Iran fears terror attack on soccer team

Berlin :

Iran fears its national soccer team could become a target of terror groups at the World Cup, Germany's Interior Ministry said. Iranian officials said they were worried that dissident groups like People's Mujahideen, opposed to President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad regime, could become violent during the month-long World Cup beginning June 9. "We have no indication anything is planned, but we take this very seriously," German Interior Ministry spokesman Christian Sachs said on Wednesday. Saudi Arabia, US and England teams are also causing security concerns for the upcoming event. Germany deputy interior minister August Hanning said he has great hopes that the World Cup will go off without harm. The exact number of police officers or security personnel for the games is difficult to determine because the nine German states where matches are going to be played are responsible for their own security. The 32 teams at the tournament will send a combined 500 police officers from their respective countries and a 300 more will come from the European Union. England leads with 40 officers, who will act as "spotters" and report on any hooligans they recognise from home. (AP)