Security stepped up in Moscow ahead of Russia-Spain soccer game

Moscow, June 26 (Itar-Tass) - Moscow police have stepped up security measures in the run-up to the semi-final football match between the Russian and Spanish national teams in the European Championship.

"Taking
into account the experience of the days when out football players won and
spontaneous street celebrations began in the city, we in advance are
readying for ensuring security this night,' head of the information and
public relations department of the Moscow main police department Viktor
Biryukov told Itar-Tass.

According to the official, the city's main police department has
created an operation headquarters that will be coordinating the work of
law enforcers. Deputy head of the city police Vyacheslav Kozlov runs the
HQ. The numerical strength and density of police squads in the streets,
first of al in the central part of the city, will be increased by Thursday
evening. Policemen will take under special control sport bars and cafes
where the live broadcast of the match from Vienna will be shown.

"Our personnel have been instructed to display more vigilance, to
prevent and decisively suppress antisocial conduct," said Biryukov
stressing that "any attempts at destabilisation of the public peace will
be toughly suppressed." According to him, a total of 4,000 policemen will
be on duty in Moscow streets ensuring security and protecting public order.

Officers of the traffic police will have a special task to promptly
liquidate traffic jams near cares and sport bars, as well as to timely
stop fans that celebrating the victory of the Russian team have developed
the habit of riding on cars' roofs. Such "stunts" have already resulted in
tragedies - a young man fell from a car's roof and died, and in
Kaliningrad several people were injured in similar circumstances.

"Officers of the state traffic police inspectorate have been given
orders to ensure road traffic security and prevent creation of obstacles
to uninterrupted movement of transport on the city roads," Biryukov
stressed. The Moscow police leadership has also requested drivers to
abstain from going to the centre of the city in their vehicles.

Officials of the Moscow's main police department hope that football
fans, the same as in the previous cases, will display law-abiding conduct
and discipline. "We hope that during the semi-final match with the
participation of our team, irrespective of its outcome, the conduct of the
Russian fans will be worthy of the title "the twelfth player" of the
country's national team," Biryukov noted. "Moscow police for their part
will do everything to ensure security and law and order in the city in
full volume," he added.

Spontaneous night outdoor celebrations have become frequent in Moscow
of late. Muscovites and guests of the city have already celebrated in the
city's streets the victory of the Russian ice hockey team in the world
championship, the triumph of Zenit St. Petersburg soccer team that won the
UEFA Cup, as well as Russia's team qualifying for the Euro-2008
quarterfinal. However, the most massive outdoor celebrations were held on
the night from June 21 to 22 when the Russian team qualified for the
European Championship semi-final beating the Dutch football team. Taking
part in the festivities were over 500,000 people. All the celebrations
passed without any serious incidents.