Security in Helsinki is being tightened to never-before seen levels ahead of the World Athletics Championships starting on Saturday, but police say they are more worried about hooligans and thugs than about terrorism.
Athletes from more than 200 countries will participate in the games set to take place amid record security levels.
”Such high security measures are exceptional when it comes to our history,” said Jari Liukku, the deputy chief of Finland’s National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), pointing out that the police alone had spent â,¬6,5-million on additional security for the event.
Despite the heightened fear of terrorist attacks around the world following the deadly bombings in London and Egypt last month, Liukku insists that police are not worried that the championships will be targeted by terrorists.
Based on national and international intelligence ”there is no threat when it comes to terrorism in the next two months and during the games”, he said.
Police also do not appear very worried about several demonstrations scheduled during the competitions, including one at noon on Sunday against international terrorism.
The main security concern, according to Liukku, is that hooligans will upset the event.
”According to [our] analysis we have reason to suspect that during that period of time there will be some problems caused by hooligans,” he cautioned, but maintained that police were prepared for the challenge.
Finland’s largest daily Helsingin Sanomat on Monday expressed scepticism at the optimistic stance of the police.
”Let’s hope the police know what they are talking about,” the paper stated in an editorial.
As many as 30 000 foreign visitors are expected to descend on the city for the spectacle, making it the largest international sporting event since the Olympic Games in Athens last year, according to organisers.
With a few days to go before the start of the championships, there are already between 2 000 and 4 000 visitors crowding the Helsinki airport each hour under the suspicious gaze of large numbers of security guards.
Extra police officers have been flown in from other parts of the country and a number of private security companies, customs and border guards and 600 soldiers from the Finnish military and air force have already been posted to guard the main venues.
Rescue organisations have been put on standby and most of the areas where the sporting events will take place, as well as the athletes’ village in Otaniemi on the outskirts of Helsinki, have already been cordoned off.
”Each person is checked on arrival to this area,” Liukku said.
Metal detectors like the ones found in airports were set up a week ago, and anyone entering the area, including the athletes and members of the press, are screened.
Throughout the championships no airplanes will be permitted to fly in the airspace over the Olympia stadium or the athletes’ village.
Streets near the stadium will also be shut, while backpacks, large bags, picnic baskets, umbrellas or a can or bottle, not to mention knives or forks, have been banned in the sporting arena.
”We are well prepared for the games,” Liukku insisted. – Sapa-AFP