Armed police to be at big stadium gigs

CONCERTGOERS can expect to see armed police at major music events this summer as Cardiff prepares to welcome some of the world’s biggest music acts to the stage.

In the aftermath of three terror attacks in Britain in just three months, police say they will carry on working with the organisers of music and sporting events which are being staged over the coming weeks.

Five people died in Westminster, London, on March 22 when a car was driven into pedestrians before the attacker abandoned it and fatally stabbed an unarmed police officer.

In Manchester, 22 people died after a suicide bomber detonated a bomb at an Ariana Grande concert on May 22.

And eight people are now confirmed to have died after a terror attack in London Bridge and Borough Market on Saturday. It was the same day that extra officers had been drafted in to help police the Champions League final in Cardiff between Real Madrid and Juventus, when about 2,000 police officers were on the streets for the major sporting event.

As Cardiff gears up to play host to a series of major music events this summer, police have told concertgoers what they can expect.

Former Take That member and solo superstar Robbie Williams will play the Principality Stadium in Cardiff on Wednesday, June 21, as part of The Heavy Entertainment Show.

The following week, Justin Bieber fans will welcome the Canadian pop star to the same venue on Friday, June 30, when he brings his Purpose World Tour to the Welsh capital.

And global superstars Coldplay will play two dates at the Principality Stadium on Tuesday, July 11, and Wednesday, July 12, for their A Head Full of Dreams tour.

All of the acts appeared at the One Love Manchester concert on Sunday, organised by US singer Ariana Grande as a benefit concert to raise funds for the victims and families of the Manchester terror attack.

South Wales Police says it will review its response to upcoming events depending on the intelligence and information they receive, while those attending can expect to see both armed and unarmed officers on patrol.

It follows armed police being seen on patrol on Tuesday outside the SSE Swalec in Cardiff as thousands of cricket fans headed to the 16,000-seater stadium, before England qualified for the ICC Champions Trophy semi-finals after a convincing win over New Zealand.

Assistant Chief Constable Richard Lewis, of South Wales Police, said: “There are a number of key music and sporting events in South Wales in the coming weeks which will attract large crowds. We will continue to work with the organisers and review our response to these events depending on the intelligence and information which we receive.

“Our priority is to maintain a visible and reassuring presence in our communities and we will continue to provide the response the public would expect in order to keep them safe.

“People going to these events will see both unarmed and overtly armed officers on patrol and we will also be using tactics which are not obvious to the public but are designed to keep them safe.

“Our message as always is for people to be vigilant and to report any concerns they may have to the confidential Anti-Terrorism Hotline on 0800 789321. In an emergency, always call 999.”

You can also report suspicious activity online by visiting beta.met. police.uk/tell-us-about/possibleterrorist-activity/report-possibleterrorist-activity/