THE US National Guard will be deployed at Scotland’s opening match at the World Cup in a bid to ramp up security measures for one of the “largest and most complex” events the force has seen.
Tens of thousands of Tartan Army fans are expected to travel to Massachusetts to attend Scotland’s opening match against Haiti next Sunday at the Gillette Stadium in Foxborough.
Scotland’s opening match next week marks the national team's return to the World Cup for the first time in 28 years.
Ahead of the match, Scotland fans have been warned by Foxborough police chief Michael Grace to resign themselves to a long wait to get through the beefed-up security measures.
It has also emerged that around 85 guard personnel from the military reserve organisation of the United States Department of Defence will support “fixed security posts” at and around the stadium.
Massachusetts Public Safety and Security Secretary Gina Kwon said: “This is one of the largest, most complex events we have ever prepared for, and an undertaking of this magnitude requires the strength of true partnership.
“Partners are sharing information, testing plans, identifying risks, coordinating resources and preparing for both routine operations and complex scenarios that may require rapid and unified action.
“As part of that readiness work, Massachusetts is preparing to activate up to 85 Massachusetts National Guard personnel to support local law enforcement during the World Cup operational period.
“This limited activation reflects the careful planning underway to support our local partners, strengthen co-ordination and meet the extended operational demands of an event of this scale.”
The National Guard will be positioned at perimeter and entrance gates along with other access-control locations.
The measures are said to allow local police officers time to focus on traditional law enforcement responsibilities.
The troops will remain in place for Scotland’s second group match against Morocco on June 19.
More than £50 million is set to be spent in Boston on increased security in a bid to keep supporters safe.
