Experts warn of ‘soft target’ vulnerabilities and intelligence gaps as federal agencies prepare to secure 78 matches across 11 cities

FifaWorld Cup matches set to be held across the United States face heightened terrorism risks, with experts warning that vulnerabilities are being amplified by theUS-Israel conflict with Iranand a depletion ofcounter-terrorismexpertise within federal law enforcement.

The biggest threat stems from homegrown violent extremists, often lone actors that may have become radicalized online by extreme political views or jihadists such as the Islamic State (Isis), said four counter-terror experts interviewed.

“We need to protect not only each venue, but all the other links in the chain that get to the point of the game,” said Javed Ali, associate professor at the University of Michigan, who previously served in theFBI, Department of Homeland Security, and as national security council senior director for counter-terrorism. “There are just so many games. There’s only so many resources to deploy to try to buy down risk against a number of different threats.”

In March, the FBI held a large residential training exercise on domestic threats, bringing together agents from across the country who work in domestic terrorism ahead of major national security events such as theWorld Cup.

When FBI agents at the meeting discussed the scale and complexity of securing the tournament, they were “alarmed, because there’s a lot that needs to be dealt with”, said one member of federal law enforcement in attendance, who spoke on the condition of anonymity. “It will be hard to control, given the environment and the number of locations of matches and watch parties across the United States. There is a very real possibility that something bad will happen.”

Although the US is experienced in securing large-scale stadium events such as the NFLSuper Bowl, experts say the sheer number of World Cup matches will require an unprecedented level of coordination, vigilance and stamina.

The tournament will be about six weeks long, with 104 matches in the US, Canada and Mexico. The US will host 78 matches, in Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, Houston, Kansas City, Los Angeles, Miami, Philadelphia, the San Francisco Bay Area, Seattle and East Rutherford, New Jersey, which is about 10 miles from Manhattan.

The Department of Homeland Security has announced thatonly the final– which will be at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford – will be designated as a ‘national special security event’ (NSSE).

The designation triggers a centralized federal operation led by the United StatesSecret Service, with intelligence from the FBI and emergency coordination by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (Fema). It includes hardened security perimeters, magnetometer screening, temporary flight restrictions enforced by the Federal Aviation Administration, counter-drone systems and continuous counter-terrorism monitoring across federal, state and local agencies.

Source: Drudge Report