Global General

Alert triggers tight security in Dublin

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2011-05-17 17:07

Members of the Irish police force check a woman's bag at a roadblock in Dublin, May 16, 2011. Britain's Queen Elizabeth will make a four day state visit to Ireland on Tuesday which is the first state visit by a British monarch since Ireland's independence. [Photo/Agencies]

DUBLIN - Irish police on Tuesday morning strengthened security arrangements in Dublin as British Queen Elizabeth II starts her historic four-day visit to the republic very soon.

All services on the Luas (tram) Red Line between the Red Cow and Heuston Station are not running due to a security bomb alert, Ireland's public broadcaster RTE reported. Services are operating between the O2 and Heuston Station and between the Red Cow and Tallaght, but all stops between Blackhorse and Heuston Station are not operating, according to the Irish public broadcaster.

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All Luas stops on the canal in Dublin are affected, said RTE.

The army bomb disposal team was called in after a suspicious device was found. The suspect package is currently being examined near the Luas line at Davitt Road in West Dublin's Inchicore.

Diplomats here say the largest security operation in Ireland's history is in place amid fears dissident republicans may try to disrupt the visit.

Police have banned onlookers from the streets outside all the destinations on her visit. They say protesters will not get near the Queen, with up to 4,000 officers on the streets at any one time in Dublin alone. Surveillance has been stepped up on known republican dissidents.

The Queen is due to touch down at Casement Aerodrome, a military airbase in south west Dublin's Baldonnel at noon, from where she will be transferred to Aras an Uachtarain (presidential office) for a ceremonial welcome. After meeting Irish President Mary McAleese and her husband Martin, the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Philip, will attend a tree-planting ceremony in the presidential office and a lunch hosted by the Irish president.

It will be the first visit in 100 years by a reigning British monarch.

The highlight of the first day of the visit is likely to be at the Garden of Remembrance in Parnell Square, where the 85-year-old British monarch will lay a wreath. She will then travel to Trinity College to view the Book of Kells and attend a reception before repairing to Dublin Phoenix Park's Farmleigh for a private evening.

Irish President McAleese has described the British Queen's visit as an "extraordinary moment" in Irish history that personified the determination in both countries to forge a better future.

Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny has described her visit as the start of a new era between the two countries based on respect, friendship and mutual recognition.