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| June 08, 2006 | Thursday | Jumadi-ul-Awwal 11, 1427 |
Security fears exaggerated, say German police
NEUSS (Germany), June 7: Fears hooliganism will mar the World Cup are hugely exaggerated and there is no concrete evidence to suggest violence will break out at any of the scheduled group matches, German police said on Wednesday.
Reports of hooligans planning attacks on rival groups over the internet, as well as a rampage by a knife-wielding drunk in Berlin two weeks ago, which left 29 people injured, have unsettled Germans and raised questions over police supervision.
“Endless rumours are circulating but we have no concrete evidence to suggest there will be trouble,” said Michael Endler, the head of the German police unit monitoring hooliganism (ZIS).
He condemned the “hype” which had stoked security fears.
Local media has made much of the threat from Polish, English and German hooligans at the tournament, helped by some Polish fans grabbing headlines with promises to cross the border armed with pick-axes and knives to attack Germans and English.
“At the moment there is no reason for us to raise a red flag for any of the 48 group matches. As things appear now, people can visit any game without fearing for their safety,” Endler said.
He added police did not consider one group of fans a higher risk category than any other.
“It is not the job of any organisation to stigmatise any nation's fans ... all are welcome.”
Whereas there could be no absolute security, German police and their foreign colleagues were armed with more detailed knowledge on individual troublemakers than before any previous tournament and were confident of their public safety measures.
On every day of the tournament 150 ZIS officers, backed up by “spotters” — hooligan specialists out mingling with fans to identify potential troublemakers -- would be working to compile and distribute information to local police, he said.
Endler also assured World Cup visitors the police would do all in their power to prevent violence at any Neo-Nazi demonstrations.
Far-right groups have pledged to make their presence felt during the tournament, and have announced plans to march through host city Gelsenkirchen.
Meanwhile, the class of small German school children carrying tiny American flags watched with their mouths wide open as security frisked their teacher and then rummaged through their own backpacks for any possible dangers.
It was a blunt welcome for the suburban children to the high-security world of the US soccer team, who were holding a public training session on Tuesday, as they entered the bubble that surrounds the most protected squad at the World Cup.
Whether greeted with armoured vehicles at Hamburg airport or quartered on a closed-off block, the US players get special treatment in the city where three Sept 11, 2001 hijackers were students before their attacks on New York and Washington.
“When security is handled properly you don't notice,” said US coach Bruce Arena, who picked the heart of Germany's second city to base his squad despite the multitude of security issues and concerns that they could be a terror target.
Arena, whose players travel in an unmarked bus with a presidential-style police escort on different routes, said the training session was open to help compensate for any inconvenience the squad's presence may cause the locals.
“We are a little bit of a nuisance as we come through with our procession of sirens and everything else,” Arena said. “We rattle them a little bit so the least we could do is thank them for their support and hospitality.”
Before the team landed, Hamburg airport was guarded through the night with high-tech infrared cameras and their training site in the Ochsenzoll district has been dubbed “Fort Knoxenzoll” by local newspapers.
“We're on red alert for the US team,” said Reinhard Fallak, a spokesman for the Interior Ministry in Hamburg, a city that is proud and delighted to host the US team.
The usually busy Hamburg street in front of their luxury hotel near the central train station has been shut off behind barricades that give it an eerie ghost-town feel. Police at either end turn away everyone without special passes.
Airport-style metal detectors and more security are set up inside the revolving doors of the hotel, one of the finest in Hamburg. There is no loitering inside, making a lobby that is normally full of life as quiet as a morgue.
“Obviously, being American, security is more heightened than with other countries,” said playmaker Landon Donovan.
“But I only think about it when I'm asked about it. The security is fantastic. I feel as safe as when I'm at home,” added the midfielder who hails from California.—Reuters
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