German authorities closed a major border crossing with Switzerland in both directions on Wednesday evening, after a search of a car raised suspicions that there were explosives inside it, which necessitated launching a security operation and halting traffic through the crossing.
The German police announced the closure of Highway No. 861 at the border crossing in the city of Rheinfelden, located in the far southwest of Germany, noting that it is not yet clear when the road will be reopened to traffic.
The police have not yet revealed the circumstances that led their officers to suspect the presence of explosives inside the car that was being searched, while the security operation in the area continued.
Highway 861 connects Route 98 on the German side with Swiss Highway 3, making the crossing a major crossing point between the two countries.
The closure caused a severe traffic jam on both sides of the border that extended for several kilometers, according to the German Automobile Club (ADAC).
In parallel, the Baden-Württemberg state police announced the diversion of traffic at the Rheinfelden-Mitte exit, in light of the continued closure of the crossing.
The crossing is located on the Rheinfelden Bridge, which connects the German city with the city of the same name on the Swiss side, and about 30,000 vehicles cross it daily.
