Soccer: Cup hosts ramp up terrorism watch

By RICHARD LLOYD PARRY in Tokyo

With one day until the World Cup opens, attention in Korea and Japan is shifting away from the danger of hooligans to focus on the much deadlier threat of international terrorism.

Football grounds in South Korea are being provided with the kind of protection usually reserved for military bases, with surface-to-air missiles and equipment to detect biochemical weapons installed at several stadiums.

Both host countries are mobilising fighter aircraft to patrol during matches.

Despite fears among locals of fan violence, police in Japan say privately that they are more concerned with the danger of attacks on the England and United States football teams by al Qaeda terrorists.

"Terrorism is the biggest concern," a senior Japanese police officer said, "and England are one of the obvious potential targets. We're paying a lot of attention to the security of aeroplanes and taking precautions against biological and chemical terrorism."

Unprecedented security surrounds Awaji Island, where England are training. Officials refuse to give details of the precise precautions they are taking in case that will diminish their effectiveness. But they include armed police and coastguards on land, sea and air.

From their camp in the town of Tsuna, England have a choice of two local airports and are likely to alternate between them in an attempt to confuse potential terrorists. The seaside training ground is surrounded by high fences, and at least 80 police and private security guards patrol it around the clock.

Similar precautions are in place at the Westin Awaji Island hotel where the players are staying.

Police in South Korea gave a glimpse of the anti-terrorist resources being deployed when the American team landed at Inchon airport, Seoul, on Saturday. Inside the airport itself, the players walked down a corridor of several hundred armed police to a bus, which was escorted into the city by a convoy of patrol cars and motorcyclists.

In both countries, airspace 3km around the stadiums will be restricted for several hours before and after games.

Plainclothes officers will travel on domestic flights and Japanese police will be co-ordinating operations with radar-carrying Awacs (airborne warning and control system aircraft) of the Air Force.

In South Korea, the police say they are "keeping an eye" on 2965 foreign residents from Middle Eastern countries on America's list of states alleged to sponsor terrorism.

Armed riot squads will take over security at half of Japan's 34 nuclear power stations in case of attack.

Japanese police also fear the possibility of cyber-terrorism, directed against computers that co-ordinate security, video-monitoring and fire sprinkler systems at Japan's new World Cup stadiums.

- INDEPENDENT

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