GUN GUARD AT GRAND NATIONAL
Armed police on terror alert at Aintree for the first time in its 170-year history
A RING of steel was thrown around the Grand National yesterday with heavily armed police patrolling for the first time.
The move to protect 150,000 racegoers comes in the wake of the Westminster terror attack.
People arriving at Aintree for the start of the three-day festival were greeted by armed response teams wielding Heckler and Koch G36K assault rifles.
The move by Merseyside Police comes 20 years after the iconic race was postponed for two days when an IRA bomb threat forced the evacuation of the Liverpool course.
Yesterday uniformed officers brandished weapons in full view for the first time in the event’s 170-year history.
Chief Superintendent Claire Richards said: “We have always had the capacity to deploy armed officers should we require them.
“But what the public will see this year, which is different, is the visible presence of armed officers.
“You would expect us to have
reviewed plans in the light of Westminster, and we have. The armed officers will provide reassurance to the public.”
She stressed that they had no intelligence yet to suggest the racecourse is a specific target for terrorists.
As well as armed police patrols outside the track visitors faced being checked over by security teams using metal detectors, body searches and bag checks.
Those parking at Aintree had to show passes before getting out of their car while security teams searched under bonnets, in boots and foot wells and used extendable mirrors to look under chassis for possible bombs.
Over the years armed police have always been available to react to any incident at the race meeting – with undercover armed officers mingling with the grandstand crowds.
Police have asked race fans to be patient.
Chief Supt Richards added: “The Aintree festival is a great opportunity to show off what Merseyside has to offer.
“It is always a fantastic occasion which attracts people from all over the world and I am confident that this year’s festival will be no exception.
“Racegoers can help us by giving themselves extra time to get to the racecourse, arriving in good time and limiting the number of bags and other items they bring into the course.
Foiled
“The security checks are there for everyone’s benefit.”
Their deployment follows a review of security after the events outside Parliament on March 22.
Khalid Masood, 52, drove a 4X4 at more than 70mph along Westminster Bridge, killing three pedestrians before stabbing to death PC Keith Palmer, 48.
The UK terror threat alert is currently at “severe” – meaning an attack is highly likely.
Following the Westminster terror attack last month, it was revealed that security services and counter-terrorism units have foiled at least 10 attacks in the past two years.
Since then, more armed police units were rolled out across the UK as a precautionary measure.
According to MI6 the current threat from Islamic State is “unprecedented” with the terrorist organisations targeting the UK from deep inside Syria.
A European Union report has warned more than 1,500 jihadists have returned to Europe with orders to “carry out attacks”.
Intelligence agencies fear IS and other terrorist groups could have developed ways to plant explosives in laptop computers and mobile phones which can bypass airport security screening methods.
Last month, Britain and the US banned travellers from six countries, including Turkey, Egypt and Saudi Arabia, carrying laptops and large electronic devices on to passenger aircraft in their hand luggage.