Terrorism a threat says police chief

"Next year we will have over three million visitors, among them scores of well known public personalities from all over the world," Konrad Freiberg said at a police security forum in Gelsenkirchen, one of the 12 host cities at the tournament.

"They will spend long periods of time at previously known places. That makes this big event an attractive target for terrorists as well."

Politicians, royalty and celebrities are often in attendance at major sporting events.

The World Cup will feature 32 teams and run from June 9 to July 9 across Germany next year. The twin fears for tournament organisers and German police are terrorism and hooliganism.

Freiberg, who said that the former threat meant it would be irresponsible to cut police numbers before the event, added that concerns of violence among fans had been raised by plans to show matches live on big screens in city centres.

"For each England match alone 25,000 fans without tickets will be expected," Freiberg said. "We’ve made the stadiums safe but a few kilometres away rival fans will be able to meet unhindered in front of large TV screens." He added: "There will be incalculable security risks at these freely accessible places."

England, which has long had a problem with soccer hooliganism, qualified for the finals earlier this month.