ICC T20 World Cup, one of the world’s biggest cricket events being held in the United States for the first time, is under threat from a potential “lone wolf” terror attack targeting the highly anticipated India-Pakistan match on June 9 in New York.
In a video that has gone viral, the terror group ISIS-K is inciting a lone attacker to act, according to Patrick Ryder, the police commissioner of Nassau County, where the match is scheduled.
“Lone Wolves” are individuals inspired by terrorist organizations but who operate independently, making them harder to track. ISIS-Khorasan, an offshoot of the Islamic State, operates in South and Central Asia.
The ninth edition of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup runs from June 1 to June 29, co-hosted by the USA and Caribbean nations, where cricket enjoys great popularity. The US aims to popularize the sport by leveraging its large South Asian population, with cricket being a passion in India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Nepal. All five countries are participating in the tournament.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul announced on Wednesday that she has “directed the New York State Police to engage in elevated security measures, including an increased law enforcement presence, advanced surveillance, and thorough screening processes.”
Bruce Blakeman, the head of Nassau County, stated at a news conference, “We make sure that we are on top of every situation that could potentially arise. To that end, we have taken many precautions.”
Additional police officers will be deployed at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium at Eisenhower Park, Ryder said. “With a game and crowd as big as this, everything is credible,” he added.
Ryder mentioned that threats had been received since April, describing them as global and international, originating from ISIS-K. “It got more specific towards the India-Pakistan game, though without naming the place,” he said. “Yesterday, you all saw the video that went global, calling for a lone wolf to act.”
The video showed images of the cricket stadium at Eisenhower Park in Nassau County, with drones flying over it, displaying the date “9/06/2024.” In response, NBC New York reported that county officials have requested the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) to make Eisenhower Park a no-fly zone for drones.
The stadium, with a 30,000 capacity, was built specifically for the tournament. An India-Bangladesh warm-up match is scheduled there on June 1.
ISIS-K has previously carried out attacks in Pakistan and threatened terror strikes on India. In March, ISIS-K terrorists attacked a concert hall in Moscow, killing about 130 people, adding gravity to the latest threat.
NBC New York reported that the security preparations for the World Cup event are the largest Nassau County has ever undertaken, treating it on par with presidential debates.
The British newspaper Express first reported on the threat, which was also directed at sporting venues in Europe, including Wembley Stadium. ISIS followers are encouraged to target major events, including the Cricket World Cup, using drones laden with explosives to attack civilians.
Chat room members discussing the stadium threats listed their terror skills, including firing AK47 rifles, and discussed sums of money in pound Sterling, suggesting some might be based in Britain.
According to the International Cricket Council (ICC), cricket’s governing body, three venues in the USA and six in the Caribbean will be used for the tournament. Ten of the 20 teams will play their first match in the USA, with 16 contests held in Lauderhill, Dallas, and New York. The blockbuster India-Pakistan clash is set for Long Island on June 9.
Forty-one matches will be played in the Caribbean across six different islands, with the semi-finals in Trinidad and Tobago and Guyana, and the final in Bridgetown, Barbados on June 29.
