INTERPOL team supports security for football’s World Cup

An INTERPOL team is in Berlin, Germany to support the international security effort for the 2006 FIFA World Cup football championships which take place from 9 June to 9 July.

The team is equipped to conduct checks of INTERPOL’s databases – such as stolen travel documents, fingerprints and photographs of known criminals – and respond to urgent queries from police in member countries via I-24/7, INTERPOL’s electronic communications system, in the event of a major criminal or terrorist act.

The INTERPOL team is working out of the National Information and Cooperation Centre, the hub of security operations during the tournament, alongside more than 120 German and liaison officers from the 32 participating nations.

The World Cup is one of the largest sporting events in the world – estimated to attract 1.5 million foreign visitors, 15,000 journalists and a worldwide television audience of billions – making it a possible high-profile target for terrorism and organized criminal activity.

During the month-long tournament, 64 matches will be played at 12 venues throughout the country, and there will be more than 300 public viewing sites.

Police have identified several matches as high risk, because the participating countries have experienced terrorist attacks in the past or have supported military operations in Iraq. The threat of hooliganism by supporters from visiting countries also increases the need for international co-operation.

INTERPOL has provided similar support during other large-scale sporting events, including the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens and the European Football Championships in Portugal in 2004.