As part of measures to ensure a hitch-free Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup, French riot police and Turkish special forces will be drafted-in, in a bid to prevent football hooliganism from spiralling out of control.
Officers from all around the world, including the UK, US, Turkey, South Korea, France, Italy and Pakistan, are among the alliance set to descend on the Gulf nation as it prepares to welcome 1.2million visitors during the global tournament.
The additional officers will be deployed at the eight stadiums in Qatar’s capital, Doha, and also at hotels where the 32 teams competing will be staying.
‘Operation World Cup Shield’ as it has been dubbed will see some of the toughest police units drafted in, including Turkey’s special operations unit, the Polis-Özel-Harekat, the Sun reports.
The Turkish special officers are often used to battle terrorism but have come under scrutiny for their human rights violations.
But, come the World Cup, a 100-strong force will be armed with rifles, handguns, armed vehicles and an attack helicopter.
The nation is also deploying 3,000 riot police, 50 bomb specialists and 80 sniffer and riot dogs.
They have also offered to send its own warship, the TCG Burgazad, in a bid to bolster security at the World Cup.
They will not take direct orders from Qatari officials and will not be held responsible for any action or damages in the Gulf nation.
Nearly 800 Qataris have also been trained by Turkey on issues ranging from ‘sports safety’ to ‘intervention in social events.
Turkey will also be handling chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear defence during their time there.
A report by Nordic Monitor, an NGO which detects terrorist activity, Turkey’s special forces unit will not be held responsible for its action or any damages in Qatar.
Joining them will be the French riot cops who were blasted for their role in tear-gassing Liverpool fans outside the Stade De France in Paris at the Champions League final on May 28.
Children as young as nine, pregnant women and disabled people were pepper-sprayed during a night which masked the event itself, as many struggled to even make it into the stadium at all.
The FIFA World Cup, Qatar 2022 will hold from November 20 to December 18, 2022.
Source: Daily Mail Sports
