ICC confirms robust security plan in place for T20 World Cup amidst terror threat
Trinidad Prime Minister did not name any organisation but news reports stated that there is a threat to the T20 World Cup in West Indies through an Islamic propaganda channel
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The International Cricket Council (ICC) said a comprehensive security plan is in place and ‘extra effort in security preparations’ have also been put after Trinidad’s Prime Minister said the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup could be a target of a terror attack.
Trinidad Prime Minister, Dr Keith Rowley, did not name any organisation but news reports have stated that an Islamic State has made a threat to the T20 World Cup in West Indies through a propaganda channel.
The Prime Minister was quoted by Trinidad Daily Express, a newspaper, by saying: “Unfortunately, the threat of terrorism in its many and varied expressions is an ever-present danger in the world of the 21st century.”
The ICC, in a statement to the media and news agencies, confirmed that a robust security plan is in place. “Safety and security of everyone at the event is our number one priority and we have a comprehensive and robust security plan in place,” the ICC said.
The Prime Minister added that while appropriate plans are in place to mitigate any risks identified to the World Cup, extra effort in national security preparations and response readiness will also be put in to neutralise any danger. “Given the fact that bad actors can choose to misbehave in any way possible, it makes it virtually impossible to completely seal off all opportunities. However, in order to ameliorate these dangers, we at the local and regional levels have remained alert to many threats and singularly or together have our intelligence and other security agencies working to protect the population in countries and at venues throughout the tournament,” the Prime Minister added.
As of now, the security threat is specific to the West Indies, which is set to host the first round along with the entire Super-8 stage including the semifinals and the final.
The World Cup matches in the West Indies will be held in Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Guyana, Saint Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenada, Trinidad and Tobago.
