Egypt’s armed forces and over 30,000 policemen participate in securing Pope Francis' visit to Egypt upon orders of President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, security sources told al-Masry al-Youm.
The armed forces are alerted and in coordination with all security bodies of the Interior Ministry, to secure the Pope’s two-day visit.
The sources said that patrols are combing the rout of the Pope, also checkpoints have been set up as well as more forces deployed, to secure the main roads which the Pope will use during the visit.
The Interior Ministry has stationed combat teams, rapid deployment units, bomb squads and hundreds of officers and traffic personnel on the streets and squares of Cairo to secure the route of the Pope's motorcade.
Traffic department banned parking in the streets through which the Pope will pass. The sources said that sniper teams are stationed on top of the buildings overlooking the route of the Pope.
The sources said that over 30,000 policemen participate in the plan to secure the visit of the Pope.
Saint Mark's Coptic Orthodox Cathedral in Abbassia and the adjacent Botroseya church witnessed much tightened security measures, as the Pope held a mass there for the victims of the Botroseya bombing which killed 29 people in December.
The sources said that the security measures were tightened on Saturday at the Air Defense Stadium in New Cairo, which witnessed a mass this morning headed by the Pope.
