Police have no knowledge of any planned terrorist attacks, but all measures are taking place to ensure the safety of the festival.
The highly anticipated Ultra Europe music festival will be held this weekend for the fifth time at Poljud Stadium. That being said, police have reported that special traffic regulations will be established in the stadium’s surroundings, reports Dalmatinski Portal on June 12, 2017.
On Friday, Saturday and Sunday, from 15:00 to 19:00, there will be limited travel of vehicles at the intersections of the streets: Sedam Kaštela with Matoševa and Jobova, Zrinsko-Frankopanska and Karamana, Hrvatske Mornarice and Put Glavičina, and Put Supavla and Mike Tripala. In addition, each day of Ultra at 20:00, so long as there is a need, roadways around the stadium will be closed to all traffic.
“We are doing this to bring safety to a higher level. A security entrance is formed on the platform used by motorists. All those who have a ticket and want to enter the stadium must reach the southern promenade and must pass multiple security checks. Traffic on that part has to be closed to allow the smooth operation of emergency services,” said Slobodan Marendic, head of the Split-Dalmatia County Police Department.
The police also spoke with tenants’ representatives close to the stadium, as well as with representatives of all city services and companies. Their wish is for little damage and maximum security for all.
“We thank you all for your understanding. Every night there will be between 30-35,000 visitors in the stadium, and the fact is that life changes in these three days, that the night will literally replace the day and that we will adjust our behavior accordingly,” Marendić said, who added that he was convinced that everyone participating in this spectacle will do everything possible to ensure that it goes to plan and that Split, in turn, will be praised in the media as a safe and desirable tourist destination.
Police have been cooperating with the Ultra security service since the end of last year’s festival.
“The entire county police has worked on the organization of Ultra. The first ring of security will be at the border, police checkpoints will be on the streets of the city, and there will be controls at the surroundings of the festival and the entrance to the stadium. The security service will solve benign situations, and the police will solve the more serious incidents,” the chief continued.
“Those who bought tickets to the festival are familiar with what things are allowed to enter the stadium and what things are not. Most of the problems we have are with backpacks that can not be brought in, but those who want can take a backpack in can, so long as it is made of transparent material for a simple visual inspection,” says Marendić.
Devices for detection of metals, explosives and radioactive substances will be used to inspect persons entering the stadium. Residents around the stadium, Marendić added, are the most vulnerable to traffic regulations.
“People sometimes do not see the logic in policing and they think it’s the wrath of the police, but that’s not the case. One of the threats to us at such events is drug use, which last year we saw in 300 people, and two-thirds of them were foreigners. We are in contact with all services when it comes to terrorism. We did not have any threats, but it is an active body that can change with any event. We are doing everything we can to acquire such knowledge in time so we can be ready on the ground if there is a need for action,” concluded Marendić.
