After the impeded France vs. Germany soccer friendly at Stade de France on Friday, the Deutsch team's match against Netherlands at the Hannover stadium on Tuesday was called off due to an "intention to ignite explosives," the city's president of police Volker Kluwe said.
BBC reports the "concrete security threat" prompted evacuation from the 49,000-capacity HDI Arena about two hours before the kick-off. German Chancellor Angela Merkel was reportedly set to attend the friendly game.
"The match was called off on my recommendation," said Germany's Minister of the Interior Thomas de Maiziere. "There is a high level of threat for Germany and Europe."
Fans were asked to leave the stadium and return to their homes "quickly, but without panic" while Germany's national team was placed under police protection.
"Safety is paramount," Hannover Mayor Stefan Schostok told German newspaper Bild. "This is a fear you will always have."
"I trust the police have made the right decision," he added. "If a threat situation exists, then those steps must be taken."
"The teams were diverted on the way to the stadium. In a safe place," tweeted German team national spokesman Jens Grittner. "We can't say more at the moment."
German Football League President Reinhard Rauball said the Dutch game's cancellation was a "sad day for football".
Last week, the world champions were at a match against the French team in Paris when ISIS terrorists blasted the stadium with 80,000 spectators including French President Francois Hollande.
The German group consisted of 80 people including players, coaches and staff spent the rest of the night at Stade de France's changing rooms before flying home on Saturday morning.
Despite the terror that killed a total of 129 people in different venues, the Deutsch team decided to continue the unfinished game soon as a sign of unity with the French.
