First it was the friendly match between Belgium and Spain, and now, just an hour before kick-off, Germany and the Netherlands were forced to cancel their friendly match today over a bomb threat. Following the terrorist attacks in Paris last Friday, all European venues hosting international matches are on red alert, and with a direct threat made against HDI Arena at Hannover, the German police took no chances and decided to evacuate the premises.
German Prime Minister Angela Merkel was supposedly at the stadium when the game was cancelled. Merkel was led out of the venue heavily guarded.
IMAGES: Police searching the HDI-Arena in Hannover. #GERNED pic.twitter.com/FhngjZb8EV
— TNC Eredivisie (@TNCEredivisie) November 17, 2015
"We had concrete evidence that someone wanted to set off an explosive device in the stadium,” Hannover police chief Volker Kluwe told German TV. Security services received information about a “planned terrorist attack” from foreign sources, but no further action has been taken by the German officers.
Fans were shocked by the news and shared their thoughts on social media. Here are some of them from those who were close to the stadium and others ready to watch the game.
As we were standing in front of the stadium, there was an announcement that the game had been canceled. #GERNED
— Katrin Figge (@katrinfigge) November 17, 2015
"Ambulance full of explosions"-rumor disclaimed, for now. #gerned
— pauline (@pauhliehn) November 17, 2015
Is it bad when your government says 'we don't want you to be scared so we're not gonna tell you what's going on'? I think so. #GERNED
— Phil Lefarth (@phililefi) November 17, 2015
thank god for German police intercepting and defusing the terrorist threat at the #GERNED soccer match and evacuating the stadium
— Sean Mitchell (@spmitchell18) November 17, 2015
A big thought for Germany, my friends i Love and the fear about soccer match #GERNEDplease not Horror again! @Padasister @tjpunisher
— Cnath Dreamer (@CnathDreamer) November 17, 2015
Big respect to the German police tonight! #GERNED
— James Tambinho (@Zenit_geezer) November 17, 2015
Some media outlets shared what police officers recommended.
Police in Hanover: "You don't know what a perpetrator is possibly planning. Don't stay in groups. Find safety." #GERNED
— DW Sports (@dw_sports) November 17, 2015
‘There is a high threat for Germany & Europe’ – German Interior Minister https://t.co/J2qBzt5rbU #GERNED #Hannover
— RT (@RT_com) November 17, 2015
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