Hoax bomb threat hits top reality show
Reality show “Germany's Next Top Model” was cancelled on Thursday night after a false bomb threat forced the evacuation of the SAP Arena in Mannheim, where the final was being filmed.
The threatening call was made at 9.07 pm, just before police found a suspicious suitcase in one of the coat check offices
Broadcaster ProSieben cancelled the live transmission and evacuated the 10,000 spectators from the stadium at around 9.30 pm.
Viewers at home were told simply that there were “technical problems” with the broadcast.
After detectives from the state police found nothing in the suitcase, more than 100 officers searched the stadium and found no further sign of a bomb.
A police spokesman said on Friday morning that there was no clue to the identity of the anonymous caller who had made the threat.
There have been a spate of recent events cancelled over hoax bomb threats, with a Frankfurt cycle race on May 1st and Brunswick's carnival parade in February both high-profile victims.
Bild reporter Daniel Cramer who attended the event reported that at first only the show's judges were evacuated from the building.
“The public was told that there was a technical problem. Then at ten to ten everyone had to leave the hall.”
Video taken by people in the audience shows a relatively orderly evacuation, with staff members refusing to tell the public why they are being asked to leave.
The show's presenter Heidi Klum, along with her 11-year-old daughter and the other members of the panel, was taken to a secret location, the tabloid reports, saying some audience members were angry at the preferential treatment given to the show's stars.
“If 10,000 audience members snuff it, its not so bad as if it were to happen to a few celebrities,” one evacuated fan commented sarcastically.
SEE ALSO: Braunschweig cancels parade over threat
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The threatening call was made at 9.07 pm, just before police found a suspicious suitcase in one of the coat check offices
Broadcaster ProSieben cancelled the live transmission and evacuated the 10,000 spectators from the stadium at around 9.30 pm.
Viewers at home were told simply that there were “technical problems” with the broadcast.
After detectives from the state police found nothing in the suitcase, more than 100 officers searched the stadium and found no further sign of a bomb.
A police spokesman said on Friday morning that there was no clue to the identity of the anonymous caller who had made the threat.
There have been a spate of recent events cancelled over hoax bomb threats, with a Frankfurt cycle race on May 1st and Brunswick's carnival parade in February both high-profile victims.
Bild reporter Daniel Cramer who attended the event reported that at first only the show's judges were evacuated from the building.
“The public was told that there was a technical problem. Then at ten to ten everyone had to leave the hall.”
Video taken by people in the audience shows a relatively orderly evacuation, with staff members refusing to tell the public why they are being asked to leave.
The show's presenter Heidi Klum, along with her 11-year-old daughter and the other members of the panel, was taken to a secret location, the tabloid reports, saying some audience members were angry at the preferential treatment given to the show's stars.
“If 10,000 audience members snuff it, its not so bad as if it were to happen to a few celebrities,” one evacuated fan commented sarcastically.
SEE ALSO: Braunschweig cancels parade over threat
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