World Cup in jeopardy? David Beckham
Photo: AP
Imad Mugniyah
Photo: FBI website
Report: Israel warns of World Cup terror
Saudi newspaper says Israel warned US, European intelligence service of possible attempts by Hizbullah cells to carry out attacks during upcoming soccer tournament in Germany in bid to prove to international community that Tehran is capable of retaliation if attacked
Israel has warned European and American intelligence bodies of possible attempts by Hizbullah cells, led by Imad Mugniyah, to carry out terror attacks during the upcoming World Cup tournament in Germany, the Saudi Al-Watan newspaper reported on Friday.
According to the report, the terror plot is aimed at proving to the international community that Tehran is capable of retaliation if attacked.
Sources in Washington said a joint US-European operations room has been set up to deal with such a scenario; to this end, two American aircraft carriers, along with a French ship are making their way to the Indian Ocean and Persian Gulf.
US officials opposed to an attack on Iran fear the Bush Administration would take advantage of such terror attacks to launch an offensive that, according to the officials, would settle the Iranian nuclear crisis and boost the president’s approval rating.
The officials added that should the terror attacks be masterminded by a third party, they would still be used to justify an attack on Iran.
Al-Watan also reported that the CIA and European intelligence services have enhanced their activity against Arab and Muslim institutions in Europe following the September 11 attacks. A security official in Brussels told the newspaper that intelligence services planted surveillance equipment in a number of Arab and Islamic embassies and in the officers of major international corporations with ties to Muslim and Arab countries.
The source added that undercover agents, mainly women, have infiltrated Arab and Islamic institutions; e-mails, faxes and phone calls originating from these institutions are also monitored, and even the garbage cans outside the buildings are searched for any information on the nature of the messages relayed by these organizations and their activities, according to the source.
