Officials and sports bodies consider al Qaeda threats

Government officials are liaising with sports bodies in light of terror threats targeting sports events in India as the New Zealand hockey team prepares to travel there.

A militant group with links to al Qaeda has warned the world not to send sports people to competitions in India.

The warning was published by Asia Times Online, which said it had received a message from guerilla commander Ilyas Kashmiri, whose Kashmiri-based 313 Brigade targets Indian interests.

The group said: "We warn the international community not to send their people to the 2010 Hockey World Cup, Indian Premier League and Commonwealth Games. Nor should their people visit India - if they do, they will be responsible for the consequences."

Foreign Minister Murray McCully's office was saying little about the threats today, other than to say the situation was being monitored closely and officials were liaising with representatives of the various sports bodies potentially affected by the threats.

Labour Party foreign affairs spokesman Chris Carter said recent terror attacks in India meant such threats had to be taken seriously.

However, he said he was confident Indian authorities had a good handle on the situation and wanted to see New Zealand sports teams continue with scheduled visits.

"My initial thoughts are to go - in fact you have to go - otherwise you give in to the terrorists," he said.

"I think our government and sports bodies need to work closely with the government of India to reassure themselves and their sports people and any New Zealand tourists that are going that every step is being taken to take people safe."

Mr Carter said he had discussed the security situation last night with Indian Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi, who is visiting New Zealand on a fellowship, and came away feeling confident India was very aware of the implications of the threats and was taking all possible steps to ensure safety.

Those travelling to India also needed to be aware of security risks and be sensible with their own travel arrangements, he said.

The Commonwealth Games are in Delhi this year.

New Zealand's Black Sticks are going to India next week for the Hockey World Cup, and several top New Zealand cricketers play in the IPL.

Officials and Black Sticks players were last night briefed on the warning, and were waiting for Government advice on whether to travel.

Hockey New Zealand says it still plans to send the Black Sticks to next week's 2010 Hockey World Cup in India despite the threat.

Last night, chief executive Hilary Poole said hockey officials were taking the situation "very seriously".

"The safety of our team and management is paramount and we're taking this very seriously for obvious reasons."

This morning, Ms Poole said at this stage Hockey New Zealand was comfortable about sending the team over, but the situation was being closely monitored.

New Zealand men's hockey coach Shane McLeod was unaware of the al Qaeda warning when contacted by NZPA last night.

But he said a lot of time had already been spent on security.

The Black Sticks were booked at a hotel not far from the Dhyan Chand National Stadium, with the bus journey estimated at 10 minutes.

"It's pretty much from the turf to the hotel is where we expect to spend most of our time. We've been briefed that we won't be touring around," McLeod said.

The New Zealand Olympic Committee said it knew of the threat.

A spokeswoman said the committee was taking the matter seriously, and the team had been in contact with the New Zealand Combined Threat Assessment Group group, an inter-departmental anti-terrorism operation.

The Brigade's message implied involvement in a bombing at the weekend in the western Indian city of Pune, in which 10 people, including two foreigners, were killed.

"We, the mujahideen of 313 Brigade, vow to continue attacks all across India until the Indian Army leaves Kashmir and gives the Kashmiris their right of self-determination," it said.

The Times of India reported that last month the United States warned India that al Qaeda elements were likely to attack in Pune and Mumbai.

India has suffered several large-scale attacks orchestrated by Pakistani terrorists.

In late 2008, groups of terrorists stormed downtown Mumbai, targeting areas frequented by foreigners and leaving at least 170 people dead, most of them local residents.

Al Qaeda-aligned militants last March attacked the Sri Lankan cricket team in the Pakistani city of Lahore.

- ADDITIONAL REPORTING: NZPA

THE 313 BRIGADE
* Two jihadi organisations call themselves the 313 Brigade. Both are based in Pakistani Kashmir.
* Ilyas Kashmiri, a former Afghan jihad commander, now leads a group seeking to attack India for its action in Kashmir.
* The other 313 strand has been directly linked to al Qaeda. It has been linked with attacks on the Pakistani state and the former President, Pervez Musharraf.

Source: South Asia Analysis Group