Prague alert for Hearts

HEARTS players and supporters were today assured of their safety in the Czech Republic despite Prague being under the threat of terrorist attack.

Czech intelligence claim to have been alerted to a terrorism threat, although 5000 supporters from Edinburgh are due to descend on the Czech capital over the next 48 hours ahead of Hearts' UEFA Cup match with Sparta at the Toyota Arena.

As a precautionary measure, Scottish fans are advised to stay clear of synagogues and foreign embassy buildings during their trip as it is believed these could be the principal targets in any attack.

The Czech government is monitoring the situation at the moment and hopes the threat will be over in a matter of days, although groups of armed policemen are patrolling the streets of Prague's city centre.

Officials at Sparta insist that these are only precautionary measures and that the safety of the public has not been compromised.

Press officer Lucas Tribyl told the Evening News: "There should be no problem for Hearts and their supporters. I think everything will be fine. Right now the situation is quiet but maybe slightly more dangerous than usual.

"We have many policemen on the streets because our intelligence has picked up some information about a supposed attack. Our government has said they have information about a terrorist attack on Prague and they have a plan in place. We don't know the reasons behind it."

Sparta spokesman Jan Hala added: "Our secret services got information about a threat to our Israeli community. Places like the synagogues and the Israeli, British and American Embassies are thought to be the targets.

"The streets look like normal, it's just there are more policeman with weapons in and around the city centre and near those important buildings that I mentioned.

"It would be sensible for the Hearts supporters to stay away from these places but I don't think they will be too interested in them anyway because they want to see all the pubs and drink the Czech beer.

"I'm sure there will be no problem for our Scottish visitors.

"The area of concern is next to the main railway station where the Israeli Embassy is, and also in the old Jewish area of the city in the old town. And, obviously, the airport is being monitored closely."

Hearts fans can expect to go about their business as normal in the Czech capital, where their team will attempt to overturn a 2-0 deficit against Sparta on Thursday night.

Hala continued: "We hope this will be over in a matter of days. Anything can change but we hope for an end to it soon.

"Normal life is no different for the people of Prague. We are living as we normally do, walking through the city centre without problem. You could say you are not safe anywhere in today's world. No-one could have expected what happened in London last summer on the tubes and buses.

"The threat appears to be from Muslim countries.

"The secret service here have the intelligence but, of course, it is secret and not for the public domain. They just explained to us that they have some information and they are telling us to be careful."

A Hearts spokesperson said: "We are unaware of any threat to our supporters and have kept up to date on all matters with Sparta Prague and the authorities."

A spokesperson for the Foreign Office said: "We are not issuing any special instructions for people travelling to the Czech Republic as there is a generic warning against terrorism anyway and that pretty much applies to the whole of Europe."

Meanwhile, Hearts assistant coach John McGlynn is confident that the team's recent return to winning form has been timely as they prepare to confront Sparta.

"Winning breeds confidence and we've certainly gained a lot of confidence from the result at Motherwell and the result at Aberdeen. These are places where we have found it very difficult in the past.

"To turn these games into victories is pleasing. Now we try to make amends in Prague for our first-leg performance."

Taken from the Scotsman