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Tight security in Cardiff for Champions League final

6,000 police officers will be deployed across Cardiff
6,000 police officers will be deployed across Cardiff

Security was increased across Cardiff, in Wales, as the city prepared to host the UEFA Champions League final.

Tens of thousands of supporters from the UK and Europe arrived in the city for tonight's final where title-holders Real Madrid took on Juventus.

Real Madrid beat Juventus 4-1.

The clash between the two European clubs took place at the 74,500-capacity Principality Stadium - which is being renamed the National Stadium of Wales as UEFA regulations ban the commercial title of a non-tournament sponsor being used.

There was a heavy police presence both of armed and non-armed officers, along with facial recognition teams, who used the technology to monitor people on pre-determined "watch lists".

South Wales Police said earlier that 6,000 police officers would be deployed in the city over the UEFA Champions Festival, which began yesterday in Cardiff Bay and will end tomorrow, while 2,000 more officers will be in Cardiff today alone.

In the wake of the suicide bomb attack in Manchester on 22 May, Assistant Chief Constable Richard Lewis said the force had been planning for the event since it was announced.

He said plans would not be changed because they already contained "a response which takes into account such atrocities".

At Cardiff Central, where trains provided additional seats for up to 60,000 passengers, police officers set up a mobile police station.

Those travelling by rail from Manchester, Birmingham and London were joined on board by British Transport Police officers as part of the massive security operation.

Firearms officers were posted at key stations across the country - the first time this has happened outside of London for a major event - and police dogs were also deployed, the force said.

Assistant Chief Constable Alun Thomas, from the BTP, said firearms officers would also be on patrol in Cardiff but that the deployment was not in response to intelligence and had been planned for some time.

He said: "Passengers are the eyes and ears of the rail network and with many thousands of extra people travelling to Cardiff, I'd urge them to stay vigilant and report concerns to us."