World Cup Security Alert: Uncovering Dormant Terrorist Cells Raises Global Safety Concerns

Concerns are mounting over the potential threat from Iranian sleeper cells during the World Cup, a level of danger the United States hasn’t encountered in a quarter-century, according to a seasoned counter-terrorism expert.

Paul Goldenberg, who began his career as a patrol officer in New Jersey and later worked undercover in Florida, has since become a renowned authority in counter-terrorism. Currently, he is involved in security preparations for the World Cup through his role with Rutgers University’s Miller Center on Policing and Community Resilience.

“I’ve been in this field for a long time,” Goldenberg shared with the Daily Mail. “I’m a veteran in counter-terrorism and have experienced it all.”

However, Goldenberg isn’t focused on personal accolades. His unique insight into this summer’s tournament is invaluable, particularly regarding concerns that Iran might activate sleeper cells in response to ongoing conflicts with Israel and the U.S.

“Individuals are scouring social media, strategizing methods to disrupt, harm, and cause chaos,” Goldenberg cautions. “We’re intensifying efforts to prevent any such incidents.”

‘I’ll call it an awakening. It happens when you have these geopolitical events like we’re seeing now. This event is unprecedented in many ways, because I believe there are cells here. 

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President Trump pictured alongside the President of FIFA, Gianni Infantino, last year

‘Think about this. When you have a country like Iran that isn’t afraid to kill 30-35,000 of its own children, its own youth and its own citizens, then you know they’re sure not going to be afraid to strike us at our Achilles heel. 

‘And our Achilles heel is what? Our children, schools, universities, stadiums, infrastructure where you’re going to have the largest gathering for the highest impact. So I will say that we are in probably the most challenging times that I’ve seen in probably 20, 25 years.’

Sleeper cells offer a unique threat, Goldenberg explains, because they can be so difficult to uncover.

‘Sleeper cells are people that have been lurking in the shadows, either individuals or small groups appearing inactive, waiting to receive some kind of order from a foreign adversary or linked to some foreign intelligence or extremist group,’ he says.

‘They’re not just what I refer to as a casual internet meme threat, but really much more serious, which is a concern to intelligence agencies around the world because it’s not like they’re in your face. 

‘We, the intelligence community, the CIAs of the world, the FBI, the MI5 and MI6 of the world are tracking and monitoring these activities as best we can.’

Goldenberg’s words might sound chilling. But he is as confident as anyone can possibly be in the efforts that are being made to keep everyone safe in the United States. 

And that should mean something to the hundreds of thousands of fans heading to the States this summer. He knows more than most about what is being done to protect fans.  

Attacks on Iran continue as tensions ratchet up around the globe before the World Cup 

‘On one hand, I am going to say the World Cup is a prime target for someone who wants to do the greatest damage,’ Goldenberg explains. ‘On the other, I can assure you, because I have seen inside the house, that the World Cup is probably the single most event that has had the greatest number of resources and technologies and methodologies placed all in one pot to secure those games. 

‘I will tell you that they are using both known and unknown technologies and methodologies, even when it comes down to timing of who’s where, what and how. They’re doing everything humanly possible. And I’m not just saying that.

‘The federal task force itself, overseen by Andrew Giuliani, they’ve declared this a national special security event, an NSSE level event, which is the top of the top. There has been tremendous funding. 

‘There’s been tremendous on the ground protective measures by the FBI, DHS, the inner operability between the feds and the international and global intelligence and police has been absolutely extraordinary.’

Goldenberg’s words come as the DHS on Thursday signed off on World Cup security funding worth an extra $625million, according to Politico. 

There are fears Iran has activated sleeper cells after their Supreme Leader was killed

‘Citizens need to know that the White House task force that’s responsible for this has been working feverishly with state and local agencies,’ Goldenberg adds. ‘Years ago, that was a problem.

‘Does that mean they’re going to stop the next attack? I don’t think there’s any guarantee of anything in the world but I have never seen the resources, the coordination and best effort put forward, as I have seen with regard to the FIFA games. And I mean that, genuinely.

‘They have not slept, they literally have not slept, and I had an opportunity first-hand to see the outcomes and good work. The world’s citizens are coming here, they’ve got a big job and they know it. They’re trying to do it with dignity, integrity and they’re not sleeping at night.’

To anyone considering staying away from games out of fear, Goldenberg has one simple and defiant message.

‘Anyone thinking about going to those games should go,’ he insists. 

‘If these terrorists keep us from doing things that make us happy, that bring us together as nations, such as sports that test the human spirit… if these terrorists keep us from those games, then they’ve won.’