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Report: Israeli intelligence crucial to thwarting attack at German football match

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Israeli intelligence reportedly supplied German police with crucial information pointing to an imminent threat, which led to the cancellation of an international football match last week between Germany and Holland in Hannover.

The German magazine Stern says that Israeli intelligence handed German police general information on a possible attack the day before the match, but on the day of the game itself was able to provide more concrete times and targets for the planned operation. German Chancellor Angela Merkel and two Dutch ministers were among the dignitaries set to attend the match. Eventually, the game was cancelled just an hour and a half before kick-off and the crowd which had already arrived in the stadium was asked to leave calmly.

Hanover Police chief Volker Kluwe told NDR television at the time, that there was reliable intelligence regarding a planned attack at the game. He added, “We had received specific indications that an attack with explosives was planned … We took them seriously and that is why we took the measures.”

Other public venues in Hannover were then closed and residents advised to stay at home. German police then found what appeared to be a suspected bomb at the train station, which was also evacuated.

Israel and Germany are thought to have a strong information-sharing relationship between their intelligence services. Stern says that an unnamed Israeli intelligence organisation was responsible for the tip-off as it had uncovered precise plans for the attack. The incident came just four days after the multiple attacks in Paris, which killed around 130 people. They included an attempt by three suicide bombers to enter the stadium in Paris where an international football match was taking place between France and Germany. The bombers were denied access to the stadium, but blew themselves up outside, killing one bystander.