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Ruzyně named as terror target

Business as usual for Prague Airport despite alleged threat

By Lisa Nuch Venbrux
Staff Writer, The Prague Post
July 4th, 2007 issue

Since June 30, when an SUV engulfed in flames drove toward Glasgow Airport’s entrance, UK authorities have ratcheted up security to the highest level.
The next day, ABC News reported a senior U.S. intelligence official had received information two weeks earlier that terror threats were imminent. Included in that report were warnings of potential attacks at a seemingly unlikely target: Prague Ruzyně Airport.
Despite this, national officials say security will not be increased, and claim no warnings have been issued from the United States.
“We have not received any such information” about threats to the Prague airport, Bohumil Šrajer of the Czech foreign intelligence service ÚZSI told The Prague Post.  
Pavel Hantek of the Czech police has said there are no plans to tighten security, echoing statements by Eva Krejčí, airport spokeswoman.
“[U.S. intelligence] will probably contact state authorities about security at Prague airport and then the authorities will contact us,” she said. “But I have to ask.”
After consulting supervisors, she confirmed the airport “didn’t get instructions to make security measures more restrictive,” but emphasized that measures already in place, including CCTV cameras, are “strict.”
Šrajer says communication with authorities abroad has increased “above the framework of routine communication, which itself is pretty lively,” but doubts the warnings carry any weight. The case stems from “unchecked information of the American media — in other words, a typical media case.”
Cyril Bumbálek of the Association for International Affairs in Prague agrees the risk of an attack here by radical Islamist groups suspected in the UK attacks is “really, really low.”
Czech Muslims are not like the “young radical Muslims seen in England,” he says. “They are really very moderate.”
Still, Bumbálek says the country could serve as a safe haven for groups “where they can hide and maybe get logistical support,” he notes, though there’s “nothing concrete” to suggest this is happening.
Meanwhile, Bumbálek is skeptical national authorities have the experience and resources to deal with any future threat. “In Western Europe they have years of experience, they know how to deal with radical Islam. But Czechs do not.”
— Naďa Černá contributed to this report.

Lisa Nuch Venbrux can be reached at lvenbrux@praguepost.com


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