Is the Cricket World Cup under terrorist radar?

Chennai, Mar 8: Is the Cricket World Cup under threat? Looks like there are intelligence inputs that there might be terrorist attacks on world cup cricket venues by the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT). The agencies have unearthed a plot to attack one or more venues. The information have apparently been communicated to various states already where matches are scheduled to be held.

Sources within the Ministry of Home Affairs has revealed to The Hindu newspaper that they have received information from “sensitive channels" that Zaibuddin Ansari, a LeT member along with his associates had researched on explosive chemical substances and the stadiums were the matches were to be held in as early as Oct 2010.

The source also revealed that the aforesaid suspects also researched and analysed the eight cricket stadiums in India that included the Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bangalore; M.A. Chidambaram Stadium at Chepauk, Chennai and the Sardar Patel Stadium in Ahmedabad.

A senior police officer has been quoted as saying, “We have been given an alert that Ansari and his associates researched the composition for chemicals known to be used in explosives, including ammonium nitrate, ammonium nitrate fuel oil and pentaerythritol tetranirate (PETN). They seem to have showed more interest in the manufacture of lead styphnate, which is used in the manufacture of different nitro compounds in explosives."

The Intelligence agencies have sent the profiles and photographs of the suspects to the respective cities so as to nab them if spotted. “We will have strict access control. Vehicles mounted with speed-dome cameras would be stationed on all roads leading to the stadium. The police have insisted that vehicle passes should have the registration numbers mentioned," T. Rajendran, Commissioner of Police, Chennai said on the security arrangements in Chennai. Matches are scheduled to be held on Mar 17 and 20 there.

OneIndia News