- Title: Security on high alert as Man Utd to face Ajax in Europa League final
- Date: 23rd May 2017
- Summary: STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN (MAY 23, 2017) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF FRIENDS ARENA WHERE WEDNESDAY'S (MAY 24) FINAL WILL BE HELD BANNER WITH TEXT: "UEFA EUROPA LEAGUE - STOCKHOLM FINAL 2017" EXTERIORS OF ARENA ENTRANCE EUROPA LEAGUE SIGN HEAD OF SECURITY AT THE SWEDISH FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION, MARTIN FREDMAN BEING INTERVIEWED FREDMAN'S PASS (SOUNDBITE) (English) HEAD OF SECURITY AT THE SWEDISH FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION, MARTIN FREDMAN, SAYING (SPEAKING ABOUT IF THEY HAVE TAKEN SPECIAL MEASURES FOLLOWING MANCHESTER ATTACK): "I would really say no because we have already been on such a top level on the security work. We have done a lot of things and we have these kinds of happenings in our plans and the police have it in their plans. You know in Stockholm there was a terrorist attack on April 7 so I really feel that the impact of (the suicide attack in) Manchester will not make us work in another way than what we've planned before." VARIOUS OF SECURITY ENTRANCE BARRIERS VARIOUS OF ENTRANCE BARRIERS BEING SET UP (SOUNDBITE) (Swedish) HEAD OF SECURITY AT THE SWEDISH FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION, MARTIN FREDMAN, SAYING: "Of course we were already on a high alert security-wise from the beginning, both staff-wise and also how we are planning on sealing off these areas to areas to handle it. When both finalists were ready, this was of course stepped up a notch. These are two top teams in Europe, both teams are known for many supporters and there are elements of risk in the supporter milieu - you can't turn a blind eye to that - when it comes to both of the teams. We also have information about many people without tickets who plan to come to Stockholm. All this together means that the threat surrounding the event, when it comes to public order, is quite big and for that reason we've taken several measures to determine who will be allowed near the arena tomorrow." PEOPLE OUTSIDE MALL NEXT TO STADIUM CLOSED MATCH MERCHANDISE SHOP MERCHANDISE SHOP WITH ARENA IN THE BACKGROUND (SOUNDBITE) (Swedish) HEAD OF SECURITY AT THE SWEDISH FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION, MARTIN FREDMAN, SAYING: "I won't say I'm surprised, but I'm incredibly sad for what has happened. And this morning when we were chatting we said we're going to talk football tomorrow with this gigantic soccer party that was planned but you definitely lose it, and now we feel with the relatives in Manchester, those who have been affected and should they like feel they have a big final tomorrow that they have been looking forward to? Of course this won't be the party they had imagined. The match has to be played and we will do it in as good a way as possible but with a lot of respect for especially Manchester, and I'm sure Ajax will join in in those parts." EXTERIOR OF SWEDISH FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION BUILDING SWEDISH FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION LOGO SWEDISH FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR, NIKLAS BODELL BEING INTERVIEWED (SOUNDBITE) (English) SWEDISH FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR, NIKLAS BODELL, SAYING: "We are shocked by the attack from last night in Manchester of course and our thoughts are with the families and the relatives of the people who were affected by last night's attack." PEOPLE WALKING DOWN STAIRS BY ARENA
- Embargoed: 6th June 2017 14:33
- Keywords: security Ajax Manchester United Stockholm Sweden final Europa League
- Location: STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN
- Topics: Soccer,Sport
- Reuters ID: LVA0016I28RPJ
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Security was on high alert in Stockholm on Tuesday (May 23) ahead of the Europa League final between Manchester United and Ajax after a suicide bombing in Manchester killed at least 22 people.
The head of security at the Swedish Football Association, that co-organises Wednesday's (May 24) UEFA Europa League final, said security was already on high alert after Sweden suffered an attack in April when a truck drove into a crowd killing five people.
Manchester United meet Dutch side Ajax at the Friends Arena on Wednesday night (May 24). - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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