JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, May 31 (UPI) -- South Africa is not facing a terror threat in the run-up to the World Cup soccer tournament, the country's police minister said Monday.
Nathi Mthethwa, seeking to dispel worries in the wake of last week's alert by the U.S. State Department that Americans face a heightened terror risk in South Africa, said there is nothing specific on the security radar, CNN reported.
"It would be folly for any country to grandstand and proclaim that it is immune to terror attacks," Mthethwa said, adding, "there is no threat to South Africa as we speak now."
The top police official said his country is prepared to deal effectively with any threats against the World Cup, which runs from June 11 to July 11.
"Each country has the right to say whatever they want to say to their citizens," Mthethwa told CNN. "All we are saying in South Africa is that together with the security forces of U.S., U.K. and others, we have prepared ourselves for any eventuality."
