Police say it appears unlikely a suspicious package that prompted the evacuation of a German Christmas Market was intended to target the event.

Potsdam authorities defused the package on Friday afternoon, after it was delivered to a pharmacy on the same street as the market.

The market, in downtown Potsdam near Berlin, re-opened on Saturday with an increased security presence.

Reports said that shoppers were enjoying the market's offerings, which include hot nuts, grilled sausages and mulled wine, and seemed unruffled by the bomb scare.

Image: The police were called around 2.30pm local time on Friday

"According to evidence so far, our investigators think it is rather unlikely that the Christmas market was the target," Potsdam police tweeted.


They said they were continuing the search for the sender of the package, and tweeted that "no ignition device" had been found.

It is not known who was behind the package, which contained nails and an unidentified powder, and after investigations police announced that it did not appear to be a viable device.

Image: Officers at the scene where an investigation continues

Interior minister Karl-Heinz Schroeter said the powder would be analysed to determine if it was dangerous.

He told reporters: "There were apparently not only nails but also powder in the canister, and that must be investigated, could it be plaster, or something that doesn't explode or is it something explosive?

"We are now carrying out searches because the package was delivered, apparently, and possibly other packages had been delivered nearby the Christmas market. That's why we are only at the beginning of our job."

Market organiser Peter Klemm told NTV: "It's not easy when you're on the scene, we're shocked.

"But the people here understand what's going on and take the measures very seriously."

The package was reported to measure 40cm x 50cm and contained wires and electronics.

Image: Police are on high alert after the terror incident in Berlin last Christmas

However, police warned of speculation on Twitter and told people to avoid "premature conclusions".

Police in Germany are taking extra precautions this year, following the attack on Berlin's Christmas market last year.

An Islamic extremist killed 12 people when he drove a truck into crowds.

Image: The police diffused the package around 5.30pm local time on Friday

Anis Amri fled to Italy after the 19 December attack and died in a shootout with police near Milan four days later.