Wimbledon 2015: Security tightened for tennis tournament following Tunisia attack

Threat level in capital currently 'severe'

Chris Green
Monday 29 June 2015 13:37 BST
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A view at Wimbledon
A view at Wimbledon

Police have increased security at Wimbledon this year amid heightened fears of a terrorist attack during the tournament.

Scotland Yard said changes had been made to policing plans for this year’s tournament given that the UK’s official terror threat level is currently set at “severe”, meaning that an attack is regarded as “highly likely”.

Extra officers will be on patrol at the Championships, some of whom will be in plain clothes, the Met said. A “highly mobile reserve unit is also ready to respond to any “emerging incidents”, the force added.

The tournament began this morning, only a few days after dozens of British holidaymakers were killed as they sunbathed on a beach in Tunisia. The UK is also preparing to mark the 10th anniversary of the 7/7 terrorist bombings next week.

Some journalists were sent through airport-style security scanners before Wimbledon got under way, a process which had previously not been required. But a Wimbledon spokesman said this had been an error and that security procedures had not changed.

“The safety of everybody at The Championships is of the utmost importance,” he added. “We work closely with the Metropolitan Police Service to ensure The Championships are secure. We make comprehensive plans in advance but continually update them depending on the threat level.”

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