The suspected bomb discovered in Namibia with luggage waiting to be loaded onto an Air Berlin flight destined for Munich last week was part of a security test, according to the BBC.
German interior minister Thomas de Maiziere said German officials sent to Namibia to study the package, which contained a timer and a detonater, had confirmed that it was a dummy bomb used to test security at the airport.
The minister did not reveal who exactly was doing the testing.
The case caused an international security alert.
News of its discovery emerged just one day after German train stations and airports were put on high alert following intelligence that the country had been targeted by Al Qaeda for attack towards the end of the month.
by Dinah Hatch
