22 May 2008

HAMBURG - A supposed terror threat from Al-Qaeda and Swiss football fans going on the rampage three times within a month have focused the minds of the security forces in Switzerland and Austria ahead of the upcoming Euro 2008 tournament.

The call by Al-Qaeda on so-called jihad forums is being taken seriously.

"We are on alert and we are following these jihad forums very closely," said an official.
"It is through these that (Osama) Bin Laden's agents awaken dormant cells. The situation is serious even if it is frustrated people hiding behind these sites."

Euro 2008 kicks off on 7 June in the Swiss city of Basle. Millions of football fans are expected to travel to the games shared between eight venues in Switzerland and four in Austria for what is one of the world's biggest international sporting events.

However, it is domestic football fans who are causing immediate concern after supporters from Swiss side FC Gallen became the latest to go on the rampage after their club lost 2-0 to Bellinzona.

Around 60 people were arrested during the disturbances while seven police and security personnel suffered minor injuries.

Even though this was the third time in a month that violence had broken out a Swiss league match, officials from both Austria and Switzerland remain confident that Euro can pass off peacefully and in a carnival atmosphere.

To achieve this, security needs to be discreet yet effective for the 31 football matches taking place between June 7 and 29 and as seven other countries share borders with the two Alpine nations, close international cooperation is essential.

As a result, three conferences were scheduled with neighbouring states and transit countries, the first taking place in Vienna in 2006 and the third in March of this year, also in the Austrian capital.

The security operation surrounding the tournament will see Switzerland deploy around 15,000 soldiers to support 16,200 police at the country's four Euro 2008 venues - Bern, Basel, Geneva and Zurich.

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