With hundreds of thousands of people expected on the streets of London on Wednesday for a ceremonial procession, a former UK counter-terrorism coordinator has warned that the security challenges surrounding the Queen’s funeral are “enormous”.
In addition to the large crowds expected to gather on Wednesday when Queen Elizabeth’s coffin is moved from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Hall, where the former monarch will lie in state until September 19, officials are busy logistics of holding a funeral they will attend. hundreds of world leaders and dignitaries.
“I think it’s a different amount of risk,” said Nick Aldworth, who held many high-profile jobs during his three-decade career as a public safety official, including head of security and policing for Britain’s Parliament, which managed the Queen Mother’s security. and firearms coordinator for the London 2012 Olympic Games.
Aldworth, who is now a private consultant, says the 2012 Games presented a major security challenge, but the Queen’s mourning period and state funeral are even more complex.
“The difference between the Olympics and this event is that the Olympics are spread over three weeks,” Aldworth told the CBC from his home in North Oxfordshire, England.
The Queen’s funeral is “probably the same number of people, the same number of visiting dignitaries, squeezed into a few days.”
Threat of terror
The UK’s current terror threat level is “substantial”, meaning an attack is likely, and thousands of extra officers will be deployed for events in London over the next six days.
Armed officers who are part of the security detail for the Queen’s procession stand outside Westminster Hall in London on Tuesday. (Briar Stewart/CBC)
Aldworth, who was appointed the UK’s national counter-terrorism coordinator in 2018, says the area where the Queen is in state already has semi-permanent security measures in place, such as barriers to prevent vehicles from entering crowds .
Many roads between Buckingham Palace and Westminster Hall have been closed to traffic and metal fences have been put up.
Britain has seen a number of deadly attacks, including IRA bombings in the 1980s and 1990s which in some cases targeted politicians and military personnel. The most recent attacks include 2017 Attack on London Bridge and the Manchester Arena bombing, but Aldworth says the police also have a “long history of disrupting terrorism”.
“The reassurance that people should take is that this central footprint was most of it [mourning] the activity that is taking place will be incredibly well protected,” he said.
Police have faced some criticism for arresting three people in Edinburgh for breaches of the peace as they protested against the monarchy as the Queen’s coffin was moved through Scotland.
LOOK | Scotland bids farewell to the Queen:
Scotland bids farewell to Queen Elizabeth
Scotland took center stage when Queen Elizabeth’s coffin arrived in Edinburgh, where it will lie in St. Giles so the public can pay their respects. Many in Scotland have a deep regard for the Queen, and keeping them happy with the monarchy will be one of King Charles’ most important tasks.
After a man was questioned by officers in London for holding a blank piece of paper on which he said he wanted to write “He’s not my king”, the Met Police issued a statement saying the public had a right to protest.
Aldworth says a challenge will be managing the transport system, given how many people from outside central London are expected to descend on the area.
Counter-terrorism security expert Nick Aldworth says the state lie and the Queen’s funeral will be the UK’s biggest security challenge yet. (Submitted by Nick Aldworth)
Transport for London (TFL), a local government authority, has warned that services will be busy and that some Tube stations may be closed to control overcrowding.
TFL says people passing through Westminster Hall to pass the Queen’s coffin will be subject to restrictions “airport-style” security check. and they cannot carry large backpacks.
In front of the line
People began lining up along the River Thames outside Westminster Hall for the chance to pay their respects to the Queen on Monday afternoon, 48 hours before the start of her stay in the been in London
Vanessa Nanthakumaran, 56, was the first person in line and plans to make it through the two-day wait with the help of friends and even strangers who bring her food and hot drinks.
“They’re taking good care of us,” she told CBC, adding that she wanted to line up early because she admired the royal family since she was a child growing up in Sri Lanka.
Security personnel stand guard on the terrace of Buckingham Palace in London on Tuesday. (Maja Smiejkowska/Reuters)
Nanthakumaran spoke as he sat on a small stool by the river, but organizers say that from 5pm London time on Wednesday, the queue will continue to move as mourners can pass in front of the coffin 24 hours a day. People may have to wait in line for hours, and organizers say they should expect to be standing most of the time.
On Tuesday evening, Grace Gothard, who was third in line, slept on the sidewalk by the river, saying the only downside was the chilly night air.
“When there’s something important in your life, you don’t mind doing it, whether it’s hard or easy,” said Gothard, who moved to the UK from Ghana in 1985.
Beside him, on a mattress, was a jar of jam with a picture of Paddington Bear, a reference to a viral video the queen took part during their platinum jubilee celebrations earlier this year.
Mourners will be able to pass in front of the Queen’s coffin until 6.30am on September 19.
Vanessa Nathakumaran, 56, was the first person in line on Tuesday to pay her respects to the Queen in London. (Briar Stewart/CBC)
The funeral will be held later this morning at 11. It will be closed to the public but will be attended by relatives, heads of state and other foreign dignitaries.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will attend, along with US President Joe Biden.
Some media have reported it guidance this suggested that for logistical reasons, foreign dignitaries have been urged to fly commercially rather than by private jet, as Healthrow Airport will not be able to cope with an increase in private flights. It has also been reported that they are being forced to travel by bus en masse to Westminster Abbey for the funeral, rather than by private car, to reduce the number of vehicles in central London.
Grace Gothard slept outside on Monday evening to ensure she would be one of the first in line to pay her respects to the Queen at Westminster Hall. (Briar Stewart/CBC)