Officials from the United States, United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Canada and Russia will be in Fermanagh from June 17 to 18. Their visit will constitute the most high level security event ever hosted in Northern Ireland. (
Irish Independent, April 13 2013)
The security force will consist of 4,500 officers from Northern Ireland's police force along with 3,500 who will be brought into Britain to beef up security for the event. Citing the high probability of a potential terrorist attack, the international summit always garners a fair deal of protesters and opponents, three surveillance drones will also aid security forces.
Chief Constable Alistair Finlay was quoted as stating that these drones are "unmanned aerial vehicles like large model aircraft." He explained that, "They can be used in the line of sight, small close-range drones that beam pictures back to enable police to see what is going on on the ground. They can be used in weather conditions where the helicopter maybe cannot operate and slightly closer to various places."
Police helicopters cost about £7 million whilst drones in comparison cost on average about £1 million per unit. (
The Independent, April 13 2013)
In March a dissident republican group calling itself the ONH (Oglaigh na hEireann) claimed responsibility for the planting of a 60kg explosive device in a beer keg that was destined for the resort where the summit is to transpire.
