Al Qaeda can strike during World Cup, warn agencies

India faces the threat of terror strikes by Al Qaeda operatives in the next two weeks, and a possible target could be the ongoing World Cup cricket matches in the country, some of the world’s top intelligence agencies have warned.

Following the reports, the home ministry swung into action “quietly and invisibly”, said a top government official.

Between 6 and 15 men are already in India, pooled intelligence from agencies across the world says.

“The infiltration route is not clear so coastal security has also been beefed up. We are alert and know exactly what is happening,” an official said.

World Cup matches are also being simultaneously played in Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.

On the eve of the Commonwealth Games last year, a bus carrying foreign tourists was fired upon by motocycle-borne men near the Jama Masjid in Delhi. The incident created much panic among the participants but the event was organised without any further terror incidents.