MONAGHAN, Ireland, June 7 (UPI) -- Security for the upcoming Group of Eight meeting in Northern Ireland will include hundreds of police officers in the Irish Republic, officials said Thursday.
Assistant Police Commissioner Kieran Kenny said at a news conference Operation Shield will begin June 14, three days before the G8 meeting gets under way at Lough Erne Resort, The Irish Sun reported.
"We are prepared for trouble. The intelligence we have is being accessed on a daily basis," Kenny said. "The dissident threat is something we have planned for. So in so far as we can point plans will take account of worst and best-case scenarios I'm confident we have enough resources to deal with any problems and we are planning for all eventualities."
The G8 will bring world leaders including U.S. President Barack Obama and British Prime Minister David Cameron to the resort in County Fermanagh. The resort is only a few miles from the border.
Some conference attendees will be staying in the Republic, the Irish Independent reported. For security reasons, officials would not give details.
As many as 900 Irish police officers will be deployed. Kenny said the focus would be on the border and neighboring areas, but there will also be extra security at airports and international ferry terminals.
