Story By: Kathryn Quinn, Sub Editor: Joseph Golder, Agency: Central European News

A supermarket had to be evacuated after a fake bomb with the letters IS inscribed on it was found on a supermarket shelf.

Police were called and the supermarket and the surrounding area were evacuated after the would-be bomb was spotted on a shelf in between bottles of water at a branch of the Edeka supermarket in the German town of Bad Duerrenberg, in the Saalekreis district, in Saxony-Anhalt.

A worried supermarket worker who spotted the explosive called police after becoming worried after seeing the letters IS, short for Islamic State, on the side of the would- be bomb.

The police had to call in support from bomb disposal experts as well as the fire service.

Police spokesman Ralf Karlstedt said: “The piece in question was a metal round object covered in tape. There was a clock and string attached to it as well.”

A short while later police were able to call off the emergency after discovering the bomb was a hoax.

A police spokesman said: “The supermarket was evacuated and searched. A short while later the bomb disposal team were able to give the all-clear. The bomb was a fake model.”

The supermarket manager, who was not in the store when the incident occurred, said: “I was not in the store at the time so I cannot comment, but due to the early closure of the supermarket we lost business, many people come just before closing time to get the last bits and pieces.”

Police are investigating who put the hoax bomb there and why. When caught, the person faces charges of making violent threats.

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