MIAMI (WSVN) - The Ultra Music Festival, an event that attracts thousands from around the world, held a briefing Wednesday morning on what to expect this weekend.
Officials held the meeting in Downtown Miami to provide details on what’s new for this year’s Ultra and information on safety and traffic plans for the event.
Miami Police Chief Jorge Colina and city officials also toured the venue, reviewing security procedures.
“Obviously we’re gonna have an incredible amount of police officers that are going to be working,” said Colina. “We have officers that are gonna be in plain clothes. We’re working with the FBI. They’re going to have agents here to collaborate and assist us, as well. We have elevated observation points at different parts of the city, so we can look down and get a bird’s eye view of what’s happening.”
City of Miami Mayor Francis Suarez was also on hand Wednesday to discuss the event.
“We know that we are living in a world where the threats are dynamic and are ever-changing, and certainly that’s something that we have to keep up with,” Suarez said.
“It’s a lot of security,” said Colina, “but it’s just to make sure that everyone’s able to come and enjoy the event as they should be able to.”
Colina said they have also learned from the 2017 Las Vegas shooting, where a man opened fire on a country music festival, killing 58 people. This year, SWAT officers will be stationed in and around the buildings near Ultra.
“We live in a post-Vegas World,” said City of Miami Commissioner Ken Russell. “That’s why today I really want us to communicate as a city that we are taking every precaution necessary, that we have learned a lot over this past year with what has happened and that it should be a very safe weekend.”
Ultra begins Friday and lasts until Sunday at Bayfront Park in Miami.
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