Warsaw paralysed by bomb hoax, terrorist fears

Warsaw yesterday shut its underground system and closed off two main streets, causing chaos as authorities reacted to a bomb threat that proved false.

By late afternoon police said they had found nothing and cancelled the alert, but officials defended the massive reaction, saying the threat - which they believed was connected with terrorism - had seemed credible. There was snarled traffic in the town centre as cars and public transport were rerouted while police searched the area where an anonymous e-mail said a bomb had been placed.

Police told public television they had detained a man for questioning in connection with the threat.