Heightened security at venue of airshow

Dubai: Dubai Police formed a security ring around the exhibition area of Dubai Airshow 2007 and the surrounding areas to provide the highest levels of security and safety.

Colonel Abdullah Al Gaithi, deputy director of the Dubai Police organisation, protective security and emergency department and deputy director of the security committee for the Dubai Airshow 2007, said the security plan for the show has been widened due the growing number of participants and visitors.

He said the committee also increased the number of policemen at the venue. Officers and policemen of the committee formed a security ring in the exhibitions' area and the areas around Dubai International Airport.

Crisis management

Al Gaithi pointed out the preventative efforts and plans prepared by the disasters and crises management committee to deal with any possible disaster.

He said Dubai Police have taken a number of security measures including checkpoints, monitoring and security rings in which various police departments and stations have participated.

"We have divided the exhibition to geographical areas and specialised a highly-qualified police officer with an entire security team which includes officers and policemen in each area," Colonel Al Gaithi said.

Public cooperation

He called on the public to cooperate with the committee by avoiding entering to the exhibition from the entrances specified for specific groups.

Lieutenant Colonel Ahmad Shuhail, deputy director of the control and command department at Dubai Police's operations room and director of the operations room at the exhibition, said: "We have prepared a mini operations room with members from the security committee including Dubai Police, civil defence, paramedics and security and safety personnel from the airport,"

He said the role of the mini operations room is to coordinate between various committees and with other parties in the exhibition.