German soccer stadium evacuated due to 'credible threat of explosives'

A friendly soccer match between Germany and the Netherlands was canceled less than 90 minutes before kickoff, with fans who had already entered the stadium in HDI-Arena in Hanover being forced to evacuate. Local police told The Guardian that the decision was made due to security concerns and the discovery of a "suspicious package" inside the stadium; the police chief of Hanover cited a "credible threat of explosives" and said that there was "concrete danger for all of Hanover." There are also reports that a truck found outside the stadium is being searched for explosives; a concert venue is also reportedly being evacuated.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel and several cabinet ministers had planned to attend the soccer game "to show they will not bow to terrorism," The Associated Press reports. Germany was playing France during a friendly match when the Paris attacks began; a suicide bomb can be heard detonating midway through the game.

Earlier Tuesday, a soccer match between Spain and Belgium was called off by authorities. A friendly match between France and England will be held Tuesday at Wembley stadium, where 80,000 people are expected to attend.

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