Germany hunts suspects linked to New Year `Islamic State terror plot`

Police in Munich evacuated two train stations on Thursday after French intelligence services contacted them with a credible terror threat, Munich police told ABC News.

The “concrete tip” indicated a group of up to seven Islamic State militants was planning a massacre involving suicide bombers targeting train stations in the Bavarian capital. (Sven Hoppe/dpa via AP) MUNICH, GERMANY – JANUARY 01: Police men guard the main entrance in front of Munich main station on January 1, 2016 in Munich, Germany. He added that Europe was facing “a general, permanent terror threat”.

Dpa reported massive delays in the city’s public transportation system after both train stations were quickly evacuated and trains were no longer stopped there. The stations have since reopened.

Authorities were investigating intensively on Friday, Mr Herrmann said, but so far had not made any arrests.

In New York City, where one million people were expected to gather in Times Square to watch the traditional ball drop ceremony, thousands of police officers were deployed, including hundreds who are part of a new anti-terror force.

Other European countries also continued to take possible security threats seriously.

“We’re under attack by IS around the world and we’ve got to take this as a serious threat”, said Herrmann, who is responsible for the police in all of Bavaria.

He is quoted by German newspaper Bild as saying: “The Bavarian authorities have prudently with the support of the Federal Police, level-headed and decisive action”.

Officials said they were tipped off about an imminent attack in the southern German city shortly before midnight as Europe prepared to ring in the New Year in an atmosphere of unprecedented security.

Europe ushered in the new year amid heightened security fears as German police evacuated two train stations in Munich, citing a tip about a planned militant attack, and Belgium arrested three people over an alleged plot.

German Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere said on Saturday closer cooperation with foreign security services was needed after a New Year’s Eve security alert in Munich highlighted fears about an attack on German soil.

Ahead of the celebrations, Belgian police carried out several raids in Brussels and the eastern city of Liege in connection with the alleged plot, with five people still in custody on Friday morning.

Days after the Paris attacks on November 13, which included suicide bombings at a soccer match between the German and French national teams, a game in Hanover between Germany and the Netherlands hours was called off hours before kickoff because of a suspicious package.