World Cup Countdown – death threats taken seriously

Death threats ahead of major sporting tournaments are nothing new, and last week saw two targeting the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

One in particular will be of concern to anyone from the US planning to travel to Rustenberg for the country’s opening game against England on June 12.

Algerian-based al-Qaeda group, Islamic Maghreb, said that it aims to target the game, using a form of undetectable explosive that will evade security checkpoints. It said that France, Germany and Italy were also on its list of targets.

"All those countries are part of the Zionist-Crusader campaign against Islam," it said in a statement published in a recent online issue of the jihadist 'Mushtaqun Lel Jannah'.

"How amazing could the match between the United States and England be if, during a live broadcast with a stadium packed with spectators, the sound of an explosion rumbles through the stands, the whole stadium is turned upside down and the numbers of dead bodies are in their dozens and hundreds, God willing."


The 42,000 seater Royal Bafokeng Sports Palace in Rustenberg, which will be the venue for England v USA World Cup clash on June 12.

The threat follows hot on the heels of that issued by white supremacist group, the Afrikaner Weerstandsbeweging (AWB), after its leader Eugène Terre'Blanche was killed on his farm following an alleged wage dispute with two employees.

Terre'Blanche had been a constant critic of the new South Africa, and the AWB immediately associated his death with the tournament.

Senior member Andre Visagie warned participating nations that they will be sending their soccer teams to a land of murder.

“Don't do that if you don't have sufficient protection for them." he said.
ESPN reported that the organization said it would be looking at ways to take "revenge" for their leader's death, which they see as a “declaration of war.”
Sensing a backlash, another member, Pieter Steyn, backtracked. "Our membership is very, very shocked, angry and horrified. [The AWB] is not going to engage in any form of violent retaliation."

FIFA said it is taking all threats seriously, and is working with authorities across the world to ensure an incident-free World Cup.