Munich train stations reopen as terror threat remains in place

Police in Germany said Friday a New Year’s Eve terror alert that closed two busy Munich train stations was prompted by the threat of suicide attacks linked to ISIS.

Meanwhile, US authorities said on Thursday they had arrested and charged a 25-year-old man over an alleged attempt to launch a New Year’s Eve attack in Rochester, New York in the name of the Islamic State (IS) group.

‘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.

Mr Herrmann said the authorities were investigating “intensively”, but so far had made no arrests.

However, investigators were unable to offer further details on the potential suspects and Andrae told reporters “maybe the people do not even exist”. 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.

Andrae has urged the city’s residents to “carry on living as you did previously”. The militant group reportedly planned to use suicide bombers in the attack, Munich police added.

Just 90 minutes before the New Year, police evacuated Munich’s main rail station and one other terminus in the west of the city.

It has been reported that French intelligence agencies had notified Munich officials about the terror threat. (Photo by Johannes Simon/Getty Images) MUNICH, GERMANY – JANUARY 01: Riot police armed with machine guns controls the street in front of Pasing railway station on January 1, 2016 in Munich, Germany.

Police, including some in riot gear, were stationed overnight at the entrances to the station.

The city still has a heightened police presence.

Security officials said that the severity of the threat level had been comparable with the terror warning in Hanover in November 2015, when a friendly soccer match between Germany and the Netherlands was called off amid warnings of an impending attack.

The investigation revealed “the threat of serious attacks that would target several emblematic places in Brussels and be committed during the end-of-year holidays”, the prosecutor’s office said. German police said Thursday that they had “indications that a terror attack” was being planned for New Year’s Eve in Munich.

European cities have been on high alert over the Christmas period, with both Brussels and Paris cancelling traditional fireworks shows over security fears.