No 'alarming' threats for papal visit - police

The Commissioner of Police said today that the police had received no intelligence which could lead them to believe that the papal visit would pose a bigger risk than would be normally expected in such visits.

However the police in preparing for this weekend's visit were mindful of the current atmosphere stemming from the child abuse allegations, as well as the possibility of incidents such as that which happened in December at St Peter's when a person from the crowd rushed the Pope and toppled him over.

Police Commissioner John Rizzo told a news conference this morning that the police had no indication of any protests being planned during the Pope's visit but they were looking into all rumours and questioning people who could be behind them.

Charles Bonello, chairman of the organising committee, confirmed that the Vatican had asked for a widening of the paths the Pope would use on Sunday when passing through the crowd, primarily in response to what happened in December.

The Commissioner said the police were investigating the vandalism made on the papal visit billboards, and he was asking the public to report any security threat or risk or even degrading messages or graffiti, to the police.

All1,850 policemen will be on duty this weekend, but police stations would remain open as usual and the police would not let down their guard in other areas, the commissioner said.

Mr Bonello said the routes to be followed by the Pope would be announced later today. No parking would be allowed on those streets.

The whole security operation, also involving the AFM, will be coordinated from a command control centre at police headquarters. The control centre will also include representatives of other organisations including the Civil Protection Department, Enemalta, the Health Department, the WSC, and waste management.

Mr Bonello insisted that the country 'would not stop' during the papal visit. Hospitals and health centres, for example, would function normally.