Germany’s health minister said today that he is hopeful the worst of an E.coli outbreak blamed on bean sprouts is over – but warned that the death toll, currently 33, may still increase.

Hamburg officials were today accused of overreacting when they placed a ring of steel around a German military hospital after being told of a terror threat.

German police placed a ring of steel around a Hamburg military hospital today after being tipped-off that al-Qaida linked terrorists planned a car bomb attack.

Police closed off streets around a German military hospital in Hamburg today following warnings that Islamic extremists planned a car bomb attack.