European edition, Saturday, April 28, 2007
HANAU, Germany — A report of an explosion near a busy military shopping center prompted an evacuation of the base Thursday afternoon as German and American police, bomb-sniffing dogs and a helicopter swept through the area in search of a cause.
The incident comes less than a week after the U.S. Embassy in Germany posted a warning that Americans in Germany face an increased threat of terrorism and warned them to be on the lookout. German media outlets have been reporting that the Islamic Jihad Union could be involved in a terror plot against U.S. bases in Germany.
Workers at the Hanau Wolfgang Kaserne’s shopping center said they were ordered out of the shopping area in 40 minutes after a security guard reported hearing an explosion. The area did not reopen until early Friday morning, and no explanation was provided for the rapid evacuation.
“I knew as much yesterday as I knew today — nothing,” said Don Stockstell, a civilian worker at the base bowling alley. “MPs said clear outta here. They wouldn’t tell us nothing.”
The Army confirmed there was an investigation into an alleged explosion, but provided few details.
Late Friday afternoon, base commander Col. Herman Williams III, issued the following statement, “As command of USAG Hessen, I want to assure the Hanau Community that we will do everything possible to ensure security at our installations. We’ll do all we can to reduce any risks to the U.S. population and ensure the safety of our soldiers, employees and families.”
The Army ordered its soldiers not to discuss the situation with the media.
“There was an alleged explosion incident outside the Wolfgang Kaserne in Hanau on 26 April. The alleged incident is under investigation. Information to the public will be provided upon request of media only through Public Affairs channels,” wrote an Army spokesman in an e-mail directive to unit commanders.
Local authorities provided some information. About 2 p.m. Thursday a security guard reported hearing a bang near the Wolfgang Kaserne, according to a German police spokesman. German police responded with bomb-sniffing dogs and a helicopter — and considered closing down a nearby highway — in an effort to trace the origin of the mysterious sound.
“It was something like a little boom,” said Quintin Harvey, supervisor at the military post office.
But German and military police found no evidence of an explosion, according to Hanau police.
Shortly after the security guard’s report, the area was locked down, Harvey said. After about 40 minutes, everyone was ordered out of the shopping area, which houses the commissary, clothing stores and fast food restaurants. The gate did not reopen until 5 a.m Friday, Harvey said.
“There should have been more information put out,” said Harvey.
Without any comment from the military officials, shoppers were left to their own devices as they tried to figure out what caused the strange boom. One theory was that the alleged explosion, which emanated from a nearby wooded area, was caused by an old war relic. In years past, World War II ordnance has been found in the area, some shoppers said.
Horace Willis, the manager of one of the military clothing stores, works near the wooded area. But Willis said he didn’t hear a thing Thursday.
“MPs came and said there was some threat,” Willis said. He was under the impression that the evacuation was sparked by a bomb threat.
“Everybody cleared out,” he said.
There was a time, about five years ago, when bomb threats were routine on base, said several civilian workers.
“With the way things are this day and age, you have to take it serious,” Willis said.
