Suspect released over alleged arena terror threat
A 40-year-old man arrested following an alleged online terror threat targeting a concert in Switzerland has been released from custody.
French rapper Lomepal was set to headline the 9,500-cap Geneva Arena on 25 February, but the venue was evacuated and the show cancelled after a threat was allegedly made on a social network. Emergency services including police, bomb disposal experts and firefighters were deployed to the scene along with sniffer dogs.
Swissinfo reports that the suspect – who was accused of making “threats alarming the population” – was released after questioning, with prosecutors saying he did not pose a terror threat. However, he may still face social disorder charges.
The Lomepal concert has now been rescheduled for Friday 7 April
The Lomepal concert, promoted by Soldout Productions, has now been rescheduled for Friday 7 April, with all tickets purchased for the cancelled concerts remaining valid.
“We share the disappointment of everyone present at the arena that evening and would like to apologise for the waiting time and uncertainty that preceded the announcement of the cancellation,” says a statement by Geneva Arena.
“We would have liked to be able to communicate earlier on this situation, but the police operation being in progress, no information could be given to the public during the evening, at the request of the authorities.”
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Geneva Arena concert cancelled over terror threat
A concert at Geneva Arena was cancelled shortly before it was due to start following an online terror threat.
French rapper Lomepal was set to headline the 9,500-cap Swiss arena on Saturday night (25 February), but the venue was evacuated after a threat was allegedly made on a social network.
“We received information that a threat had been made targeting the concert,” police spokesperson Tiffany Cudré-Mauroux tells Keystone-SDA news agency, via Swiss Info. “For precautionary reasons, it was decided to evacuate the premises and to carry out a search.”
Emergency services including police, bomb disposal experts and firefighters were deployed to the scene along with sniffer dogs. The Office of the Attorney General of Geneva says a 40-year-old man has been arrested and is set to appear before prosecutors.
A 40-year-old man has been arrested and is set to appear before prosecutors
Promoter Soldout Productions confirms to Radio Lac that “the concert was cancelled and the hall was evacuated on the orders of the police”, adding that the evacuation took place “calmly and without clashes”.
Director Julien Rouyer tells Le Temps the company is doing everything it can to find a replacement date for the show, which was part of Lomepal’s tour of Switzerland, France and Belgium.
A Geneva Arena statement says: “The Lomepal concert scheduled for this Saturday at the Geneva Arena unfortunately had to be cancelled and the room evacuated on the orders of the cantonal police. At the request of the authorities, no information could be given to the public during the evening.
“The management of the artist, Soldout Productions and the arena are doing everything possible to find a replacement date. Tickets from February 25 will be valid for the new date.
“As soon as this is communicated, more information will be sent about the procedure to follow for the possible reimbursement of tickets in the event that the spectators cannot/do not wish to attend the new concert. We are sorry for this situation and thank the fans for their understanding.”
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