Military hospital terror alert

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

Hamburg police received the tip-off from unidentified ”security sources” at 1.30pm Irish Time, said a police statement.

“Those potentially involved are believed to me from an Islamic, terrorist background,” it added.

The police statement said authorities had “concrete indications of people who want to carry out attacks by means of a car bomb” on the facility, in the suburb of Wandsbek.

“Those potentially involved are believed to be from an Islamic, terrorist background,” it added, without elaborating.

State officials evaluated the threat as “very serious,” it added, and immediately ordered enhanced security at the hospital. That will remain in place until further notice, police said.