Bomb bound for Germany found in Namibia

BERLIN: A suspected bomb in a suitcase checked in on a German-bound plane was intercepted in Namibia, Germany's Federal Crime Office (BKA) said Thursday, one day after Berlin raised its terror alert level.

The BKA said the suspicious baggage had been seized Wednesday at the international airport in Windhoek before it was loaded on to an LTU/Air Berlin flight to Munich. "A subsequent x-ray (of the luggage) revealed batteries that were attached with wires to a detonator and a ticking clock," it said in a statement. "Only the ongoing forensic investigation will show whether this was a live explosive."

Passengers on the flight as well as all luggage in the hold and the aircraft itself underwent subsequent checks before the plane was given clearance to take off. "They arrived in Munich safe and sound last night," the statement said.

The BKA said it dispatched officers in South Africa to Namibia, a former German colony, to aid in the investigation and planned to send further experts to examine the suspected bomb.

The German government hiked security measures at rail stations, airports and other public spaces Wednesday following a tip-off from a "foreign partner" about an attack by terrorists.