Terror threat targets top sports events

A militant group with links to al Qaeda has warned the world not to send sports people to competitions in India, including the Commonwealth Games.

The warning was published by Asia Times Online, which said it had received a message from guerrilla commander Ilyas Kashmiri, whose Kashmiri-based 313 Brigade targets Indian interests.

The group said: "We warn the international community not to send their people to the 2010 Hockey World Cup, Indian Premier League and Commonwealth Games. Nor should their people visit India - if they do, they will be responsible for the consequences."

The Commonwealth Games are in Delhi this year.

New Zealand's Black Sticks are going to India next week for the Hockey World Cup, and several top New Zealand cricketers play in the IPL.

Officials and Black Sticks players were last night briefed on the warning, and were waiting for Government advice on whether to travel.

Chief executive Hilary Poole said hockey officials were taking the situation "very seriously".

"We are obviously aware of the recent serious situations. The safety of our team and management is paramount and we're taking this very seriously for obvious reasons."

The New Zealand Olympic Committee said it knew of the threat.

A spokeswoman said the committee was taking the matter seriously, and the team had been in contact with the New Zealand Combined Threat Assessment Group group, an inter-departmental anti-terrorism operation.

The Brigade's message implied involvement in a bombing at the weekend in the western Indian city of Pune, in which 10 people, including two foreigners, were killed.

"We, the mujahideen of 313 Brigade, vow to continue attacks all across India until the Indian Army leaves Kashmir and gives the Kashmiris their right of self-determination," it said.

The Times of India reported that last month the United States warned India that al Qaeda elements were likely to attack in Pune and Mumbai.

India has suffered several large-scale attacks orchestrated by Pakistani terrorists.

In late 2008, groups of terrorists stormed downtown Mumbai, targeting areas frequented by foreigners and leaving at least 170 people dead, most of them local residents.

Al Qaeda-aligned militants last March attacked the Sri Lankan cricket team in the Pakistani city of Lahore.

- ADDITIONAL REPORTING: NZPA

THE 313 BRIGADE
* Two jihadi organisations call themselves the 313 Brigade. Both are based in Pakistani Kashmir.
* Ilyas Kashmiri, a former Afghan jihad commander, now leads a group seeking to attack India for its action in Kashmir.
* The other 313 strand has been directly linked to al Qaeda. It has been linked with attacks on the Pakistani state and the former President, Pervez Musharraf.

Source: South Asia Analysis Group