Germany-Netherlands soccer match evacuated over truck bomb fears
Match in Hanover called off, stadium emptied in what turned out to be false alarm; concert hall also evacuated
HANOVER, Germany — A friendly soccer match between Germany and the Netherlands was canceled, and HDI-Arena evacuated Tuesday evening. The local media said that police had discovered a bomb in a truck disguised as an ambulance outside of the stadium, but a local official later denied this.
A concert hall in the city was also reportedly evacuated after a security threat. Security sources told the local media that the events were tied to the terror attacks in Paris on Friday, which killed over 129 and injured 350.
A German regional minister said that no explosives had been found in the scare, AFP reported later Tuesday.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel had been set to attend the game along with members of her cabinet.
Germany’s coach, Joachim Loew, said prior to the game that the world champions’ friendly match against the Netherlands in Hanover would be played as “a symbol of freedom,” after the Paris attacks rocked Europe and the world.
A friendly match planned for Tuesday between Belgium and Spain in Brussels was also canceled Monday due to security concerns following the attacks.
“In consultation with the competent authorities and the Spanish national team, the Belgian FA has decided to cancel the match,” the Belgian Football Association said in a statement.
Meanwhile, Tuesday evening also saw a friendly match between England and France at London’s Wembley Stadium, as supporters united in solidarity after the Paris attacks.
British Prime Minister David Cameron joined fans in singing the French national anthem prior to the game, a way of paying tribute to the victims of the attacks.
Cameron had not been scheduled to attend the game, but a source said that he had changed his mind in light of the horror that struck the French capital while France played a friendly match against Germany.
Germany were playing France at Paris’s Stade de France on Friday when three suicide bombers blew themselves up outside the ground as part of the assault that rolled across the city, which killed 129 and left a further 350 people injured.
AFP contributed to this report.