CAMELS PROTECT 3 LIONS
Mounted sand cops guard England team
SECURITY guards on camels are patrolling England’s World Cup HQ in the desert.
A 14-strong sand squad was spotted trotting round the Three Lions’ hotel in Qatar while the players were holed up inside. The move came as spy chiefs revealed assassins from Iran – England’s first opponents at the tournament – have tried to kill or kidnap 10 Brits this year.
MI5 chief Ken McCallum said it was “completely unacceptable activity”.
And last night the Foreign Office was advising Brits not to travel to Iran.
Iran’s Kish Island, packed with malls, tourist attractions and resort hotels, sits just 192 miles off Qatar in the Persian Gulf.
England play Iran at football for the first time in their opening game at the Khalifa International Stadium in Qatar on Monday at 1pm UK time. Up to 10,000 Three Lions supporters are expected.
A ring of steel surrounds England’s HQ ahead of the game, with security guards stationed every 30 yards around the 10ft high perimeter walls. The camel cops – in traditional white robes – patrolled the promenade between their hotel and the beach.
They are similar to the traditional security force used to guard the Emir of Qatar’s palace. One local said: “The camel-mounted royal guards are well known here. They are popular and effective.
Labour has called for Iran to be kicked out of the World Cup after revelations of the plots to kill Brits.
A Football Association spokesman said it was a “matter for the Government”.
FANS are set to devour more than 5million takeaway pizzas during England’s first World Cup match against Iran on Monday, a Foodhub poll found.