Cycling race cancelled over fears of terror threat

Rund um den Finanzplatz Eschborn-Frankfurt - cropped

An international cycling race in Germany has been cancelled for safety reasons after police arrested two people they believe were planning a terrorist attack on the event.

The Rund um den Finanzplatz Eschborn-Frankfurt was set to take place on Friday, only to be called off due to "the still unclear threat situation".

News of the event's cancellation came after police in Oberursel searched the houses and apartments of a male and female arrested on Wednesday, citing a "concrete suspicion that the people planned and prepared an attack".

A statement from the Hesse State Police read: "In addition to an apparently functional pipe bomb, about 100 rounds of ammunition and various materials and chemicals, suitable for construction of additional explosives, were found.

"A planned potential target is not known, but there were significant overlaps between the route of the cycling race around the financial centre of Eschborn-Frankfurt and the motion profile of the arrested persons.

"The question of whether other explosive devices were produced and are in circulation is not fully understood. The investigation for possible accomplices is still ongoing.

"Due to the currently still unclear threat situation and the respect for tomorrow's cycling, this event had to be cancelled for safety reasons.

"Many people look forward, as every year, to tomorrow’s traditional event. But no matter how attractive the sport - because of the hazardous situation and the fact that at this point there are still too many unanswered questions, safety absolutely comes first."

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