Friday evening's Via Crucis (Way
of the Cross) procession led by Pope Francis at the Colosseum
will take place in a high-security lockdown against terrorist
threats.
Various security checkpoints will be cordoned off in a
radius to screen visitors in separate stages prior to entering
the area surrounding the Colosseum.
Checks will involve portable and fixed metal detectors as
well as bomb squads with sniffer dogs.
Rome's police headquarters said the city's Easter weekend
security plan to continue through Easter Monday "is designed to
guarantee maximum safety conditions for everyone who wants to
participate in the religious events".
Weekend surveillance will be increased on city buses in
cooperation with public transport company ATAC.
Police said "door-to-door" security checks will also
continue, which in the last month have resulted in controls on
seven illegally occupied buildings, identification of more than
3,000 people, and the vacating of 14 camps.
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