German rock festival evacuated over 'terrorist threat': police

Organisers asked fans at the three-day event to leave calmly 'in order to help police investigations'


Afp June 03, 2017
Festival goers leave the venue of the Rock am Ring music festival in June 2, 2017 in Nuerburg following an evacuation alert amid a possible 'terrorist threat'. PHOTO: AFP

BERLIN: One of Germany's biggest music festivals was interrupted Friday over a "possible terrorist threat," police said.

Organisers asked fans at the three-day event to leave calmly "in order to help police investigations" but said they were hopeful the festival would resume on Saturday.

Bomb disposal called to Manchester college in false alarm

The three-day "Rock am Ring," held at the famous Nuerburgring sports complex near the western city of Nuerburg, is scheduled to run until Sunday. It draws tens of thousands of people annually.

In a statement, police in the city of Coblenz said they were in possession of "concrete elements, in the light of which a possible terrorist threat cannot be ruled out."

"As safety is the key priority and any danger to festivalgoers has to be avoided as much as possible, a decision has been taken to suspend the festival for today," the statement said. There were no further details.

Security for the festival had already been stepped up, with an additional 1,200 staff, in response to the May 22 Manchester bombing which occurred after a concert by US singer Ariana Grande.

Manchester attack probe: 13 people in detention

Last year's Rock am Ring programme was curtailed by violent storms in which dozens of people were injured by lightning.

The country remains on high alert after an attack on a Christmas market in Berlin on December 19. Anis Amri, a 24-year-old Tunisian, hijacked a truck, killed its Polish driver and ploughed the vehicle through the market, claiming 11 more lives and wounding dozens.

COMMENTS

Replying to X

Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.

For more information, please see our Comments FAQ