Dakar rally cancelled amid terror fears

The annual cross-African Dakar Rally was cancelled today on the eve of the race because organisers feared it may become an al-Qaida target.

The cancellation, the first in the race’s 30-year history, came after the murder of a French tourist family in Mauritania was blamed on the Islamic militants.

Daniel Bilalian of France-Televisions, a TV partner of the endurance rally, said “wisdom had prevailed” and the race had been called off. Race organisers did not immediately confirm the cancellation.

Yesterday the French government expressed concerns about the race following the shootings of four family members in an attack blamed on a terror group with links to al-Qaida. The French government had suggested the race skip Mauritania.

The race, organised by the France-based Amaury Sport Organisation (ASO), had been due to start in Lisbon, Portugal,tomorrow and finish in Dakar, Senegal, on January 20. Eight of the stages had been set to take place in Mauritania.

“There were risks, warnings had been given ... if the slightest thing, the slightest incident had happened in Mauritania, not to mention accidents or attacks, then the whole credibility of ASO would have been called into question and ASO could not allow that,” said Mr Bilalian.