Terrorist Risk to at Least 21 World Cup Matches

Germany's Federal Crime Office (BKA) announced it believes at least 21 matches during the soccer World Cup will be at high risk of terrorist attacks, according to a magazine report Wednesday.

The danger of attacks by Islamic extremists was especially high, weekly magazine Stern reported in its latest edition, citing a confidential report by the BKA.

The report said the opening match between Germany and Costa Rica in Munich on June 9, and the final game in Berlin on July 9 were at particular risk. Games involving the United States will also be given special police attention due to the country's role in the war on terror.

Matches involving England, Spain, Poland and Australia are other potential targets for their governments' roles in the 2003 invasion of Iraq, the report added.

A spokesman for the BKA said it was no secret the Federal Crime Office compiled situation reports on the World Cup, Reuters reported.

"But we will make no statement on this, as we do not comment on internal reports and documents on principle," he said.

German authorities have emphasized the country has no reports of specific dangers to the soccer tournament, which will feature teams from 32 countries with 1.5 million foreign fans expected.