Near a Christmas market in city centre of Potsdam, a package was found in afternoon – obviously with a firecrackers. The surrounding area, including Christmas market and numerous shops, was cleared, as a police spokesman said. The package was defused, as police on Twitter shared.

An X-ray investigation showed that package included nails, as Brandenburg's interior Minister Karl-Heinz Schröter (SPD) said. According to police, package was delivered by a courier from a pharmacy. The investigators shared that it was a "cylindrical object with cables, batteries, and nails". The investigators would now look nationwide for possible parallels, said Schröter in RBB.

There is some indication that package was not explosive because no detonator had been found, said interior minister. Schröter announced a nationwide check on wher portions of contents of package had already been discovered somewhere. As soon as analysis of package is complete, a query will be sent to all federal states. The Minister of Interior described find as "very well imitated explosives", which would have been quite dangerous with an ignitable explosive body.

In run-up re was no evidence of incident, Schröter furr shared. It is too early to talk about an attack on Christmas market. It is also possible that package was intended for pharmacy.

The State protection of National Criminal office has meanwhile taken over investigation. The background was that a political motive could not be ruled out, said spokesman of police presidium, Torsten Herbst. In addition, re are specialists in State Protection for explosives and incendiary devices. The Brandenburg minister-President Dietmar Woidke thanked police for ir "quick and at same time prudent" deployment.

In evening police were looking for or possible packages that could have been delivered in area. The search ranged to a radius of 300 to 400 meters. But no or package was discovered. The police assume that Potsdam Christmas market can open again regularly on Saturday.

The IEDs suspicion has been confirmed. The affected area in downtown Potsdam must be cleared! Please note our loudspeaker announcements! 0112pdm

— PolizeiBrandenburg_E (@PolizeiBB_E) 1 de diciembre de 2017

As Potsdam's latest news (PNN) reported, pharmacy owner had noticed during unpacking that "re were such strange wires peeping out". The package was immediately taken out of pharmacy and police were informed. As a precaution, area around site was closed. About Twitter informed police about what happened.

The traditional Christmas market of blue light shine takes place every year in city of Potsdam. It extends along Brandenburg Road to Luisenplatz, near Sanssouci Palace Park.

At beginning of week many Christmas markets were opened in Germany. After assassination of a Berlin Christmas market, security measures had been tightened nationwide almost a year ago. Concrete barriers have been set up in many cities. At same time, politicians appealed to people not to be intimidated by threat of terrorism.

On December 19, 2016, assassin Anis Amri was driven into Christmas market at Berlin Memorial Church with a hijacked truck. He killed 12 people and injured more than 70.

Date Of Update: 03 December 2017, 12:03