16,000 police to be deployed for pope's safety
Benedict XVI will travel in an armoured vehicle and two identical official cars will form part of his convoy. Traffic will be blocked and protests banned.
Ankara (AsiaNews) In Turkey, Benedict XVI will go from place to place in an armoured vehicle and two identical official cars will be part of his convoy. This is one of the security measures revealed by Ankara's Security General Directorate, which has announced it will adhere to its 'Type A protection plan' for the papal visit, the same used for the visit of Bush.
Drawn up in cooperation with the National Intelligence Agency (MIT) and the Gendarmerie, the plan seeks to ensure the safety of Benedict XVI from the moment he enters Turkey's airspace. Turkish F-16 aircraft will accompany the pope's flight in a measure of protection coupled with welcome.
Soon after the Pope lands, traffic will be halted in the entire area. Police officers from special units and sharpshooters will be stationed beforehand along the Pope's route.
During the pope's four-day visit (28 November 1 December), 7,000 policemen will be on duty in Ankara, and 9,000 in Istanbul: the Directorate said it will not permit any leave of absences in those days.
Apart from guaranteeing the safety of Benedict XVI, the huge deployment is also aimed at preventing protests sparked by the pope's words during his "lectio" in Regensburg in September, which caused widespread street demonstrations. The police have warned that protests will be banned even in provinces not visited by the pope.
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