Police bolster 'soft target' security for G-7 summit

Police patrol Tokyo Station Tuesday as part of increased security measures ahead of the Ise-Shima G-7 summit that starts in Mie Prefecture on Thursday.REUTERS/Thomas Peter

TOKYO —

The National Police Agency (NPA) on Tuesday bolstered security at so-called “soft targets” around the nation ahead of the two-day G-7 summit that starts in Ise-Shima, Mie Prefecture, on Thursday.

Police presence has been noticeably strengthened at major train stations, shopping complexes and other crowded places that are potentially vulnerable to terrorist attacks, Sankei Shimbun reported.

According to NPA chief Masahito Kanetaka, a total of 70,000 policemen will be dispatched to 3,500 locations across the country through Friday, including major stations, such as Tokyo, Yokohama, Osaka and Nagoya.

The NPA has set up security observation stands at several areas in Tokyo, including Tokyo Station’s Marunouchi exit and Tokyo International Forum in Hibiya.

“Attacks on soft targets can impact a massive number of people. It is important to increase security at busy stations, for example, and it is also crucial to cooperate with private businesses (to strengthen security). Residents’ safety is our priority,” Kanetaka said.

As part of the same initiative, the NPA also announced that it will enhance cyber-monitoring for information that could potentially relate to terrorism.

For the summit venue itself in Mie, the NPA will dispatch up to 23,000 police officers and another 4,600 to Hiroshima when U.S. President Barack Obama makes a historic visit there on Friday.