- By Adrienne Murray
- Reporting from Malmo
Security is being tightened for the Eurovision Song Contest in Sweden’s third city Malmo, with large demonstrations planned to coincide with the event and the country already on high alert.
Police and organisers say they’re well-prepared and hoping for a “joyful” event.
The annual feel-good celebration of pop and showbiz is this year shrouded by complaints from some quarters over Israel’s participation amid the war in Gaza. Sweden was already facing heightened security challenges, and Malmo is expecting one of the country’s biggest ever policing efforts.
As many as 100,000 visitors are set to descend on this city on Sweden’s south-west coast for the world’s largest live music contest.
Colourful Eurovision banners decorate many of the city’s streets, and it’s the third time that Malmo is playing host, after Swedish artist Loreen won last year’s competition in Liverpool, with her hit song Tattoo.
A programme of festivities kicks off on Saturday, with semi-finals next Tuesday and Thursday, culminating in the grand final on 11 May. An estimated 200 million viewers worldwide are expected to tune in for the four-hour spectacle.
Forces have been drafted in from across Sweden, with reinforcements from neighbouring Denmark and Norway. Swedish police are usually armed, but some officers will carry larger weapons as a precautionary measure.
Malmo police chief Petra Stenkula said the whole country was already “on a terror level of four out of five”.
“I think it’s obvious that the world’s insecurity has also affected Eurovision,” she told the BBC. “In Sweden, and Malmo in particular, there have been protests against Israel taking part in the competition.”
The police chief said there were no specific threats to the event, but the alert level was raised last August, following a spate of Quran-burnings that angered the Muslim world.
An internal police report, highlighted by Sweden’s public broadcaster SVT, described Sweden as a “priority target” for violent jihadist groups. The 23-page threat assessment for Eurovision also cited unrest, cyber attacks and disruption of the broadcast as other potential risks.
“In Sweden, police are used to working with very complex issues, and we think we have good planning,” said Petra Stenkula.
Cameras have also been set up and drones are being used for surveillance. Guests will also have to pass through airport-style security controls including scanners and searches, when entering venues and no bags are allowed.
“It’s a huge thing for the city of Malmo. So, of course, it’s important that everything works smoothly,” said Per-Erik Ebbestahl, Malmo’s security director. “We feel very well prepared.”
Authorities have been planning for months and also working with their counterparts in Liverpool, which hosted last year’s competition. “It’s been very, very, helpful for us,” he told the BBC.
Malmo has hosted the Pope and also a Holocaust Remembrance conference two years ago. But the city’s security director says what is new is the general threat towards Sweden and large gatherings.
“It’s not aimed at Eurovision per se,” he said, pointing out that similar security had been in place for recent ice hockey playoffs, and was also planned for this month’s Taylor Swift concerts in Stockholm.
Fencing had been erected and additional cameras were being mounted when the BBC visited the Malmo Arena on Thursday. Inside the venue, rehearsals were already under way for a show featuring 37 acts.
“We have really exciting shows coming up,” said Ebba Adielsson, SVT’s executive Eurovision producer.
“We know…
This article was originally published by a www.bbc.com . Read the Original article here. .