Germany alert over fuse found in suitcase

Germany's Federal Criminal Police Office said a scan showed batteries attached by wires to a fuse and a clock.

Authorities in Windhoek were investigating whether the device found yesterday could have exploded. But Air Berlin spokeswoman Sabine Teller said no explosives were found in the bag and it was unclear what plane the suitcase was intended for.

All the Air Berlin luggage was rechecked and passengers identified their bags. After a lengthy delay the plane was able to leave and arrived with all passengers in Munich yesterday.

The suitcase was found in the luggage hall area near where bags intended for the Air Berlin flight were, and the flight's luggage was rechecked as a precaution.

All passengers on the flight had to identify their own bags, and none were found without an owner, said Teller.

She did not know whether Namibian police had determined whose bag contained the device, or what flight it was intended for.

The incident came the day after Germany was put on increased security alert through fears of a heightened threat from international terrorism.

The move followed new intelligence, said Thomas de Maiziere, the country's top security official.

Concern about the possibility of international flights being targeted by terrorists rose last month when two mail bombs were discovered while being sent on cargo planes from Yemen to the US. One of them went through a German airport before being found in Britain.

Mr De Maiziere said German authorities had gathered concrete intelligence of their own, pointing to "sustained efforts" by Islamic extremist groups to plan attacks in Germany.

He told reporters that according to preliminary investigations, it appeared likely the bag was intended for the flight but declined further comment.