Police fear new Liverpool stadium could be terrorist target

Oct 31 2007 EXCLUSIVE by Larry Neild, Liverpool Daily Post

Picture of Liverpool FC's new stadium plans

LIVERPOOL FC’s proposed iconic stadium at Stanley Park could be a significant target for a terrorist attack, a report to councillors has revealed.

A senior Merseyside police officer has called for special counter terrorism measures to be introduced to protect the new stadium being a target for suicide bombers.

Assistant Chief Constable Simon Byrne has told city planners that in the context of the current heightened terrorist threat within the UK, the stadium should have special conditions to ensure special anti-terrorism measures are incorporated into design standards for the new 60,000-seater venue.

Leading Town Hall planners have already insisted that the stadium should be designed to minimise its openness to attack. ensure the opportunity to attack the venue is “prevented, frustrated and deterred”.

ACC Byrne is calling on the planning committee to impose strict conditions on planning consent to ensure counter measures devised by the Association of Chief Police Officers are introduced at the new Anfield.

The design standards set by ACPO are intended to set parameters for construction and design of the ground to reduce the likelihood and impact of a terrorist attack.

Details of the  measures have already been discussed with the club and its advisors.

The terrorism dimension is one of a number of security and safety issues raised by Mr  Byrne in the official response of Merseyside Police to Liverpool FC’s revised stadium plans.

He wants high level CCTV systems and a fully equipped control room. The scheme already includes its own Home Office- standard on-site mini prison - or custody suite.

EXCLUSIVE PICTURE GALLERY

The New Anfield

The Daily Post was the first newspaper to publish full pictures of the new Anfield stadium - see them nowRead

Liverpool want to build a 60,000-seater stadium with a pitch sunk 26ft into the ground.

This is to accommodate the slope of a new Kop. The new stadium will incorporate a club museum and shop, community partnership centre, club offices, conference and banqueting facilities and a 970-space car park. The new ground will have 114 executive boxes, 54 more than the number included in the original design specifications.

The development of Anfield Plaza on the site of the present ground will see properties demolished along Anfield Road. There will also be tennis courts, a multi-use games area, a hotel, commercial office space, shops, bars and restaurants as well as a large open space based on the existing playing area.

The new stadium will be designed to be expanded to 76,000 seats, though the capacity would require a separate planning application in the future to increase to this expanded capacity.