Friendly match between Germany, the Netherlands cancelled over bomb threats

The friendly match between Germany and The Netherlands slated for Tuesday, November 17, 2015 could not go on as scheduled as it was cancelled over a bomb threat.

The decision comes on the heels of the recent attacks in Paris, France, which has caused an heigthened security consciousness in Europe, indeed, the world.

Germany's interior minister, Thomas de Maiziere, disclosed that the international friendly was called off "based on a concrete threat, two hours before kick-off" in Hanover.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel was reportedly rushed back to Berlin, and thousands of fans evacuated from the stadium.

Both the German and Dutch team buses were turned back, as they were five minutes from the stadium when the game was called off.

Despite a thorough search, no explosives were found at the HDI Arena.

It was the second high-profile friendly to be cancelled in the wake of Friday's attacks in the Paris, following an earlier decision by Belgian authorities to postpone the country's game against Spain in Brussels amid security fears.

The Islamic State group, which claimed responsibility for the attacks in Paris, has threatened further attacks against France. It also warned in a new video on Monday that countries involved in air strikes against IS targets in Syria would suffer the same fate.

France and Russia have vowed merciless retaliation for the Paris attacks and last month's bombing of a Russian airliner, also claimed by the Islamic State group, which have galvanized international resolve to destroy the jihadists and end Syria's more than four-year civil war.