MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Argentina's intelligence reveals details of death threats against CFK

“It was not a direct threat, it came through chiefs of the security forces”, said Security Secretary Berni

Argentina's Security secretary Sergio Berni released on Monday information concerning an alleged terrorist threat from the Islamic State against President Cristina Fernández, (CFK) and assured that further measures had been taken to guarantee the head of state's safety.

”The threat was registered approximately 10 days ago, and since then we have been working alongside the State Intelligence Secretariat (SIDE) and security forces in order to advance in the investigation,“ the official explained to Radio 10.

”It was not a direct threat, it came through chiefs of the security forces.“

Berni further elaborated that the warning was received by Federal Police chief Roman Di Santo and Buenos Aires province counterpart Hugo Matzin, and suggested that it was motivated by the presidential visit to Pope Francis as well as Argentina's stance on the middle east conflict.

”A charge like this should never be played down. The chief of the Federal Police is one of those threatened, and through him the president,“ he maintained.

”Certain types of confidential measures have been taken which have gone unseen in public, because this threat was not heard about. Aside from a judicial investigation measures have been taken to boost security.“

The Argentine president revealed during her visit to Rome on Saturday that she had been threatened by the Islamic State, and that she had discussed the subject with the pontiff during a lunch at the Vatican.

However the president also downplayed the threat saying that if she was to be concerned about all the threat messages she receives, ”I would have to sleep in a different house every night and under the bed“, which she added, ”obviously is not the case”.