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Security gets top priority for Super Bowl
Texas, Feb 01: NFL football fans are converging on Houston, Texas for Sunday`s Super Bowl amid tight security.
Texas, Feb 01: NFL football fans are converging on Houston, Texas for Sunday's Super Bowl amid tight security.
As thousands of NFL football fans began arriving in Texas for Super Bowl XXXVIII, officials said extensive security precautions which marked earlier versions of the NFL's showpiece event would not be eased. This year's Super Bowl has not been designated a national special security event but the NFL's vice-president of security Milt Ahlerich said that would not alter the level of protection. Following the 2001 attacks on New York and Washington, the White House declared the 2002 Super Bowl in New Orleans a national security event resulting in the most elaborate measures ever seen at a sporting event. Most of those same security measures will be in place for Sunday's game between the New England Patriots and Carolina Panthers, including temporary flight restrictions around Reliant Stadium.
But this year the Houston Police Department has been placed in charge of co-coordinating the security plan which will include 25 local, state and government agencies.
The National Guard will not be deployed as part of those security efforts but will be available if needed.
Officials would not comment on specific security details but cautioned the 72,000 ticket holders to arrive early and be patient.
Every person entering the stadium will pass through one of the 90 state-of-the-art metal detectors and other screening procedures that were described as similar to those now at place in airports.
More than 5,000 law enforcement officers and security personnel are expected to deployed around Reliant Stadium on game day, some carrying monitoring devices capable of detecting the presence of radioactive or chemical agents.
Officials say no credible threats have been made against the Super Bowl but security will be beefed up in and around Houston in the days leading up to the big game.
Air space will be restricted for a 12-hour period around Sunday's 2300 GMT kickoff with no planes allowed within an 11-mile radius of the stadium.
Passengers on planes flying into Houston on Sunday will undergo extensive scrutiny and their names will be checked against lists of known terrorists.
Trucks carry hazardous and toxic cargo will also be re-routed away from the field before and during the game. The Coast Guard will have extra boats patrolling Houston harbor, while security has already been increased at the many refineries and chemical plants scattered along the Houston Ship Channel.
Bureau Report
As thousands of NFL football fans began arriving in Texas for Super Bowl XXXVIII, officials said extensive security precautions which marked earlier versions of the NFL's showpiece event would not be eased. This year's Super Bowl has not been designated a national special security event but the NFL's vice-president of security Milt Ahlerich said that would not alter the level of protection. Following the 2001 attacks on New York and Washington, the White House declared the 2002 Super Bowl in New Orleans a national security event resulting in the most elaborate measures ever seen at a sporting event. Most of those same security measures will be in place for Sunday's game between the New England Patriots and Carolina Panthers, including temporary flight restrictions around Reliant Stadium.
But this year the Houston Police Department has been placed in charge of co-coordinating the security plan which will include 25 local, state and government agencies.
The National Guard will not be deployed as part of those security efforts but will be available if needed.
Officials would not comment on specific security details but cautioned the 72,000 ticket holders to arrive early and be patient.
Every person entering the stadium will pass through one of the 90 state-of-the-art metal detectors and other screening procedures that were described as similar to those now at place in airports.
More than 5,000 law enforcement officers and security personnel are expected to deployed around Reliant Stadium on game day, some carrying monitoring devices capable of detecting the presence of radioactive or chemical agents.
Officials say no credible threats have been made against the Super Bowl but security will be beefed up in and around Houston in the days leading up to the big game.
Air space will be restricted for a 12-hour period around Sunday's 2300 GMT kickoff with no planes allowed within an 11-mile radius of the stadium.
Passengers on planes flying into Houston on Sunday will undergo extensive scrutiny and their names will be checked against lists of known terrorists.
Trucks carry hazardous and toxic cargo will also be re-routed away from the field before and during the game. The Coast Guard will have extra boats patrolling Houston harbor, while security has already been increased at the many refineries and chemical plants scattered along the Houston Ship Channel.
Bureau Report