Police force strengthened ahead of funeral

MORE than 6,000 extra police, including snipers, bomb disposal experts and motorcycle escorts, have been deployed to protect the crowds of faithful and world leaders converging on the Vatican to mourn Pope John Paul II.

About 1,500 officers will be assigned to the hundreds of foreign dignitaries expected to attend Friday’s funeral.

Despite the large number of uniformed police around St Peter’s Square and in the tourist areas of Rome, there was no imposing presence of riot squads or police helicopters. If snipers were on rooftops, they were out of view of people in the square.