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Associated Press

German authorities shut down and cleared thousands of fans from a popular rock music festival after receiving a “concrete” terrorist threat.
Rhineland-Palatinate government spokesman Joachim Winkler told the dpa news agency that there were tips of a possible terrorist attack and that the Rock am Ring festival was shut down on its opening night Friday as a precaution.
The German band Rammstein was the Friday night headliner, but hadn’t yet started playing.
Organiser Marek Lieberberg told journalists at the scene that he hoped the annual three-day festival would be able to resume Saturday as planned, but that it was not yet clear.

The festival grounds were clear by 9:30 pm, about a half hour after people were told that they were going to have to leave.
“The public reacted fantastically,” Lieberberg said.
It wasn’t immediately clear how many fans were in attendance, but some 90,000 were expected by the end of the weekend at the event outside the western town of Nuerburg. Overall, some 85 bands were scheduled to play on four stages with Germany’s Toten Hosen highlighting Saturday’s list and California’s System of a Down playing Sunday.
Last year’s Rock am Ring programme was curtailed by violent storms in which dozens of people were injured by lightning.

Following the recent attack in Manchester outside a concert, organisers had instituted strict security controls including body searches, while backpacks and bags were banned. Some 1,200 police were to be on hand for the event, in uniform and in plain clothes.
Germany has been on alert since a number of violent attacks last year, including the truck attack on a Berlin Christmas market that left 12 victims dead and dozens of others injured. The attack, carried out by a young Tunisian man who had been denied asylum in Germany, was claimed by the Islamic State group.
Additional reporting by Agence France-Presse


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Terror warning shuts German  ‘Rock am Ring’ music festival after Manchester attack

The suicide bombing at a pop concert in Manchester, England on May 26 led to changes in the security planning for the German concert

epa06007087 Police stands in a street near the 'Rock am Ring' festival after an evacuation after a terrorist threat warning at the Nuerburgring circuit in Nuerburg, Germany, 02 June 2017. The festival has been suspended. Over 80,000 people attended to the festival, which was due to run to 04 June. Security of the festival was increased in the wake of the Manchester concert bombing on 22 May. EPA/RONALD WITTEK

epa06006909 Festivalgoers leave the site of the 'Rock am Ring' festival at the Nuerburgring circuit after a terrorist threat warning in Nuerburg, Germany, 02 June 2017. The 32th edition of the festival takes place on the Nuerburgring circuit from 02 to 04 June. EPA/RONALD WITTEK

Festivalgoers leave the venue of the Rock am Ring music festival. Photo: AFP

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The suicide bombing at a pop concert in Manchester, England on May 26 led to changes in the security planning for the German concert


Manchester concert attack