England pull out of worlds amid attack fears

England pulled out of the badminton World Championships in the southern Indian city of Hyderabad yesterday amid concerns about the team's security.

Badminton England said in a statement that the decision followed "concerns about the English team potentially being a target of attack in the event of a terrorist act."

The team had already arrived in India for the championships, due to start today, but would be returning home immediately.

"The decision follows media reports of a specific Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorist threat against the championships," the statement said.

"Following those reports, Badminton England felt the risk to the safety of the team was one they could not take."

Security for sports teams in the sub-continent has been in question following the ambush of the Sri Lanka cricket team bus in Lahore, Pakistan in March that killed seven Pakistanis and wounded six players.

That incident triggered concerns sport could become a target for more attacks in the region and India remains nervous after militants killed 166 people in an attack on Mumbai last November.

England's cricket team had pulled out of their India tour following the Mumbai attacks before being persuaded to return and complete the series after an independent security assessment.

"This was an incredibly tough decision and one we didn't take lightly," Adrian Christy, chief executive, said in the statement on Badminton England's website.

"After the Olympic Games, this is the most prestigious championships in the world."