NFL, Super Bowl Organizers Stepping Up Security For Big Game, Events Around SF
SAN FRANCISCO (KPIX 5) -- As the world reels from last week's deadly terrorist attacks in Paris, Super Bowl 50 organizers are planning to ramp up already intense security.
"Obviously what happened in Paris is going to have the whole world paying attention," said P.J. Johnston of the Super Bowl 50 Host Committee.
San Francisco Police Chief Greg Suhr said, "We treat anything that happens anywhere around the country or the world like it's happening here."
In the wake of the Paris terror attacks, the precautions have already kick in. For example, extra security was brought in for Sunday's vigil at City Hall for victims of the attacks.
"We had officers around on the top of buildings for high ground cover, as well as on the ground," Suhr said. "All around San Francisco right now, l'm sure people have noticed in their morning commute and in their evening commute we have more officers along the transit corridors - we have more officers out downtown along the shopping corridors- we want to have that high visibility," Suhr said.
Super Bowl organizers say nothing will compare to the precautions now planned for the weeklong Super Bowl festival planned for the foot of Market Street.
"Games, booths, installations. We're talking about tens of thousands each day," Johnston said.
The FBI will conduct a large-scale training exercise at Levi's stadium to get ready for the Super Bowl.
The training exercise is set to take place Tuesday morning at 11, involving helicopters, SWAT, hazmat units, and bomb technicians.
The NFL stepped up security starting this weekend, but that didn't stop one man from running onto the field in Oakland as the Raiders played Sunday. 23 year old Frankie Estanol, the man who ran onto the field said he was surprised at how easy it was to get onto the field.
"I'm a pretty athletic guy, so I just hopped down real quick, and it was kind of easy to get to the end zone," Estanol said.
He said he was standing near the end zone for minutes before anyone noticed.
"I was able to stand there in the end zone, and sit there for a little bit," Estanol said.
A Minnesota Vikings player tackled Estanol after he made his way onto the field, and where he was taken into police custody.
