Thousands will protect him. Pope Benedict XVI
Photo: AFP
Police simulate terror attack on pope
Security personnel hold drill in north ahead of Benedict XVI's visit in May, focus on possibility of glider, car bomb attack during mass events
Northern District Police held a drill on Tuesday ahead of Pope Benedict XVI's scheduled visit to Israel in May.
Some 100 police officers, firefighters and Magen David Adom emergency services personnel took part in the exercise, as Nazareth Mayor Ramiz Jeraisi and representatives from other northern municipalities looked on.
Holy Site
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During his visit the pope is expected to hold a public Mass at Nazareth's Mount Precipice, where, according to tradition, a mob pursued Jesus and tried to throw him from a cliff. He is also expected to visit Jerusalem, Bethlehem, the Jordan River and the Church of the Annunciation, also located in Nazareth.
The exercise focused on dealing with a number of possible scenarios, including a fire during the mass at Mount Precipice, an terrorist attempt to reach the site via a glider from the east, an attack using a truck laden with hazardous materials, the detonation of a car bomb near the pope and a terrorist infiltration of the Church of the Annunciation.
Northern District Police chief Shimon Koren said thousands of officers will secure the pope's visit.
Meanwhile, an Israeli delegation of police officers and Foreign Ministry officials left for the Vatican Tuesday in order to make the final arrangement for the pope's visit.
Efrat Weiss contributed to the report
