Munich Lockdown: Train Stations Cleared After Imminent Terror Threat Reports

Police have received “concrete information that strongly indicates that there are possible plans for terror attacks in Munich, specifically against the main train station and the railway station in (the western district of) Pasing”.

Police closed the stations about an hour before midnight, and reopened them hours later.

German police are hunting seven suspected suicide bombers who planned to blow themselves up in Munich train stations during the New Year’s Eve celebrations, it has been reported.

‘I believe this decision was right because I think we can not take unnecessary risks when we are dealing with such concrete threats, concrete locations, and a concrete time, ‘ Bavarian Interior Minister Joachim Herrmann said today.

Police in Munich cleared out the city’s subway system just hours before the new year was rung in on Thursday after receiving reports as many as 7 suicide bombers were preparing to strike.

U.S. authorities had also earlier warned that a plot was being hatched, Bayerischer Rundfunk said.

Bild is reporting that authorities have the names of the suspects after a tip-off.

Elizabeth Matzinger said the French “gave us the hint that there was a suicide bomb attack planned for Munich during the last night at about 12 o’clock”.

The shutting down of the stations added to jitters in many capitals as Europe ushered in the New Year with heightened security after a year of militant attacks, the deadliest of which killed 130 in Paris in November. The Associated Press spoke with Munich police spokesman Werner Klaus who said they took into account where they got the information and decided it must be acted upon.

154-a-16-(Sajjan Gohel (SAH’-zhahn GOH’-hehl), director for worldwide security, Asia Pacific Foundation, in AP interview)-“number of occasions”-Security analyst Sajjan Gohel says the terror threat in Munich comes as no surprise”.

German interior minister Thomas de Maizière has now called for closer co-operation with foreign intelligence agencies following the terror threat, saying his government would work “closely with security organisations of other countries”.

Police said in a statement.

One resident, Oliver Habel, said that he had spent New Year’s Eve in a restaurant in the southern part of the city, and that he learned about the terrorism scare only Friday morning. “Thanks for staying calm and for your understanding concerning our measures”, the latest message in English said.

“An increased police presence will also ensure the greatest possible safety for the Munich population in the coming days”.

The precautions came after New Year’s Eve celebrations were cancelled in the Belgium capital of Brussels to prevent potential attacks.