Atrocity fear at turnstiles as Britain bristles with police
FOOTBALL fans were subjected to unprecedented security measures yesterday as Britain remained on high alert for terrorist attack.
Large numbers of security guards and police were on patrol at grounds up and down the country on the first day of Premier League fixtures since suicide bombers targeted France’s national stadium.
In the lunchtime match between Watford and Manchester United, officers in high-vis vests were seen guarding the visiting team bus as it arrived and then patrolling the stands during the match.
Fans also had their bags searched by security guards before they were allowed through the gates.
As crowds arrived at Stamford Bridge in West London for Chelsea’s game against Norwich, they had their bags examined by specially trained ‘explosive search’ dogs. Security guards also used handheld metal detectors more commonly seen at airports to check for weapons.
Southampton and Stoke City supporters patiently queued to be frisked by teams of security staff at St Mary’s before entering the turnstiles.
Ahead of Newcastle United’s home fixture against Leicester City, sniffer dogs patrolled St James’s Park with their handlers, looking for any suspicious packages.
Before yesterday’s matches, the French national anthem La Marseillaise was played in the Premier League grounds as players and fans remembered the victims of the Paris terror attacks.
The security measures came after there was a huge police presence at Wembley on Tuesday night for England’s emotional friendly match against France, with many supporters getting their first glimpse of the Metropolitan Police’s new heavily armoured counter-terrorism unit.
The matches in Britain went ahead without incident but the authorities were taking no chances in Belgium, where every match was cancelled as the terror alert was raised to the highest level.
Earlier in the week, Germany’s match against the Netherlands was called off at the last minute because of a ‘concrete security threat’. Fans were ordered to return home quickly in Hanover while the German football team was placed under police protection.
The previous Friday, the same players had spent the night in the Stade de France as the Paris atrocities took place around them.
Three suicide bombers had targeted the stadium where 79,000 people, including President Hollande, had gathered to watch the friendly.