Germany's Rock am Ring music festival halted over terror threat

Crowds at one of Germany's biggest music festivals have been evacuated because of "concrete leads" of a possible terror threat.

The Rock am Ring festival at the Nurburgring race track near the western town of Nurburg was suspended on the first night of the three-day event.

Security had been stepped up at the festival in the wake of the Manchester bomb attack.

Checks included body searches and a ban on rucksacks and bags, while around 1,200 police officers were on duty.

Image:Festival-goers left the site calmly singing You'll Never Walk Alone

Koblenz police said the event had been suspended due to "concrete leads, which do not allow us to eliminate a possible terror threat".

It added: "We are currently conducting a very intense investigation."

Journalists were told of concerns about a person, who had been involved in the festival preparations, including erecting the security fences.

The festival was expected to welcome up to 90,000 visitors, with German hard rock giants Rammstein set to perform on Friday night, before the security alert led to the evacuation.

British singer-songwriter Rag'n'Bone Man had been on stage earlier in the day.

Image:Police say they are conducting 'a very intense investigation'

The organisers used loudspeakers to inform concert-goers about the possible threat.

"We hope it will continue tomorrow. Please head to the exits," they said.

Leaving the site calmly, people sang You'll Never Walk Alone.

Festival organiser Marek Lieberberg said the grounds were clear by 9.30pm, about a half hour after people were told that they were going to have to leave.

"The public reacted fantastically," he added.

He hoped the annual festival would be able to restart on Saturday, but this has not yet been confirmed.

Some 85 bands were scheduled to play on four stages over the weekend, with Germany's Toten Hosen headlining Saturday's bill and California's System of a Down due to perform on Sunday.

Germany has been on alert after a series of violent attacks last year, including when a lorry ploughed into a Christmas market in Berlin killing 12 people.