On terrorism and the world cup
How vulnerable is South Africa’s soccer World Cup to a major terrorist attack? - 14th January 2009
A SERIOUS al-Qaeda terror threat may be facing the World Cup, but South Africa's security forces have proven themselves to be capable of securing major events, according to a think-tank, the South African Institute of Race Relations.
The institute's deputy CEO, Frans Cronje, in his report on January 15 2010: “Terror Threat to WC2010 very real’ warns that the terror risk facing South Africa doesn't originate from "small and isolated rebel and political groups", but could be one that is a lot more serious.
This warning comes soon after a terror attack last week on the Togolese soccer team in Angola's Cabinda region, in which three people were killed.
A separatist group has since claimed responsibility and some of its members were arrested this week.
Government leaders, including President Jacob Zuma, were quick to say the incident would not affect South Africa's hosting of the June event.
The institute warned, however, that an al-Qaeda-aligned movement might want to use the soccer tournament as a "platform" upon which to launch a "massive strike" against a Western target in South Africa.
"All the circumstances that would make a terror attack possible and attractive to al-Qaeda converge very neatly around the World Cup in South Africa," Cronje said.
Risks such as crime, a shortage of accommodation and weak transport infrastructure would not adversely affect the tournament, he said.
Terrorism is, however, not something over which the government could exercise any control, he said.
"In addition, one of the most effective assets that any terrorist group can possess is to convince its next target that they are no longer at risk," Cronje warned.
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