Concert Security:If the revellers streaming into Wembley Stadium for the Princess Diana memorial concert yesterday were nervous and fearful, they didn't show it.
Throughout the afternoon, tens of thousands made their way to the new arena in northwest London for a line-up that included some of the late princess's favourite performers. Despite Britain's terror alert being turned to its highest level, the mood was light and most concert-goers shrugged off worries that another attack might follow last week's two attempted car bombings.
Scotland Yard was not taking any chances, however, and scores of extra uniformed and plainclothes officers were drafted in as part of a last-minute security review of the high-profile event which was expected to be attended by 90,000 people.
Newly appointed home secretary Jacqui Smith used a meeting of
the British government's emergency
response committee, Cobra, yesterday morning to encourage
people to remain vigilant, praising the public's refusal to "let
anyone prevent us from getting on with our lives".
Security has been stepped up across the city since Friday, with
police maintaining a strong presence around London's annual gay
pride parade on Saturday. Security has also been increased at
Wimbledon.
However, it was the Princess Diana concert, organised by her
two sons to mark what would have been their mother's 46th birthday,
that caused the most unease for Britain's security services in the
light of the attempted attacks in London and Glasgow.
The newly opened Norman Foster-designed Wembley stadium had already been regarded a prime terrorist target. The fact that tens of millions of people worldwide were expected to watch the Diana concert live on TV increased concerns that the event may be targeted by extremists planning a high-publicity attack. That the concert was to last for more than six hours only added to the security headache.
Police helicopters hovered over the £800 million stadium for the duration of the concert and nearly 500 police were on duty. Some undercover officers mingled with concert-goers on trains and buses travelling to and from Wembley, while others were stationed inside the arena itself.
Those attending the event had been told to arrive early, bring the minimum of belongings and stay alert for any suspicious activity. A number of approach roads were sealed off and black bollards were placed across the walkway that leads from Wembley Park tube station to the stadium.
"It feels much safer with all the extra security," said Isabel Mazzittelli, arriving for the concert. "But nothing could have put us off coming here for the concert today - we're great fans of Diana." Liv Dahlin and Dalkeyborn Pearse Connolly had travelled from Oslo for the event.
"Some of the Norwegians we came with were a little unsure about going to the concert but I lived in Belfast for a while so it doesn't bother me," Connolly said.
"People are just getting on with things. You shouldn't let something like this interfere with your life because if you do, it means they've won in a sense, doesn't it."
Wexford-born vendor Seán Dempsey grumbled that sales had been affected by concrete bollards erected in front of his stall to prevent cars accessing the walkway in front of the stadium.
"The only other time I've seen police bring these security
bollards out is FA Cup Final day," he said. "They don't normally
seal off approach roads and I have never seen police helicopters
over Wembley."
Mr Dempsey had been selling his pink sequin-trimmed cowboy
hats and whistles at Saturday's gay pride march in central
London.
"The atmosphere was just like today and turnout was just as good as every other year," he said. "People just want to carry on as normal. They even marched past the area where one of the car bombs were left. No one was fazed or bothered by it. That's the way it should be."