German police secure the main train station in Munich, Germany, January 1, 2016.
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German officials say there is no sign of any imminent terror attack, after an alert that shut down two Munich railway stations on New Year’s Eve. State Interior Minister Joachim Herrmann said the warning included information about a concrete time and place for an attack.
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.
Celebrations in Germany took on a sombre note when police warned of a possible terror attack and evacuated two train stations in Munich an hour before midnight on Thursday.
“Overall I would say that the situation for Munich is as it was before this threat of attack”, Mr Andrae said.
Cities across Europe have been on edge since the Isis attacks in Paris in November which killed 130 people.
European capitals have been on high alert over the holidays, with both Brussels and Paris scrapping the traditional fireworks show for their respective New Year celebrations.
Authorities were investigating intensively on Friday, Herrmann said, but so far had not made any arrests.
It was reported that German authorities were tipped off by a foreign intelligence service that ISIS was planning attacks with a team consisting of five to six suicide bombers.
Regional broadcaster Bayerischer Rundfunk said the suspects were seven Iraqis living in Munich who were allegedly planning to work in pairs and blow themselves up at the two stations as well in other parts of the city.
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.
Some politicians have criticised German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s open-door refugee policy, saying it makes it easier for Islamist militants to enter Europe undetected.
Federal authorities said Lutchman met with an FBI informant and purchased supplies, including zip ties, a machete and duct tape.
More than 500 police officers were called in on New Year’s Eve just in case the threat eventuated into an attack.
Belgian police were holding five people early Friday over an alleged New Year plot in Brussels and also arrested a 10th suspect over last month’s attacks in Paris.
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“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”, he said. “Thanks for staying calm and for your understanding concerning our measures”.
