Germany had been playing France in Paris last Friday when


Germany's friendly against Holland was cancelled just 90 minutes before kick-off following the threat of an attack at the stadium.

Police chief Volker Kluwe said there had been 'a concrete threat scenario for all of Hanover' and that there had been 'serious plans to cause an explosion'.

He added that a device was intended to be detonated inside the HDI Arena which has a capacity of 45,000.

The postponement comes just four days after Germany's match against France in Paris was targeted by terrorists as part of a coordinated attack on the capital which killed 129 people. One bystander was killed and several more injured while 79,000 supporters watched the match in the ground.

People speak on their mobile phones shortly after the match between Germany and Holland was cancelled following a bomb alert

Fans make contact on their phones after being told their would be no match taking place in Hanover on Tuesday night

The flags of Germany, France and Holland are unfurled on the pitch during the rehearsal before the match

Police forces secure the infield of the HDI Arena after a suspicious package was found inside the ground

Police gather outside the stadium after the match was cancelled, and told fans to move away from the ground

Police set up a road block outside the stadium while trains coming into Hanover were stopped after the threat

Special forces drive inside the HDI Arena after a bomb alert prior to the match which was eventually cancelled 90 minutes before kick-off

Police forces secure an entrance of the the HDI Arena prior the international friendly match between Germany and Holland

A supporter holds a French flag outside the HDI Arena stadium as the match is cancelled following a security alert

'We had concrete evidence that someone wanted to set off an explosive device in the stadium,' Kluwe told German TV.

Referring to another bomb threat about an hour beforehand that turned out to be a false alarm, he said, 'After the first object turned out to be harmless, we got a tip that had to be taken seriously that an attack was being planned.'

Announcements had advised fans, most of whom were outside the ground, to leave calmly and that there was no danger.

Police had earlier sealed off the ground after finding a suitcase before allowing fans to enter.

'The visitors (spectators), who were already in the stadium at that time, were asked to leave the stadium without panicking,' police said in a brief statement.

Lower Saxony Interior Minister Boris Pistorius, speaking at a late news conference, said no explosives had been found by then, and no arrests had been made.

Pistorius said there was no confirmation of rumors that an explosive device was placed in an ambulance or another vehicle inside or outside the stadium.

Federal Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere told the same news conference that indications of a planned attack became stronger as the match approached, and that the game was called off at his recommendation.

De Maiziere said he could give few details because he needed to protect the source of information, and because 'part of these answers would upset the population.'

One of two caretaker presidents in charge of the German football federation, Reinhard Rauball, said the German team was about five kilometers away from the stadium when he called and told them to turn around.

Rauball also told two Dutch ministers and the country's ambassador of the threat and the decision to cancel the game.

'It's a sad day for German football,' he said.

Two German football fans read about the cancellation of the football match on a display board at an underground station in Hanover

Heavily armed police stand outside the stadium in front of a board announcing that the match is called off due to security reasons

The match was called off at short notice due to security concerns and the stadium was evacuated

Members of the media are searched at an entrance of the HDI Arena prior to the cancelled friendly

Fans lights candles in rememberance of the dead killed by terorists in France, prior to the cancellation of the friendly match

Germany's friendly against Holland was cancelled over security threats at the stadium

The home team had been en route to the ground but were diverted away to an unknown location by a police escort while German Chancellor Angela Merkel had been expected to attend the match along with members of her cabinet but had not yet arrived.

'We were re-routed on our way to the stadium and are now in a safe area,' the Germany team spokesman Jens Grittner said on Twitter. 'We cannot say more at this moment.'

Rauball added that the German players had left Hannover by late evening through various means, and that the Dutch team was flying out.

Police shut down parts of the main Hannover train station and several subway stations while searching the area around the stadium. A jazz concert at which around 900 concert-goers were expected was also cancelled.

Two Dutch government ministers attending the match - Defence Minister Jeanine Hennes and Health and Sport Minister Edith Schippers - returned home.

Security in the area had been very tight throughout the day, with police armed with machine guns and maintaining a very obvious presence in the city. Reporters arriving for the game were searched with a sniffer dog was deployed to check their bags.

Former Wimbledon player Alan Cork, who is now a scout for England, was caught up the attacks last week and was also in Hanover on Tuesday.

He tweeted on Monday to say, 'Off again, Germany v Holland. Let's hope for a quiet one,' before adding a day later, 'Can't believe this. Trying to get into stadium, game off as police find bag inside, back to hotel quickly.' He then added, 'Stadium evacuated, back at hotel now.'

Although a man wearing a suicide belt was prevented from entering the Stade de France last Friday, three explosions later took place outside the ground.

Two police officers in the stands before the match was called off and fans told to leave the ground

Police evacuate the HDI Arena after finding a second suspicious package in a matter of hours

Police had earlier removed a suspicious suitcase from outside the ground but fans were then let in

Two of the explosions were heard during the friendly which was played to a conclusion with France winning 2-0 thanks to goals from Olivier Giroud and Andre-Pierre Gignac.

The contingent of 80 Germans, including players, coaches and staff, then spent the night holed up in the changing rooms of the stadium as the attacks took place across the capital, before heading for the airport on Saturday morning.

Tuesday's friendly between Belgium and Spain was called off late the night before following a Belgian government recommendation. The Belgian Football Association said it was 'in the context of a new elevated terrorist alert and the current pursuit of a suspect.'

Ahead of Tuesday's match, Germany's manager Joachim Low said the fixture would serve as a message for democracy.

'It was a horrible, terrible night [on Friday], he said. 'Once we had landed back in Frankfurt, I had the feeling that the game could not take place. But having slept on it for a night, it became clear that the game had to go ahead.

'It's going to be a clear message for freedom and democracy. It is about respect and support for our French friends. If we manage to turn this game into a signal, then we will already have won, regardless of the result. We are all of the opinion that it's good that we stand by our values and that this game takes place.'

His opposite number Danny Blind added: 'I think it's a good decision not to yield to terror, but obviously we would have respected whatever decision the Germans had taken.

'I cannot even begin to imagine what was going through the German players' minds on Friday night when they hear an explosion like that during the game. It's bound to have an effect on them. Fortunately I've never experienced anything like it.'

Paramedics gather outside the HDI Arena stadium after the match was called off at short notice due to security concerns

Police with assault rifles standing in front of the closed-off HDI-Arena stadium and seal-off the area in Hanover

The cancellation comes just four days after fans at the Stade de France were evacuated across the pitch at the end of France vs Germany

Three explosions took place outside the ground with two of them heard during the friendly which was played to its conclusion

Fans on mobile phones inside the Stade de France following the announcement to leave following the terrorist incidents outside the stadium