ARMED GARDAI AT CROKER
Anti-terror plan in action as 82,000 head for stadium and backpacks banned
ARMED gardai will be be on standby at Croke Park ahead of this afternoon’s showdown between Mayo and Dublin to counter any terror threat.
Specialist tactical units with highpowered vehicles will be around the grounds as 82,300 fans pour in for the All-ireland football final. Gardai and the GAA last night urged people not to bring backpacks or large bags as searches will be carried out. A senior source said: “We are policing a
huge event, a national event, which goes out across the globe.
“And we have an obligation under the Siochana Act to police this event.
“All things are considered and everything is really put into place
appropriate to the size of the event.”
Security has been heightened following the terror attack in London on Friday when a bomb partially exploded on a packed train.
The source added: “You won’t have armed gardai searching people going in but any present are there to tackle organised crime or a terrorist threat if required.
“A lot of it will not be visible. There is traffic management, there is a ticket touting aspect of it, and there is the terrorist threat aspect of it. That is all considered in the policing plan.” It’s understood that the heavily-armed units such as Emergency Response Unit and other tactical outfits set up to tackle the Kinahan-hutch feud will be on standby around the packed grounds.