EDINBURGH, Scotland, April 18 (UPI) -- A steel fence is to be built around the Scottish Parliament building and the Palace of Holyroodhouse as part of security measures for the G8 summit.
Scottish police intend to place the 8-foot high barricade around the Parliament complex and the palace to shield the buildings from potential protesters during the July conference, the Scotsman reported.
However, some lawmakers said the fence could act as a lure to protesters.
"I'm not sure, having just heard this, whether a steel fence is really required," said SNP deputy leader, Nicola Sturgeon. "It may, in fact, just act as a magnet for protesters."
Tory Mid-Scotland and Fife MSP, Brian Monteith, said politicians should defer to police intelligence.
"I do rather wonder, after spending all the money on the Scottish Parliament, what we have in the way of a building which needs another fence to defend it," he said. "I do share a concern that the fence could itself act as a magnet for a parliament which will not be sitting when the G8 summit will be sitting."
