Munich train stations evacuated over terror concerns

People were told to stay away from the main railway station and a second station in the city’s Pasing district.

The Belgian authorities canceled a fireworks display and other events that had attracted 100,000 people previous year after uncovering what they said was a plan to attack popular attractions during celebrations in Brussels.

Several days after the November 13 Paris attacks, German police called off an worldwide football match at the last minute, evacuating thousands of fans from the stadium over a “serious” bomb threat.

Rail services at both stations were suspended at 10:30pm, with a warning from police urging the public to avoid large crowds.

Germany received a tip hours before midnight that militants from Iraq and Syria were planning attacks in Munich but police have been unable to find the suspects and are not even sure if they are in the country, the Munich police chief said on Friday.

A police spokeswoman told AFP that they had “reliable information” that a group was planning to act as festivities were well under way on New Year’s Eve.

In a security update, Munich police also issued a statement saying that “following investigations, there is now no concrete risk of an attack” in the city.

It was reported that despite warnings from authorities thousands of people were on the streets of Munich at midnight to welcome the new year with fireworks.

The top security official in Germany’s Bavaria region says there are no longer any “concrete indications” of a terror threat at any specific location.

Herrmann asked Munich residents for understanding that police would conduct more ID checks than usual. Federal authorities said Lutchman met with an FBI informant and purchased supplies, including zip ties, a machete and duct tape.

The BBC is reporting that police are looking for “five to seven” suspects who are believed to be of Iraqi and Syrian nationality.

Another tweet from the police said: “We note explicitly once again that we take the threat very seriously”.

After the deadliest year for militant attacks in Europe since 2004, the build-up to the New Year had been overshadowed by arrests, security warnings, and the scaling-back of big traditional celebrations in Brussels, Moscow and Paris.

No attacks took place and no arrests were made overnight, but law enforcement will continue to be out in full force in the city. “Right now the threat level is the same as it has been… since the Paris attacks, ‘ he said”.