Johnson warns Russia to look after English World Cup fans

BORIS JOHNSON will warn Russia that it must guarantee the safety of English football fans at the World Cup, amid fears about risks of violence, terror attacks and cyber scams.

The Foreign Secretary will discuss plans for police to share information to keep fans safe while they are in the country during his visit to Moscow today, where he will meet Sergei Lavrov, his counterpart, for talks on security, hacking and the situation in Yemen.

He will also raise British concerns about Russia’s actions in Syria and Ukraine, in what is expected to be a frank and forthright discussion between the two men.

It is the first time a Foreign Secretary has visited the country in five years, but officials are keen for it not to be seen as a softening of relations.

Earlier this year it was revealed that Russian cyber attacks have targeted UK energy, communication and security networks. Mr Johnson will raise these concerns and also call on Russian officials to work with the British police ahead of the World Cup in 2018 to protect British citizens.

He will propose a series of exchange visits to help Russian police learn from the British on issues like crowd control. Fans will also be warned about online scams, including those linked to dating websites, and the likelihood of terror attacks, potentially on public transport.

Foreign Office advice for British nationals visiting Russia warns of drink spiking, street violence and racial and homophobic attacks.