September 15, 2003	Monday	Rajab 17, 1424

DUESSELDORF, Sept 14: The international airport in the western German city of Duesseldorf was evacuated on Sunday following several bomb threats, affecting tens of thousands of travellers, authorities said.

Air traffic in and out of Germany’s third largest airport was brought to a halt around midday and the building was evacuated after seven phone calls threatening attacks on both the airport and aeroplanes, said the federal border police force, which is responsible for airport security.

The closure of the airport, which serves a large swath of Germany’s most populous state, North Rhine-Westphalia, created chaos on the ground with snarled road traffic and testy travellers. The airport ordered in beverages and other supplies for stranded passengers.—AFP