Germany is wary of new security threats at the World Cup ¡ª East European hooligans and potential violence at hundreds of jumbo screens showing the games across the country.

"As new developments they present new dangers," August Hanning, state secretary of the Interior Ministry responsible for security, said Friday.

Mexican referee Benito Armando Archundia Tellez looks on during a friendly soccer match at the Azteca stadium in Mexico City in this November 13, 2005 file photo. Tellez is one of the 23 referees selected for the upcoming 2006 World Cup during a meeting in Zurich March 31, 2006.  [Reuters]

Polish, Croatian and Ukrainian fans ¡ª contributing to growing violence in their home leagues ¡ª are feared because the Germans don't know which ones are hooligans. The British and Dutch, however, have exchanged thick dossiers on troublemakers through the years.

"The fear there is the unknown," ministry spokesman Christian Sachs said.

German newspapers have criticized mishaps in evacuation and disaster response exercises for the World Cup, but Hanning said the point of training was to expose possible mistakes.

Nevertheless, German strategy to combat fan violence and terrorism drew high marks at a two-day security conference of experts from the 32 countries playing in soccer's showcase event from June 9-July 9.

"I had the impression they were very well prepared and have covered every threat imaginable," said Min Jang of the terrorism office of South Korea, which staged the 2002 World Cup with Japan.

The number of German police involved is unknown because the nine states with World Cup stadiums coordinate their own security. About 2,000 soldiers will provide support, but are forbidden from taking on police roles under the country's constitution.

Concerned about the jumbo screen venues, the Interior Ministry wants each state to set up video surveillance, check backpacks and fence the areas like a sports arena.

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