NEWS

G-7 security tight in case of terrorist attack — or even volcanic eruption

Eric J. Lyman
Special for USA TODAY

TAORMINA, Sicily — Security is always tight when the Group of Seven world leaders gather, but the summit here Friday includes contingencies against a suicide bombing like the one in Manchester, England, violent protests — or even an eruption by Mount Etna.

An officer of Italian Guardia di Finanza at work ahead of the G-7 summit near the Sicilian town of Taormina on May 25,  2017.

As President Trump meets with leaders of six other major industrialized democracies for two days, more than 10,000 security personnel will be stationed around this picturesque cliff-side village, according to the Italian government. That protective force almost equals the year-round population of 11,000.

Hundreds of security cameras have been placed around town. And every visitor will have been screened ahead of time. Bomb-sniffing dogs have been deployed for days.

“Taormina will be like a giant fortress,” said Sabrina Magris, president of the Florence-based Ecole Universitaire Internationale, which focuses on security issues.

Taormina, founded as a Greek colony in the fourth century B.C., is known for its grand views of the Mediterranean Sea and winding, narrow streets.

All non-essential personnel — including journalists, event support staff and a large part of each nation's staff — will be based in Giardini Naxos, a sea-level community about 2½ miles from Taormina. Protests will take place in Giardini Naxos as well, far from the world leaders.

The G-7 summit will be a first for four of the leaders: Trump, France’s newly elected President Emmanuel Macron, Italian Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni and British Prime Minister Theresa May. The other three are Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

Unlike other world leaders at the summit, Trump may not sleep at one of Taormina’s luxury hotels, according to Italian media reports that say he will stay at the U.S. military base at Sigonella, about 40 miles southwest of Taormina. In that case, he would need to travel to the summit by military helicopter.

Reporters traveling with Trump disputed that he would overnight at the base.

If he does, it would create another — although extremely remote — risk. The most direct route between Sigonella and Taormina is over Mount Etna, Europe’s largest active volcano, which last erupted in March. A helicopter could navigate around a small eruption.

A major eruption would have forced postponing or relocating the summit, but that won't happen because Etna has been quiet.

For local residents, holding the summit in their town is more of an inconvenience than a security threat. Residents have been issued cards that allow them to come and go, though they are required to be in their homes at certain times.

Italian soldiers stand on the beach in Giardini Naxos prior to the G-7 summit  in nearby Taormina on May 25, 2017.

Organizers have spent nearly $20 million upgrading roads and cleaning and fortifying historical monuments, but residents say they are more worried about visitors staying away just as high tourist season gets underway.

“Fair to say all these security measures are keeping tourists away, costing businesses money and driving the residents crazy,” Mayor Eligio Giardina said.

Could the publicity of the summit later attract more visitors to Taormina?

“Taormina is not a place for mass tourism,” Giardina said. “We already have all the tourists we can handle.”

Rosa Conti, 81, a retiree living with her daughter’s family in Giardini Naxos, said she was ready for the G-7 summit to be over, even before it began.

“All the stores I use are closed, and there are men with guns who never smile standing on every corner,” she said. “Enough!”

Italo Calabrese, 59, a hotel operator agreed: “We will be happy to look back and say, ‘We hosted all the world leaders,’” he said. “But for now, it’s just a big pain.”

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