'Terror attack on 2006 World Cup was averted'

Berlin, March 29 (DPA) German security forces had scotched possible terrorist plans to attack the Munich stadium on the occasion of the opening game of the 2006 football World Cup, Bavarian Interior Minister Joachim Herrmann has claimed.

'People were observed who were quite clearly monitoring the stadium with the possible intention of carrying out an attack,' Herrmann told national commercial news broadcaster n-tv, acknowledging the incident for the first time. One person regarded as a potential security threat had been deported, he said.

News of the possible threat had been kept from the public 'because we did not want to spread unnecessary fear', Herrmann said. Germany beat Costa Rica 4-2 in the June 19, 2006, opening game of the tournament that passed off without incident and was seen as a major public relations success for Germany.

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