Germany: Munich central station evacuated due to suspected explosives

Peoplerefugees at Munich central station, Germany. (Source: AFP)

At around 6:00 p.m. on September 13 (Central European time), the central station in the German city of Munich was put on alert and passengers were ordered to evacuate after a suspected explosive device was discovered there.

About two hours later, the blockade at the station was lifted and German federal police spokesman Simon Hegewald said there was no longer any danger to passengers.

According to Mr Hegewald, most of the station area was evacuated at that time after German police dogs detected a bag containing a suspicious explosive device placed at the information desk in the main hall of the station. A bomb squad was immediately dispatched to the scene to check and neutralize the device before announcing the situation had returned to normal at 19:50.

Transport at Munich station was suspended for several hours after the incident. Mr Hegewald also said the incident was not related to the large number of refugees gathered at the station.

Munich is becoming a new hotspot for refugees in Germany, with 4,500 refugees arriving in the city on September 13 alone and 63,000 in August./.

According to VN+