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Bundesliga goes ahead under tighter security

Hamburg has confirmed Friday's home Bundesliga match against Borussia Dortmund will go ahead as planned, despite the bomb scare in Hanover, while Cologne say they are raising their security.

Bundesliga goes ahead under tighter security
The Allianz Arena in Munich. Photo: DPA

The Hamburg-Dortmund match is the first of nine league matches due to take place across Germany this weekend with the top match in Gelsenkirchen on Saturday when Schalke host Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich.

After the national team experienced last Friday's Paris terror attacks first hand, German football was again left shaken when Tuesday's Germany-Netherlands friendly in Hannover was called off due to a serious bomb threat.

“The Dortmund match will take place as scheduled, despite the recent events,” wrote Hamburg on the club website.

“Right now, in these difficult times, we are unbroken in following our destiny and with each new game we will bring thousands of people together, so they can share their enthusiasm, joy and passion for football.

“This is our contribution to a peaceful world.”

The emotive words show how badly the Bundesliga has been shaken by recent events after Tuesday's international was called off just two hours before kick-off and the stadium was evacuated.

It came less just four days after the German team spent Friday night in the Stade de France stadium as their international friendly took place during a night of terror attacks across Paris which claimed the lives of at least 129 people.

In a statement, Hamburg said they are “shocked and saddened because of the barbaric attacks in Paris.

“Innocent people have know untold suffering in recent days.

“Our deepest sympathy goes to the families of the victims.”

On Wednesday morning, Hanover 96 called off a training session in preparation for Saturday's match at Borussia Mönchengladbach, due to the previous night's bomb scare, “for logistical reasons”, but an afternoon session was expected to take place.

Cologne have also announced they will be stepping up security for Saturday's  game against Mainz.

“The visible presence of law enforcement officers will increase,” said the club in a statement, without going into detail.

But the Cologne coach insists it's business as usual.

“We're planning the week as normal,” said Cologne's Peter Stoeger.

“When I stand on the training ground, I just do my job as if we were playing football, we are 100 precent athletes.

“If you read the news and have a quiet moment, you think a little about what is going on.”

The bomb scare in Hanover meant a German international was called off for only the third time after fear of rioting in Berlin in 1994 saw a Germany-England match cancelled.

A match game against Chile was also cancelled in November 2009 following the suicide of Germany goalkeeper Robert Enke.