Soccer-World-Japan boosts nuclear plant security
Date: 17-May-02
Country: JAPAN
The squads will be made up of riot police trained in firearms control and who are already posted at various police headquarters, Kyodo quoted officials of the National Police Administration as saying.
They will take charge of security for over half of Japan's 34 nuclear-related facilities in 16 prefectures during the month-long tournament that is being co-hosted by Japan and South Korea.
Japan had already stepped up its security measures for nuclear power plants after the September 11 attacks on the United States, deploying riot squads from regional police bureaux around the country.
However, a new framework had to be created because those riot squads will also be on duty during the World Cup as part of anti-hooligan measures.
In a bid to fend off attacks by extremists, the FBI will also send agents to Japan to advise on security, U.S. and Japanese sources said this week.
But Japanese police appear more concerned with hooloigans.
With tens of thousands of fans due to arrive within days, police have extended the use of chemical sprays, originally limited to Tokyo police, nationwide.
They said 18,000 spray devices had been distributed - mainly to regions where matches will be held - to prevent assaults and deal with soccer hooligans.
Japanese police have warned there will be zero tolerance for troublemakers and plan to mobilise the largest number of officers ever for the tournament that kicks off on May 31.
