Cologne market scare: Harmless suitcase causes evacuation
On Saturday late evening, German authorities evacuated the Christmas market in Cologne due to an abandoned piece of luggage that aroused police suspicions. An alarm was immediately raised.
Bomb disposal experts from the State Criminal Office quickly arrived at the scene to thoroughly examine the contents of the suitcase, reports "Bild".
After midnight, the alarm was called off. It was determined that there were no explosives in the suitcase. To the officers' surprise, the contents were sand packed in plastic bags.
We only found sand - announced the police in an official statement.
"Bild" reports that the police are considering two scenarios: either someone wanted to trigger a major police operation, or the suitcase simply belonged to someone involved with narcotics or alcohol.
Incident in Cologne: the revealed background
The suitcase was found by market security services. According to "Bild", it was initially located within the market area and then moved by security guards outside the perimeter. Due to the potential threat, the entire Rudolfplatz area was evacuated and tightly cordoned off.
The evacuation of Rudolfplatz and the commotion surrounding the abandoned luggage led to a temporary disruption of the festive atmosphere. Fortunately, no danger was detected.
The police are still investigating the incident. They aim to determine who left the suitcase at the market and why, reports ksta.de.
