The head of Scotland Yard’s anti-terrorism unit said on Monday that al-Qaeda could strike Europe and efforts to safeguard the Olympics must be expanded to include citizen watchdogs.
Metropolitan Police Assistant Commissioner for Special Operations David Veness said it is impossible to ”rule out” an al-Qaeda attack in Europe and urged Greek authorities to involve citizen groups in security for the August 13 to 29 games, according to Greek state television.
Veness and others have issued similar warnings in the past. But the reported comments have taken on increased significance following the bombings in Istanbul, Turkey, where authorities were investigating possible al-Qaeda links. If a tie to Osama bin Laden’s group is confirmed, they would mark the first significant al-Qaeda attacks in Europe.
The bombings also have jolted security agencies in Greece and raised concerns that international terror groups could pick a wider range of targets than previously feared.
Veness held talks with Greece’s Public Order Minister, Giorgos Floridis, and other police officials. Britain is part of a seven-nation Olympic security advisory group, which also includes the United States and Israel. No other details of the meeting were disclosed and Veness could not be reached for additional comment.
But Greek officials involved in Olympic security planning have been apparently jolted by the bombings in Istanbul that killed 57 people in less than a week. Investigators are studying possible al-Qaeda links to the attacks, which targeted synagogues, the British consulate and the Turkish headquarters of the London-based HSBC bank.
Defense Minister Yiannos Papantoniou said Greece’s military has been placed on heightened alert and is working closely with foreign military forces to ”have a flow of information and protection system” in place that will help shield the Olympics.
”There is a high degree of readiness for security, especially following the recent events,” Papantoniou said during a visit to an army base in central Greece. ”I want to add that there is no special indication that Greece is a specific target.”
Greek officials have said that Olympic security planning could be re-examined in the wake of the Istanbul bombings.
”We have to take into account that international terrorism is unpredictable. No country can theoretically be ruled out,” Papantoniou said. ”So we are obligated to take all eventualities into account and to prepare for anything.”
Greece has budgeted more than $750-million on protecting the games and plans to deploy more than 40 000 police, military and coast guard to safeguard venues across the country.
”For the security of the Olympic Games we have developed a comprehensive plan with contributions” from other countries, government spokesperson Christos Protopapas said. ”There may be some things in the plan on which we may need some cooperation.”
The advisory group plans a meeting early next month. The group also includes France, Germany, Australia and Spain. — Sapa-AP