German Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere spoke at a rapidly-convened press conference but bluntly refused to give any details as to what had occurred.

“I can understand all the questions relating to what was the background, what could have happened, why we had to call the game off, what made the decision so clear,” de Maiziere said. “I can understand these questions, but please understand that I would not like to give an answer…I would just like to ask the German public to trust us, the Interior Ministry, that we had good reasons to make this decision, but it does not help for us to provide any further details.”