? ?
Sports / Off the Field
Security tightened at Asian Cup after threat warnings
(Reuters)
Updated: 2007-07-11 09:07
BANGKOK, July 10 - Security arrangements at the Asian Cup are being
tightened after intelligence reports warned of possible terrorist threats
in two of the four host nations.
Police in Thailand have already beefed up security in Bangkok after army
intelligence reports suggested separatists in the rebellious Muslim south
might take their insurgency to the capital.
The Australian government has also warned its citizens to reconsider
travelling to Indonesia, which will host the Asian Cup final on July 29,
because of the imminent threat of a terrorist attack.
Vietnam and Malaysia are the other nations hosting the 16-team tournament.
Representatives of the Australian team, who are playing their group
matches in Bangkok, were due to meet the Thailand ambassador on Tuesday
for a briefing on plans to protect players and spectators.
John Boultbee, the head of high performance for the Australians, said he
was in constant contact with the government about the latest security
situation and was confident with the AFC's arrangements.
"We're monitoring it as we have been all along," Boultbee told Reuters.
"Every place we go, whether it be Europe or Asia or wherever, we're
constantly getting the latest information.
"The government's always very cautious and we listen to them.
"Indonesia is a place where Australians need to be a bit more vigilant...
but we've had a full briefing security from the AFC (Asian Football
Confederation) and we're satisfied with the arrangements."
TAKING PRECAUTIONS
The AFC, which is in charge of security operations during the tournament,
would not comment on the latest warnings, but had said they were taking
every precaution.
"Security issues are very important," AFC president Mohamed Bin Hammam
told a news conference on the eve of the tournament.
"We are satisfied with the measures we have in place."
Australia have been warning their citizens about travelling to Indonesia
since the 2002 Bali bomb blasts, which killed 202 mostly foreign
holidaymakers, including 92 Australians.
Australia's Prime Minister John Howard said the latest warning was based
on intelligence reports, although the government did not know of any
specific threat.
"We only give these warnings on strong intelligence. We act on the advice
of our agencies," Howard told Australian television.
"We are the last country in the world to want to say anything
unnecessarily serious about Indonesia."
On Tuesday, Thai police said that Bangkok residents should expect tighter
security in places such as airports and department stores after they
ordered more checkpoints and patrols, especially in Muslim communities.
Around 13,000 soldiers are permanently on standby in Bangkok after a
military junta seized power in a bloodless coup last year.
Police Colonel Supisarn Bhakdinarinath said the authorities feared a
repeat of last year's New Year's Eve bombs which killed three Thais and
wounded nearly 40 people.
It is unclear who planted the New Year's Eve bombs, although some police
explosives experts have said the devices bore the hallmarks of the
southern militants, who have waged the three-year insurgency in which
more than 2,300 have been killed.
Top Sports News ?
� Brazil break duck with Robinho hat-trick
� China coach tries to save job in Asian Cup
� NFL hopes its game doesn't get lost in translation in China
� Late starters face uphill task in China
� LA Galaxy to present Beckham on July 13
Today's Top News ?
� 95 officials punished for brickwork slavery
� Official: Transparency key to public faith
� Economy set to overtake Germany
� N. Korea seeks U.S. concessions
� N.Korea shuts down nuclear reactor
Most Commented/Read Stories in 48 Hours
Learn Chinese, Learn Mandarin online, Learning Materials, Mandarin audio lessons, Chinese writing lessons, Chinese vocabulary lists, About chinese characters, News in Chinese, Go to China, Travel to China, Study in China, Teach in China, Dictionaries, Learn Chinese Painting, Your name in Chinese, Chinese calligraphy, Chinese songs, Chinese proverbs, Chinese poetry, Chinese tattoo, Beijing 2008 Olympics, Mandarin Phrasebook, Chinese editor, Pinyin editor, China Travel, Travel to Beijing, Travel to Tibet
No comments:
Post a Comment