Poland prepares for terror threats during Euro 2012

Cterrorism training, Pulawy, central Poland: photo - PAP/Wojciech Pacewicz

Officers were simulating attacks on institutions and travel hubs on Thursday in Pulawy, not far from Warsaw, in readiness for Euro 2012, which is being co-hosted by Poland and Ukraine.

“Large public events, and not just sports events, pose a risk,” Krzysztof Liedel, deputy director of the Non-military Department at the National Security Bureau has told the Interior.pl web site.

“Therefore, all countries that organize mass events must take this threat into account. A very good example is China, which generally dos not have problems with terrorist threats. However, before the Olympic Games in Beijing, they spent money to create a powerful anti-terror system to ensure the safety and security of the Games,” Liedel says.

“We need to consider this type of threat and minimize the risk of its occurrence,” he added.

Liedel, an expert in counter-terrorism and the author of the report, EURO 2012 - European Championships in the shadow of terrorism (2007) mentioned Jihadist groups as being a possible threat but also “lone wolves” such as Anders Breivik in Norway and Mohammed Merah in Toulouse, France. (pg)