Over 1,300 security agents from across Switzerland will be deployed to ensure order and safety during the Eurovision Song Contest (ESC), taking place in Basel from May 11 to 17.
Around half of the intervention forces will be provided by the cantons of Basel-Stadt and Basel-Landschaft. The operation will also include 40 professional army soldiers, the Federal Police (Fedpol), the Office of the Attorney General (OAG), as well as cyber and border security agencies.
Authorities say the threat level is high, prompting numerous precautions: a no-drone zone from May 9 to 18, 24-hour video surveillance in fan zones, radio communication checks, and radiation level monitoring in the region.
The Federal Office for Cybersecurity (FOCS) has conducted a comprehensive risk analysis, while the Federal Intelligence Service (FIS) is actively involved in threat assessment and cooperation with international authorities.
Police are also preparing to respond to potential protests against Israel’s participation, which have been anonymously called for on social media. So far, no official request for a permitted demonstration has been submitted.
The total cost of security and emergency services is expected to reach nearly 8 million Swiss francs, with a final report to be published after the event.
