London security in spotlight

THE Australian Cricket Board said it was comfortable with the level of security provided to their Champions Trophy team following Saturday night’s attack in London.

Australia face Bangladesh in a crucial Group A match today at The Oval, a short travelling distance south of London Bridge, where assailants drove a van into pedestrians at high speed before stabbing revellers. Seven people were killed.

“The team, support staff and travelling contingent have been accounted for,” a Cricket Australia spokesperson said.

“Our security team is working closely with the ICC [International Cricket Council] and the local organising committee to ensure the safety and security of our players and support staff is paramount. “At this stage we are comfortable with the level of security being provided to us and will continue to monitor the situation.”

The ICC said yesterday the safety and security of the Champions Trophy was “the highest priority”.

“Following last night’s [Saturday night’s] incident all team hotels went into lockdown and teams, match officials and staff were all quickly accounted for,” the global governing body said.

“We will continue to work with authorities over the coming hours and days and review our security in line with the threat levels.”

Security was heightened for yesterday’s India v Pakistan match at Edgbaston in Birmingham. Both teams observed a minute of silence before play.

Sri Lanka Cricket took to Twitter to assure fans that their team, which lost to South Africa at The Oval on Saturday night, was safe.

South Africa, who arrived last month for a three-month tour of England, said their players were “uneasy” following the May 22 night blast at a pop concert in Manchester. — Reuters