German Mall Shut Down After 'Concrete Indications' of Attack

Several hundred people miss a day's work; 200 stores lose thousands of dollars in business; thousands of people's lives are altered; and dozens, if not hundreds of police are called out! Welcome to the new Germany. How do you like me so far?

By Daniel Uria 

Police in Germany shut down a major shopping center on Saturday after receiving "concrete indications"

of a possible attack. Sascha Steinbach/EPA

March 11 (UPI) -- A shopping center in Germany was shut down after Police received "concrete indications" of a possible terror attack.

Police said the mall at Limbecker Platz in the city of Essen would remain closed on Saturday due to the threat of a possible attack.

The shopping center at Limbecker Platz in downtown Essen will be closed for security reasons this Saturday," police said in a statement. "The police have concrete indications of a possible attack. In order to avoid possible danger to the visitors, they will not be able to enter the sales halls or the parking garage."

Armed police and vans surrounded the shopping center, which is one of Germany's largest with almost 200 stores. Police said it was the sole focus of the threat.

The police statement did not mention terrorism. A police spokesman told a German broadcaster the threat was viewed as a possible terrorist attack.

Police spokesman Peter Elke said officers were also searching an apartment in the nearby city of Oberhausen and questioning the apartment's owner about the mall threat.