Germany v Holland called off amid security fears

Last Friday Germany performed France within the Stade de France in Paris, a match which was overshadowed by the terror assaults in Paris.

Lower Saxony Interior Minister Boris Pistorius noted of a rumor that an ambulance was to be used to carry the explosive devices inside the stadium, but said that such reports are yet to be confirmed.

The scene was very different in London, as players and fans of the French and English soccer teams played at Wembley Stadium. Chancellor Angela Merkel and the Interior Minister, Thomas de Maiziere, had also scheduled to attend the match.

“We didn’t even get into the stadium before we heard it was called off”, he said, walking away with his girlfriend Judith.

“There is a high level of threat for Germany and Europe”.

“I rang [Germany team manager] Oliver Bierhoff on the team bus as soon as the decision was taken to call the game off. The bus was 5km from the stadium”, Rauball said.

“I understand the question but I will not answer it”, he told a hastily convened news conference when asked what had forced the decision. “This is a sad day for German football”.

Germany’s friendly with the Netherlands on Tuesday was called off because of an “intention to ignite explosives” at the Hannover stadium.

Thousands of fans were evacuated, without signs of panic, from Hanover’s 49,000-capacity HDI Arena, where the German national side had been due to play a friendly against the Netherlands. “We can’t say more at the moment”.

“There was a concrete indication about a concrete danger based on confidential and secret information”, said premier Stephan Weil.

No explosives were found at the stadium and no arrests were made, but government officials said there was a specific threat that left them no choice but to cancel the game.

About 70,000 fans then applauded wildly as the two teams stood together in one long line ahead of a perfectly observed minute’s silence in a solemn mark of respect for the people who were killed in Paris.

In the wake of Paris, the downing of the Russian airliner and the fear of returning Jihadists picking soft targets like football matches, many in Germany now feel that their overdue appointment with terror is about to be kept.

It is understood Ms Merkel was on her way to the stadium when she heard about the discovery and was taken immediately to a safe zone.