Over 2,000 police officers are
to be deployed in Rome as part of tougher security measures for
the pope's upcoming Jubilee in the wake of last Friday's Islamic
terrorist attacks in Paris, Rome police commissioner Nicolò
D'Angelo said Friday.
The new measures will come into effect on Monday, two weeks
ahead of the start of the Holy Year on December 8.
Millions of pilgrims are expected to converge on Rome
during the Jubilee running until November 20, 2016.
The security plan provides for police patrols on local
buses and for Rome's video surveillance system to be beefed up.
There will also be more police patrols in outlying areas of
the capital to "make our presence felt," D'Angelo said.
Rome will be divided into three areas of increasing
security, from outlying to central districts.
"All the pilgrim routes will be strengthened with
additional security," he added.
The police commissioner also said Rome's Olympic stadium
where football matches are played is "obviously" a potential
target and that security would be tightened there as well.
D'Angelo added law enforcement has an excellent
relationship with the Muslim community in the nation's capital.
"We have a good relationship with Rome's Islamic
communities, and we are always exchanging information," he said.
"We don't have situations like those in the Paris banlieues
(impoverished, outlying districts)".
He added that "we have allocated additional resources for
(Rome's) outlying districts - where it's easier to find lodging,
including because there are a lot of cellars and garages there".
Also on Friday, a poll showed 66% of Italians fear terror
attacks during the Jubilee - up from 38% last week.
Another 52% of respondents said they no longer feel safe
from terrorist attacks in Italy and more than eight in 10 said
they would give up some individual liberties in exchange for
more security.
Premier Matteo Renzi did his part to keep public morale
high.
"Those who would shut us away in our homes cannot get the
better of us," he said amid a rash of bomb scares in Rome and
Milan.
"We shall not be overwhelmed by hysteria and fear".
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