesday, November 17, between Germany and the Netherlands in Hanover, Germany, was canceled shortly before the start due to a "bomb threat from an Islamist group." "Volker Kluwe," the head of Hanover police, told the German news agency that "we have received credible information that someone intended to detonate a bomb inside the stadium." He also stated that this threat is "serious" and there is a real threat scenario "for the entire city of Hanover." According to the Associated Press, "Volker Kluwe" urged the people of Hanover to go home, avoid coming to the stadiums, and not to move in large groups. "Jörg Hoffmeister," a spokesman for the German police, also told the Associated Press that an unidentified object was found in the stadium, prompting the police to evacuate all attendees. Angela Merkel, the Chancellor of Germany, along with several other German officials, was also scheduled to attend the match in Hanover. The Dutch Ministers of Defense and Sports, who were on their way to the stadium to watch the match, have now returned to the Netherlands. The German news agency reports that security officials in Berlin have stated that a foreign intelligence service warned Germany about the possibility of an attack by Muslim extremists. Meanwhile, it has been reported that a concert venue named "T-Arena" in Hanover was evacuated before a music program with 900 attendees due to bomb threat concerns. Additionally, CNN reported the discovery of a suspicious device at the Hanover train station. It is also reported that police have closed parts of the Hanover train station and several metro stations in the city. The German Interior Minister is scheduled to hold a press conference on Tuesday evening regarding the developments in Hanover. The football match between Germany and the Netherlands was intended to symbolize "freedom" and show solidarity with the victims of the Paris attacks. On Friday, November 13, simultaneous attacks on a concert hall, a stadium, and several cafes and bars in Paris resulted in 132 deaths and around 350 injuries; ISIS claimed responsibility for these attacks. Just a day prior, due to security concerns, a friendly football match between Spain and Belgium in Brussels was also canceled. However, on Tuesday evening, the match between the England football team and the French national team, attended by British Prime Minister David Cameron and Prince William in London, commenced as scheduled under strict security measures.