Police seal German stadium because of suspicious suitcase

Hannover: Police brielfy sealed off the stadium staging the friendly between Germany and the Netherlands after finding a suspicious suitcase.

An Associated Press reporter was not let into the stadium about 2 1/2 hours before the kickoff on Tuesday. Fans were also held back.

Police spokeswoman Stephanie Weiss said a suspicious object was found at the stadium. Police later opened the doors and fans started coming in.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel and several cabinet ministers are expected to attend the match, which comes four days after the terrorist attacks in Paris.

Germany was playing France in a friendly during the attacks. Suicide bombers sought unsuccessfully to enter the Stade de France and blew themselves up outside.