Draconian Security Measures for Thessaloniki Fair Involve FBI Agents, Snipers, 5,500 Policemen

Thousands of security personnel including FBI agents, snipers and 5,500 Greek police officers are in Thessaloniki for the 83rd International Fair in which the U.S. is honored this year.
The Hellenic Police had a series of meetings with CIA and FBI officials in order to plan the Draconian security measures for the 83rd Thessaloniki International Fair.
U.S. officials arrived earlier in the week to secure the area as Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross and U.S. Ambassador to Greece Geoffrey Pyatt, who will arrive in the city on Saturday.
Police helicopters have been flying continuously over Thessaloniki since Thursday, monitoring the activity throughout the city.
Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras arrived unexpectedly and under tight security in Thessaloniki on Thursday late in the evening. He was scheduled to arrive in the city on Friday.
Commentators say that his early arrival was in order to avoid demonstrations and rallies planned in the center of the city on Friday.
His 11-car motorcade, including an ambulance, reminded some of the motorcades of President Trump.

Authorities are concerned about a mass protest rally against the Prespa agreement for the use of the term “Macedonia” in the name of Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia that is scheduled on Saturday.
At the same time, anarchists and extreme leftist groups have announced that they will hold their own rally in the city.
The presence of the U.S. officials, the protest rally against the name “North Macedonia” for Greece’s Balkan neighbor and the gathering of militant anarchists will potentially make the situation extremely volatile.
Hellenic Police helicopters will be monitoring all movements throughout Saturday in order to coordinate the police forces on the ground. Two public prosecutors will also be present throughout the day, one in the police headquarters where all law enforcement activities will be coordinated and one in the city center.
This year’s trade fair is expected to be the biggest of the last 20 years with the participation of 1,500 exhibitors, while organizers expect that the current record of 264,000 visitors will be broken this year.