News

UK say royal wedding operation going well

(Agencies)
Updated: 2011-04-29 18:03

LONDON - One of Britain's biggest ever security operations was running smoothly for the royal wedding on Friday and London's often unpredictable transport network was coping well with the huge crowds, officials said.

A London police spokesman said there had been no arrests in the centre of the capital as hundreds of thousands of people gathered for a glimpse of Prince William and Kate Middleton.

Three people -- two men aged 45 and 68 and a woman of 60 -- were arrested in southeast London on suspicion of conspiracy to cause a public nuisance and breach of the peace. They were suspected of planning to behead royal effigies.

A fourth person, described by police as "a well-known anarchist" was arrested overnight in the university city of Cambridge, northeast of London.

Around 5,000 police will be on duty to protect the wedding from a range of possible threats, including Irish republican militants, Islamist groups and anarchists. [ID:nLDE73A1X6]

"Everything is good so far," a Metropolitan Police spokesman said. "The big test will be when they put the barriers down in the Mall (leading to Buckingham Palace). We won't have estimates of the numbers in the crowds until later in the day."

A handful of protesters gathered in Trafalgar Square -- where crowds were watching the proceedings on a giant screen -- and displayed a banner complaining about government cuts to public services and Britain's military role overseas.

"The point I am making is for a silent minority," said one of the protesters, who declined to give his name. "If people want to celebrate in the UK, do not do it at our expense."

'DRY-RUN FOR OLYMPICS'

The huge operation to keep the crowds safe and to ensure that London's often unpredictable transport network runs well seen as a big test before the city hosts the Olympics next year.

"In many ways it is a good dry-run for the Olympics," said London Mayor Boris Johnson. "It is a good opportunity to test our systems, get the transport system working and to show it off as best as we possibly can."

Security guards searched people's bags as they entered Trafalgar Square and a helicopter hovered overhead, while scores of police and stewards in orange jackets lined the main procession route leading to Buckingham Palace.

"It's very well organised," said spectator Debbie Martin, 43. "It's a great event, it brings out the best in humanity, everyone wishes the best for everyone else."

Unions had warned that getting into London for the wedding would be a "transport lottery" after a recent spate of mechanical failures caused widespread delays and disruption.

But Transport for London (TfL), the body responsible for the capital's trains, buses and major roads, said the system was working well, despite the influx of visitors.

"It is very busy, but everything is running fine," a TfL spokeswoman said, adding that all 12 the underground Tube network's 12 lines were operating smoothly, helped by the lack of regular commuters on a public holiday.

(Additional reporting by Lorraine Turner and Olesya Dmitricova; writing by Peter Griffiths; editing by Keith Weir)