German police evacuate regional courts over bomb threats

German police have evacuated several courthouses in cities across the country following a series of bomb threats. Authorities are securing the premises. Similar recent threats turned out to be false alarms.

Regional courts in Potsdam, Magdeburg, Erfurt, Wiesbaden and Kiel received bomb threats on Friday, police said.

The threats were made by email and vowed attacks across Germany.

Germany is on high alert following a series of terror attacks in the country and across Europe.

Authorities are combing the premises of the courthouses with dogs.
Police said the anonymous assailant or assailants had threatened to detonate explosive devices at the various regional courts.
In Wiesbaden, a suspicious package was discovered at the courthouse. Police have blocked roads in the surrounding area.
Police are trying to determine the source of the threatening emails.

Brandenburg police said they had cleared the building but were still investigating the situation. They had to clear out around 200 people before combing the court for explosive devices.

Similar bomb threats have disrupted proceedings at other German courts in recent weeks; the previous threats turned out to be unfounded.