Flights grounded at German’s airport over threat of terrorist attack

Flights were suspended at Germany’s Hamburg airport this morning after authorities received a threat of an attack against a plane from the Iranian capital Tehran.

The airport said that there had been no takeoffs or landings since 12.40pm as police officers’ conduct a search of the aircraft and its 198 passengers and crew.

They have since confirmed that flights have resumed following the security alert.

Federal police said they received an email threat on Monday morning of an attack on the Tehran-Hamburg flight and were taking it seriously, though they didn’t give details.

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The spokesperson described the measures, which included interviewing passengers, as normal procedure when a threat is classified as serious.

No takeoffs or landings had been possible because the airport fire brigade were involved with the search, the spokesperson added.

The Hamburg airport warned on their website that flight delays were still possible.

The incident comes against the backdrop of violence between Israel and Palestine, after Hamas militants launched a surprise attack over the weekend.

Hundreds have been killed in the violence, including around 260 people at a music festival near the Gaza border. Israel have responded by launching a wave of deadly airstrikes, and have announced a “complete siege” of the region, with a blockade on electricity, fuel and food.