Stadium in Hannover, Germany evacuated

German police officers search between the seats of the stadium prior to 

an international friendly soccer match between Germany and the 

Netherlands in Hannover, Germany, Tuesday, Nov. 17, 2015. Following 

the attacks in Paris, security measures have been increased for the 

match. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber)

   HANNOVER, Germany(AP) – Police in Hannover say the friendly between Germany and the Netherlands has been cancelled.

   An announcement by police informed spectators about an hour and a half before kickoff on Tuesday.

   Members of the German government including Chancellor Angela Merkel had been scheduled to attend the match to send a signal that Germany wouldn’t bow to terrorism in the wake of the Paris attacks.

   No reason was immediately given for the cancellation, but there had been a bomb threat about an hour earlier outside the stadium.

UPDATE: (11:37:42 AM)

Policeman Joerg Hoffmeister told The Associated Press that everyone inside had to be evacuated after the as-yet unidentified object was found.  Unconfirmed reports say it’s a suitcase.