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Eurovision gets security hike after past threats

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Eurovision gets security hike after past threats

Swedish police announced on Wednesday an increase in security at Malmö's Eurovision Song Contest in May, including metal detectors for spectators and extra bomb-sniffing dogs from around the country.

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There have been bomb threats at Eurovision in previous years and Swedish police are taking no chances in Malmö.

"There have even been demonstrations outside [in the past] but nothing that has ruined the broadcast. We will ensure that it doesn't happen here either," Carl-Axel Andersson of the Malmö police told Sveriges Television (SVT).

Officers will enlist the help of sniffer dogs from other regions of the country, while spectators themselves will have to go through airport-like security conditions, including passing through metal detectors when entering the arena.

"We're going to search all the areas where there'll be delegates so they can work in a safe environment," Andersson added.

Potential protests and threats are more likely to be directed towards certain countries, according to the Andersson, who said Israel would be granted extra protection, with police protection at their hotel around the clock.

"We'll be keeping an eye on Israel as it always has an accompanying threat," he told SVT.

The Israeli ambassador Isaac Bachman, meanwhile, does not think Israel will be singled out.

"The contest involves so many different countries. We trust the Swedish authorities and feel like we're in good hands," he said.

TT/The Local/og

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