GERMANY TERROR THREAT: Match cancelled after French tip-off over ISIS plot to target game

Security forces initially locked down Hannover's stadium after a suitcase was found

GERMANY'S friendly against Holland was cancelled at short notice due to a "concrete" threat of a terror attack.

The match in Hanover was due to begin at 7.45pm but a security alert saw police step in at about 6pm after uncovering evidence of an attack on the stadium with explosives.

"We had concrete evidence that someone wanted to set off an explosive device in the stadium," said Hanover police chief Volker Kluwe.

Referring to another bomb threat about an hour beforehand that turned out to be a false alarm, Kluwe said, "After the first object turned out to be harmless, we got a tip that had to be taken seriously that an attack was being planned."

 

 

Its spokesman Jens Grittner wrote on Twitter: "We were on our way into the stadium and were diverted by the police to a safe place. We cannot say more at this time. Please understand."

Announcements at the stadium in northern Germany advised people to go home in a calm manner and that there was no danger to fear.

Security at the stadium was very tight, with police armed with machine guns and maintaining a very obvious presence in the city. Reporters arriving for the game were searched, while a sniffer dog was deployed to check their bags.

The FA provided this message to fans at Wembley tonight