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BLOG:
http://counterterrorismblog.org/2008/05/euro_2008_and_terrorism.php
“Euro 2008 and Terrorism”
By Lorenzo Vidino
ARTICLE SNIPPET: “In 23 days the 2008 European soccer Cup (Euro 2008), this year hosted jointly by Austria and Switzerland, will kickoff. As for any event attracting large crowds and global attention in today’s age, authorities are worried about potential terrorist threats. The Euro Cup, in a way, presents the same security features of a Super Bowl, but it is held in 8 different cities over 3 weeks and with the participation of 16 national teams, making security planning significantly more complicated. Just yesterday Swiss newspaper La Liberté reported an interview with Jürg Bühler, a security official with the Swiss Federal Police, in which Mr. Bühler revealed that his agency has been monitoring threats against the event made by several users of various Islamist websites. While there seems to be no specific threat so far, Mr. Bühler correctly pointed out that vigilance should be kept high, as soccer competitions have attracted the attention of jihadist networks in Europe in the past.”
(May 15, 2008)
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“Al Qaeda ‘planning to attack Euro 2008’”
By Hannah Wood 15/05/2008
ARTICLE SNIPPET: “A flurry of messages have been monitored, by police and security officials in Switzerland, on two Islamist internet forums - sos minbar and As-Sahab - which are favoured by the extremist terrorist group as a means to awaken dormant cells.
One message is reported to say: “Let’s transform these two countries, the safest in Europe, into hell - like the hell in Iraq or Afghanistan.”
Another: “The hour has come for fighters of the faith. They must make themselves heard.”
A senior Swiss security official told the newspaper the messages calling for terror attacks on the two nations have multiplied in recent weeks.”
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Off Topic...
BLOG:
Note: The following blog entry is a quote:
http://www.thememriblog.org/blog_personal/en/7322.htm
International Egyptian Footballer Wore Shirt With Logo Of Alcoholic Drink Company
Many accusations have recently been leveled against ‘Isam Al-Hadri, Egyptian national soccer team player and goalkeeper for the Swiss soccer club Syon, for agreeing to wear a club shirt with the logo of a company that makes alcoholic drinks.
Muhammad Rafat ‘Uthman, instructor at Al-Azhar University and member of its Center for Islamic Research, said that it was forbidden for Al-Hadri to wear the shirt, and that if the club insisted that he do so he must break his contract and quit.
In contrast, liberal Egyptian thinker Gamal Al-Banna said that Al-Hadri should not be accused, because he had acted like a Muslim minority member should act within a non-Muslim majority.
Source: Alarabiya.net, May 13, 2008
Posted at: 2008-05-13
http://www.washingtontimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080516/NATION/662238118/1001
“Passport cards called security vulnerability”
By Bill Gertz
THE WASHINGTON TIMES
May 16, 2008
ARTICLE SNIPPET: “The State Department will soon begin production of an electronic passport card that security specialists and members of Congress fear will be vulnerable to alteration or counterfeiting.”