Al-Qaida militant 'planned World Cup terror attack'

An al-Qaida militant suspected of planning an attack targeting the World Cup in South Africa next month has been detained by Iraqi security forces.

The militant was an officer in the Saudi army, Baghdad security services spokesman Major General Qassim al-Moussawi said.

Abdullah Azam Saleh al-Qahtani is suspected of planning a “terrorist act” in South Africa during the World Cup, beginning June 11, Gen al-Moussawi said.

He added that al-Qahtani entered Iraq in 2004 and is suspected of carrying out several attacks in the capital and elsewhere in the country.