Queen’s funeral is ‘biggest ever anti-terror op’ with snipers on roof and SAS on standby
Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral will be Britain’s “biggest ever security operation” that will see the Monarch’s body protected by a “ring of steel,” including snipers and the SAS on standby.
Her Majesty, who died at Balmoral on Thursday, was transported by road through Scottish towns and villages with a heavy security presence surrounding her convoy to ensure safety ahead of the Westminster Abbey funeral, at 11am on Monday, September 19.
Up to 10,000 police officers are understood to be involved in what is being reported as the largest single security operation Britain has ever seen, with the Mail on Sunday describing the former monarch as being protected by a “ring of steel”.
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Reams of police and intelligence staff are understood to have cancelled leave to be a part of the momentous security operation.
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Ahead of her coffin’s arrival in Edinburgh, the first leg of her journey ahead of arriving in London, officers armed with sniper rifles could be seen on the roof of St Giles’ Cathedral.
Other officers also rode in a vehicle following the horse carrying Her Majesty’s coffin.
In Edinburgh, where the Queen’s body is available for the public to view from today, security was already tight before the Queen’s arrival, with snipers spotted on rooftops in the Scottish capital.
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SAS units are expected to be deployed at the Palace of Holyroodhouse and St Giles’ Cathedral in the city.
Police have also been granted a no-fly zone order over London from Monday morning. The Queen’s coffin is scheduled to arrive in the capital on Tuesday.
And in what is being described as a “security headache”, protection will be heightened to protect foreign dignitaries from all over the world.
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Plain-clothes officers will also be among crowds to monitor any threats with domestic security service MI5 and the foreign service MI6 also remaining close at hand.
Former military intelligence officer Philip Ingram said: “It’s one of the biggest security headaches for the UK because of the nature of the event, widely publicised days in advance and just about every world leader possible coming into London.
“GCHQ with allied spy agencies will be making sure they are tuned into any particular threat, MI5 and MI6 will be looking to international organisations that they cooperate with.
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“It will attract everyone from across the globe and those that will potentially want to disrupt it – terrorists, hostile intelligence agencies,” he told MailOnline.
BBC security correspondent Frank Gardner said on the channel this morning that the terrorism threat had reached level three out of five, a significant threat that would justify the policing operation.
The Association of Event Organisers (AEO) advised that there could be an increased security risk (terror threat) to all events during this period, and in particular the funeral and coronation dates.
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“This will be probably the biggest policing and protective operation the UK has ever mounted,” Nick Aldworth, former Counter Terrorism Policing National Coordinator, said.
“Airport-style security”, as the BBC put it, will also be expected for the Queen’s lying-in-state, between the 14th and 19th.
You can leave your tributes to Queen Elizabeth II here.
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