FA Cup final and Premiership rugby fans warned to expect strict searches and armed cops at Wembley and Twickenham this Bank Holiday weekend
THE Met today warned sports fans to expect strict searches and armed police at this weekend's rugby and football matches in the wake of the Manchester terror attack.
Chief Superintendent Jon Williams confirmed the "top class sporting fixtures" will go ahead along with other Bank Holiday events in the capital - but said the change in terror threat level will have an impact.
He said: "We are doing everything we can to keep London safe."
He added anyone going to the FA Cup Final at Wembley between Arsenal and Chelsea on Saturday will see an increase in cops in and around the north London stadium.
Armed officers will join police armoured vehicles as roads are closed in the area to protect fans.
Twickenham Stadium hosts the Aviva Premiership Final on Saturday and the Old Mutual Wealth Cup on Sunday, as fans are joined by an increase in police.
Chief Supt Williams added: "If you have a ticket for any of the matches please help us out. Arrive earlier as there will be additional security and entry searches which may take a bit longer than fans are used to.
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“Our operations will include a range of highly visible but also covert and discrete tactics and this will run far beyond the final whistle and away from specific stadia. This will also apply right throughout the transport network.
“Our operation across London is also designed to move around from location to location - focusing on popular areas where people gather and events that may not have previously had a police presence.
“All of this is designed to make the policing approach unpredictable and to make London as hostile an environment as possible to terrorists.”
“I would ask people to be our eyes and ears - if you see something suspicious tell a police officer or member of security staff.
“If you are out in London this weekend or at an event talk to our officers, they are there to reassure, help and keep you safe.”
Earlier in the week soldiers created a ring of steel around the Houses of Parliament following the devastating Manchester bombing.
And yesterday afternoon armed cops began to patrol the UK's train network for the first time as security is stepped up.
Britain has seen its terror threat level rise this week to critical – the first time it has been that high in a decade.
Immediately after the attack police began a desperate race against time to find the bomb gang behind the Manchester Arena massacre on Monday night.
A total of ten people have now been arrested over the devastating attack which saw 22 people killed and 64 injured.
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A man and a woman were released without charged and eight men remain in custody for questioning.
Five children and 18 adults remain in a critical condition, it emerged yesterday.
NHS England confirmed 75 people remain in hospitals across Greater Manchester.
Yesterday a minutes silence was held in memory of the victims and the Queen visited those injured in hospital.
Anyone concerned about suspicious behaviour, or who has information they believe may help police, should call the Anti-Terrorist Hotline 0800 789 321. They do not have to give their name and all information received via the hotline is confidential.