Federal law enforcement source: Officials aware of purported threat to cricket tournament with games in Nassau

A federal law enforcement source on Tuesday said officials are aware of a vague threat by someone purportedly linked to the Islamic State group against the men’s cricket T20 World Cup set to begin this weekend in Nassau County and other venues, but that it lacked specificity.

Nassau County police and county officials on Wednesday will address security measures for the Nassau event at a news conference at Nassau police headquarters in Mineola. Police Commissioner Patrick Ryder and County Executive Bruce Blakeman will discuss preparations and “general security,” they said.

Neither Nassau County police nor Blakeman’s office would comment Tuesday night on any specific threats. The federal law enforcement official told Newsday the purported threat likely would be discussed at the Nassau briefing.

The first Nassau cricket match is a warmup Saturday between India and Bangladesh. Nassau County is scheduled to host eight cricket matches in 11 days, starting Monday, as part of the World Cup tournament.

The county erected a temporary 34,000-seat cricket stadium in Eisenhower Park to host the World Cup, including a highly anticipated match June 9 between India and Pakistan.

Reports surfaced Tuesday in international media of a threatening image, purportedly released by a group that supports the Islamic State terrorist group, that made a reference to “Nassau Stadium” and the date June 9.

After a separate threat against the tournament was reported in early May in the Trinidad and Tobago Sunday Express, Cricket West Indies and the International Cricket Council, the game’s global governing body, released a joint statement, Reuters reported.

“We work closely with authorities in the host countries and cities, and continually monitor and evaluate the global landscape to ensure appropriate plans are in place to mitigate any risks identified to our event,” they said, according to Reuters. “We want to assure all stakeholders that safety and security of everyone at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup is our number one priority and we have a comprehensive and robust security plan in place.”

Besides the matches in the temporary stadium in Eisenhower Park, others will be played in Dallas, Florida, Guyana, Barbados, Antigua, Tarouba, St. Vincent and St. Lucia over the month of June.