It’s believed threats made by a terrorist group in a recently released propaganda video have kept a number of teams from a major cheerleading competition set to take place at West Edmonton Mall next week.
The ACA Cheerleading Championships is one of the largest cheerleading competitions in western Canada – expected to bring 3,500 athletes from five provinces to compete at West Edmonton Mall.
However, organizers of the event said ever since a video posted online by rebel group al-Shabaab made direct threats against the mall last week, twelve teams have pulled out of the event.
“We know they’ve taken their decisions very seriously, they’ve consulted with their parents in their clubs and they’ve made the decisions they felt were necessary,” Denise Fisher, Executive Director of the Alberta Cheerleading Association said.
Fisher told CTV News the ACA is working with West Edmonton Mall, Edmonton Police, and RCMP to make sure their competition is safe.
“We do have full confidence in West Edmonton Mall and West Edmonton Mall’s administration that they’re going to take the security measures needed to ensure the event is safe,” Fisher said.
She confirmed the mall is planning to increase security and the police presence for the event – the organization has also hired extra security.
Perfect Storm Athletics has more than 600 competitors headed to the event. The owner of the facility said the idea of pulling his teams never crossed his mind.
“We all have some concern about it, but we’re confident that things will be just fine, and precautions will be taken,” Jim Greenough said.
The ACA wouldn’t say which teams cancelled, or where they were from. Despite the cancellations, 170 squads are expected to compete in the event, which starts March 6.
With files from Veronica Jubinville
