S. Africa Red Alert after Bombing

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Tuesday, December 03, 2002

S. Africa Red Alert after Bombing

South African Police have been put on high alert for the festive season in the wake of recent bomb blasts, serious violent crimes and more bomb threats across the country, police sources said Monday.

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South African Police have been put on high alert for the festive season in the wake of recent bomb blasts, serious violent crimes and more bomb threats across the country, police sources said Monday.

Western Cape spokesperson Rod Beer confirmed that for the firsttime in more than a decade, mobilization orders have been issued to rank-and-file operational police, both uniformed members and detectives, stipulating they must be on standby 24 hours a day.

Bombs have recently rocked the Bishop Lavis unit's base, the police air wing in Pretoria and the Mtamvuna River bridge on the N2 near the Wild Coast Sun at Port Edward.

Rod Beer said that "certain measures" have been put in place tosafeguard the community over the holidays.

But he would not give details of the mobilization orders to counter threats of terror, or act in the case of an attack.

According to the order, members, when mobilized, must be able to reach a gathering-point within 30 minutes, using their own transport. They must carry enough money or food to last two days and be armed.

They must have their appointment certificates with them, carry a torch and wear a bulletproof vest if issued with it.

Leave has been canceled in many cases and police carrying official mobile phones have been told to remain contactable at alltimes.

Meanwhile a letter, purportedly from the militant right-wing Boeremag, was circulated to the media last week threatening more terror attacks over the festive season heightened fears of urban terror.

Reliable information gathered by intelligence units has suggested the Western Cape infrastructure and important holiday destinations could be targeted over the period.

The Boeremag, in another letter circulated in the media at the weekend, threatened owners of businesses, shops and shopping mallswho "broke the law of God" by doing business on Sundays, but no names were listed.

In the letter, the Boeremag claimed responsibility for the air wing and bridge bombs. Signed by "Krygers van die Boerevolk", the letter contained a threat of attacks over the festive period as their "second phase" of terror.

Police have been ordered to remain on standby until the end of January. Unit and station commanders have been instructed to avoidarrangements that will leave only a skeleton staff contingent on duty over the holiday season, as is the case in normal practice.

A Scorpions source said that they too had been placed on high alert, but could take leave provided they were able to report for duty at short notice.

Well-placed intelligence sources said they were aware of a right-wing threat in the Western Cape over the next two months andhad an "eventuality program" in place.

South African police launched a three-day nationwide raid against the white ring-wingers and more than 30 right-wing suspects were arrested since the bomb blast on Oct. 29.

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