Schily Says Terror Won't Stop World Cup

Germany's interior ministry and World Cup organizing committee moved to reassure all those involved with the soccer world championships that terrorism would not stop the tournament going ahead next summer in the wake of the London bomb attacks of July 7.

Schily stated that security would be tight at the month-long World Cup soccer finals next summer and that measures similar to those used at the Athens Olympics would be implemented and extended to make the championships as safe as possible. "We cannot let terrorists dictate to us whether we let a major sporting event take place or not," he said.

"Obviously security questions must be given particular consideration wherever large numbers of people come together such as at the World Cup or at last year's summer Olympics in Athens," he added.

"We've got to be on alert and be even more vigilant," added Schily, who is the government minister responsible for planning security at the World Cup, where 32 teams will compete for the ultimate prize in soccer in front of a global audience of millions.

"There is an increasing understanding that terror is a danger for the entire civilized world and will be with us for quite some time," Schily said.

More cameras in Berlin

One of the measures that are likely to be expanded for the World Cup was announced on Thursday by the head of Berlin's public transport company BVG.

Security on public transport will be boosted in the capital and the surrounding state of Brandenburg with the installation of more closed-circuit cameras, Thomas Necker told the Berliner Zeitung newspaper.

"Following the attacks on the British capital, we don't want to be accused of not doing everything we can", Necker said. The BVG will also keep all video footage recorded for three days instead of the current 24 hours.

Lessons of London prompt increased surveillance

Brandenburg's Interior Minister Jorg Schonbohm has also outlined plans to install closed-circuit cameras in various public areas including train stations and airports.

"The swift success of Britain's police investigations just goes to show how important closed-circuit cameras are," Schonbohm told the tabloid Bild.

The minister added it would be "very important" to have closed-circuit cameras in place way ahead of the World Cup in June and July next year.