Games a terrorist target, says accused bomber

AN accused bomber has confirmed the New Delhi Commonwealth Games are a terrorist target, Indian police say.

Shehzad Ahmed reportedly told police suicide bombings at the Commonwealth Games had been discussed by terror group Indian Mujahideen.

Ahmed, 21, is accused of planting a bomb in the centre of New Delhi in September 2008. Five explosions ripped through a children's amusement park, killing 26 people and injuring 150 others. Ahmed is also accused of killing a police inspector the pervious day.

Police say Ahmed told them more terrorist acts were planned. "He told us they (Indian Mujahideen) wanted to conduct a spate of attacks on people of importance so that the country is perceived unsafe for any big international event like the Commonwealth Games," a senior police officer said.

"Before Delhi, the group had conducted blasts at Jaipur, Surat, Ahmedabad, Varanasi and had never been caught. This gave them the confidence that they will never be arrested.

"The bombers never carried mobile phones to any bomb-blast spot. One person was in charge of storing all the mobile phones on the day of the blasts. The bombers knew the police could reach them through mobile phone surveillance."

Police will test security arrangements for October's Commonwealth Games during the hockey World Cup in New Delhi, from February 28 to March 13.

"Though the threat perception to the hockey World Cup is not as high as that of the Commonwealth Games, the standard operating procedures would be the same to check the operational preparedness, reaction time and way of handling any emergency," an official said.

The multiple agencies involved in security arrangements are the district police, traffic police, security cells, central paramilitary forces, intelligence agencies and civic authorities.

The hockey World Cup will be held at the Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium in the heart of Delhi, where the Commonwealth Games are to be staged from October 3-14.

Australia is sending a team to the hockey World Cup.

An team of about 600 athletes and officials will be chosen for the Commonwealth Games.

The team is likely to be shadowed by Australian security staff, including police and the military.

British athletes are expected to be accompanied by Scotland Yard officials.