No terror threat, says AMI head

BY KEITH LYNCH

LATEST: The Sunday Star-Times has hit back at criticism of its move to highlight security issues at rugby grounds using fake terrorists with the following statement:

Today's statement from Police Minister Judith Collins about a Sunday Star-Times story on stadium security grossly overstates the actions of the newspaper, said Managing Editor Mitchell Murphy. 

“At no stage did the minister seek to verify any information with this newspaper,” Murphy said.

“Minister Collins statement that the Sunday Star-Times organised for groups of people dressed as terrorists to infiltrate stadiums is completely false. 

“Our investigation, which is a matter of significant public interest, was well planned and carefully considered.

We sought legal advice prior to commencing our investigation and the journalists involved worked under strict protocols. “At no stage was the public at risk nor did we break the law, which has been confirmed today by police.

“We have discussed our investigations openly with police over the past two days and stand by our offer to debrief them and the Minister in order to assist with fixing flaws we have exposed in security levels.

“I would urge the public to reserve judgement until they read the full story in the Sunday Star-Times.” Full details of the investigation will be revealed in the Sunday Star-Times this weekend.

The head of Christchurch’s AMI Stadium says it does not believe suicide bombers are a realistic threat at rugby matches.

Were you at Saturday's Crusaders v Blues Super 14 match at AMI? What did you think about security? Email reporters@press.co.nz.

V-Base chief executive Bryan Pearson said the Sunday Star Times’ action was a ``stupid stunt''.

He said the primary concern of stadium security was keeping alcohol out as ``there is no threat from suicide bombers or people bringing explosive devices into the stadium and therefore we are not in a position where we are scanning and checking for those threats''.

The stunt could have led to the matches being called off and the stadium evacuated, Pearson said.

``Evacuating the stadium when the threat that's been identified is in relation to explosive devices could lead to wide scale panic and in a panic situation anything can happen and there can be real potential for injury.''

Rugby New Zealand 2011 Ltd are currently developing security measures for the World Cup in 2011, he said.

Pearson said he suspected, ``their specification will different to what the current specification is as they will potentially identify additional threats that may relate to an international event of that scale.''

However, former police officer and counter terrorism specialist David Haslett said New Zealand was not isolated from terrorist threats.

"I don't think the threat is consistently high here and we're certainly aware of it, but the reality is we're no different than anywhere else.''

 

Rugby terrorist stunt sparks crackdown warning

The Government says an "unbelievably stupid" stunt involving people posing as terrorists at provincial rugby matches risked sparking a needless security crackdown.

Police Minister Judith Collins this morning said the stunt, which was organised by the Sunday Star Times newspaper, was "unbelievably stupid and irresponsible".

It is understood the Fairfax newspaper organised for groups of people dressed as terrorists to infiltrate restricted areas at matches in Hamilton and Christchurch last weekend. The stunt is believed to have been an effort to test security for the Rugby World Cup 2011.

"This stunt had the potential to result in games being called off and stadiums evacuated," Ms Collins said.

"Common sense would tell you that running around a stadium dressed as a bomber has the potential to end very badly," Ms Collins said.

"If there had been panic there was the very real possibility that people - particularly the elderly, children and those less mobile - could have been hurt.

"Police are taking this matter very seriously."

Ms Collins said security at major events was based on risk.

"The only thing people masquerading as bombers will achieve is an unnecessary increase in security at considerable cost and inconvenience to the public," she said.

"The last thing people want is the situation where people have to be body searched before attending provincial rugby matches."

The Sunday Star Times is published by Fairfax Media, which also publishes Stuff.co.nz and  daily newspapers The Dominion Post and The Press.