Germany: Music festival at Nürburgring arena (Müllenbach) evacuated due to threat June 2

Event

Police ordered the organizers of the Rock am Ring music festival in Nürburgring arena, near Müllenbach, to postpone events on Friday, June 2, due to a terror threat. Around 80,000 attendees were told to vacate the area as a precaution. Expect increased security measures and significant traffic disruptions. Police are still investigating the threat. Remain vigilant.

Context

Rock am Ring is one of the largest music festivals in Germany. Nürburgring is a popular arena best known for hosting motorsport events. The festival was scheduled to be held from June 2 through Sunday, June 4. An additional 1200 police officers had been deployed in the area following the May 22 attack on a concert in Manchester, United Kingdom, that left 22 people dead.

Germany has been in a high state of alert following a series of terror attacks of varying severity, including one in December 2016 on a Christmas market in Berlin that left 12 people dead.  According to official reports, over 1100 individuals in the country are classified as potentially violent Islamist extremists. Among the estimated 900 people who left Germany to join IS in Syria, around 180 have since returned. There are serious fears that these returnees may launch more attacks in the country.

Advice

Individuals in Nuremburg are advised to remain vigilant and report any suspicious objects or behavior to the relevant authorities. Expect increased traffic and crowded conditions in the area as people evacuate from the festival.