High risk of terror attack in Delhi: Australian advisory

SYDNEY/NEW DELHI - Australia has warned its citizens of a “high risk of terrorist attack” in New Delhi after two Taiwanese tourists were injured Sunday in a shooting in India’s national capital that is preparing to host the Commonwealth Games Oct 3-14.

Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs (DFAT) updated its travel advice following the attack on a busload of tourists outside the historic Jama Masjid in Old Delhi that left two Taiwanese injured.

The DFAT said that there is a “high risk of a terrorist attack” in New Delhi, ABC.net.au reported Monday.

Australian Federal Sport Minister Mark Arbib urged Australians to closely watch the travel advisories.

“At the moment, the travel advice urges Australians to exercise a high degree of caution in India, including New Delhi. We continue to receive reports of possible terrorist attacks in New Delhi, Mumbai and other cities,” Arbib was quoted as saying.

He said that the government was monitoring the situation, adding: “There has been comments from the Commonwealth Games Federation, Mike Cooper, which talks about the large security contingent that will be provided by the Indian authorities.”

“There is going to be something like 100,000 security personnel on the ground in New Delhi and of course we are talking to, in Australia, the Commonwealth Games Association about their preparation also and my understanding is there will be some pretty strict rules on those teams that are going in terms of travelling in public places.”

“So again what we are saying is if you are travelling to Delhi, then show a high degree of caution especially around public places,” Arbib added.

Some 7,000 participants and officials from 71 countries and territories are expected to attend the Oct 3-14 Commonwealth Games, India’s biggest sporting event after the 1982 Asian Games.

In New Delhi, Taiwanese nationals Ko Chang and Ku Ze Wei, both in their 20s, were shot in the head and stomach respectively when the gunmen fired at the bus from which a group of tourists was alighting, police and eyewitnesses said.

The shooting took place two weeks before the Games begin Oct 3.

Last week, top Indian officials, including Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao, briefed ambassadors from Commonwealth countries and allayed their concerns over security for the mega sporting event.

Roger Henning, a security consultant in Australia, opined that there was an 80 percent chance of terrorists attacking the Commonwealth Games.

He said that the Australian team would have protection, but it could still be vulnerable.

“I think it is somewhere between 30 or 40 personnel. They are probably amongst the best in the world. How they are expected to look after 500, I don’t know.”

“When it comes to the real risks, the biggest risks are the road transfers from the airport to the village, from the village to the venues and it is another massive risk if athletes wander around Delhi in their uniforms or in tracksuits because it is about as obvious as a hump on the back of a camel,” Henning added.