More than 11,000 police will patrol the streets of London for the coronation of King Charles, the biggest event in the British capital for 70 years, officials said Wednesday, ready to deal with any incident.
Security forces have been preparing for months for the event, which will be attended by around 100 heads of state and a large number of spectators. Thousands of soldiers will participate in the procession.
However, anti-monarchy demonstrations are also planned in Trafalgar Square and along the procession route.
Defense Minister Tom Tugenthat told Times Radio that the event was one of the most important security operations the country had ever undertaken.
“Police are the least of all, our intelligence and other security forces are well aware of the challenge we face,” he said.
Event preparedness was demonstrated by the rapid response to an incident on Tuesday night, when a man was arrested after throwing what was believed to be a gunshot outside Buckingham Palace, Tugenthat told Sky News. The police carried out a controlled explosion.
Charles and his wife Camilla will be crowned at Westminster Abbey on Saturday, and London Metropolitan Police Deputy Assistant Commissioner Ade Adelegun said there were no specific threats to the event.
While a new law passed this week gives police more powers to deal with it, the biggest problem may be that protesters want to use the occasion to highlight their causes.
Climate activists rioted during a march at the start of Queen Elizabeth’s platinum jubilee celebrations last June, while eggs were thrown at Charles by protesters since he became king.
“We will not tolerate and we will not allow, we will not allow anyone to commit criminal acts in the name of protest,” Adelegun said.
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