WORLD> Asia-Pacific
Japan tightens security for G8 summit
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-07-06 13:50

SAFEGUARD AT EIGHT HUNDRED KILOMETERS AWAY

During the summit, more than 20,000 policemen would be on guard in Tokyo, about 800 km away from the summit venue.

According to the police, Tokyo is also their "major battlefield" because during the G8 summit in Britain three years ago, bomb attacks took place in London although the capital was not the venue of the meeting.


Riot policeman stand guard while anti-G8 activists hold a demonstration in Sapporo, north Japan, July 5, 2008. [Xinhua]

The top-level security has been implemented in Tokyo since June28. Policemen were in sight at each corner in famous business districts such as Ginza, Shinjuku and Ikebukuro, and vehicle checkpoints were set up along each main road in and around the capital.

"What we want is to impose an impression of stern air and strict security, so as to deter potential terrorists and attackers," police officials said.

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According to the capital's metropolitan subway company, police dogs specialized in detecting explosives have been on duty in the large-scale public transport system since June, and the frequency of patrol and the number of security cameras have also been increased. From July 7, the first day of the three-day summit, the subway will shut all coin lockers in its facilities.

FOG COULD BE BIGGEST THREAT

The major factor behind the Japanese government's selection of the current summit venue was Windsor Hotel Toya's location at the top of a 625-meter mountain and thus easy for ensuring security.

However, according to meteorological data in the past five years, the area around the hotel was covered by fog for seven to eight days each July. If fog breaks scheduled transportation of state guests by helicopters, the police have to take them from the airport to the mountain top by vehicles, thus aggravate security burdens.

It is said that officials of the security headquarters of the summit are praying for good weather during the summit.