“The coronation is being accompanied by one of the largest security operations in the country’s history,” one security expert told The Independent. “There is a lot at stake. If something goes wrong, it will be broadcast immediately and it will damage Britain’s reputation in the world.’
The British domestic intelligence service MI5 and the police have been preparing the operation since the death of Queen Elizabeth II, that is, since last fall. They are based on plans that have been available for decades and are repeatedly updated. Much is and remains secret. Still, some details have come to light about the threat authorities anticipate and how they are responding to it.
Who could attack
The threats come from jihadists, neo-Nazis and other extremists who want to violently harm the royal family as a symbol of the British state. The escalation of tensions in Northern Ireland also raises fears of an attack by the terrorist organization New IRA (Irish Republican Army).
There is no doubt that he is in the line of succession, and that Charles III. overtook They are usually people with psychological problems.
Environmental groups such as Just Stop Oil and the Not My King movement are considered by experts to be less prepared for violence, according to Bild. Still, climate activists may try to disrupt the ceremony and draw global attention to their goals. Similarly, as a member of the anti-monarchist movement, who threw at Charles III in the winter in York. raw eggs and was arrested by the police.
A third group of possible threats is considered unpredictable by security forces: royal stalkers. Simon Morgan, the Queen’s former head of security, explained to INews who they were dealing with: “They are fixated on the royal family. For example, someone thinks that he is the real king, or that he is married to him. There is no doubt that he is in the line of succession, and that Charles III. overtook They are usually people with psychological problems.’
Photo: Maja Smiejkowska, Reuters
Royal fans are gearing up for the coronation
Finally, British police expect an increase in crime in connection with the coronation. From pickpocketing in crowds and subways to sex crimes and organized crime selling non-existent hotel rooms.
Thousands of police officers on duty
Thousands of police officers from different areas of London will gather for the coronation. The exact number remains secret. At the Queen’s funeral (Operation London Bridge), however, over five thousand police officers were allegedly deployed. The Metropolitan Police (The Met), the police force for Greater London, is primarily responsible for their deployment.
Police with dogs search the route of the coronation procession from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Abbey. They comb through telephone booths, drains, trash cans and other daily necessities and seal a significant portion of them.
Since the 2012 Olympics, London has had a number of retractable barriers. The police have already activated some, while others are yet to do so. These security features, some of which are hidden in the statues, are mainly intended to prevent vehicles loaded with explosives from driving into the coronation site in Westminster, for example.
Cameras and recognizers
On the day of the coronation, uniformed and, as is customary in the United Kingdom, unarmed police officers will line the route. Traffic police will provide road closures. Armed Met Specialist Crime & Operations (SCO19) teams trained to respond quickly will be patrolling the route. Snipers will take up positions on rooftops along the route.
Photo: Maja Smiejkowska, Reuters
A hat created for the coronation of Charles III.
Plainclothes officers, including members of the detective division of London’s New Scotland Yard, blend into the crowd. Among other things, they are supposed to identify potential protesters who could infiltrate the royal supporters and start disruptive events.
Stuart Lister, professor of policing and criminal justice at the University of Leeds, says: “It will be difficult for the police to actively identify protesters who try to blend in with the crowd.”
Key to all security measures are an estimated one million cameras in London, the second highest density of visual surveillance in the world after Beijing. During the celebrations, the police also use them to check car license plates.
In addition, super recognizers sit by the monitors. Specially trained police officers can pick up suspects based on about 30 different facial features, such as wrinkles and muscle movements. A gift that only two percent of all police officers are estimated to have.
And finally, in conclusion: other special units also arrive with foreign state guests. For example, the first lady of the USA, Jill Biden (71), will be protected by the secret service, the president’s bodyguard. Codename: Capri.
