A multi-million pound “ring of steel” security operation is underway following US President Donald Trump’s arrival in the UK for a two-day working visit amid a whirlwind of planned protests.
Mr Trump is accompanied by up to 1,000 staff, a motorcade and multiple helicopters for the trip, following weeks of careful planning by US and UK security teams.
The president’s visit will see the biggest police mobilisation since the 2011 riots, with every police force across England and Wales assisting with the security operation which is expected to cost upwards of £8million.
Behind the scenes, every step of Mr Trump’s itinerary has been meticulously planned, with the president expected to visit locations including Blenheim Palace, Chequers, Windsor Castle following his arrival at the US ambassador’s official residence in Regent’s Park where he will stay overnight.
Mr Trump will be able to travel in the comfort of either his official Marine 1 helicopter or a bomb-proof limo dubbed ‘The Beast’, with a 160-strong team of secret service agents ensuring his protection throughout his stay.
The Beast
A bomb-proof limousine dubbed ‘The Beast’ will be used to chauffeur Mr Trump between scheduled appointments with Theresa May and the Queen at Windsor during his brief UK visit.
The conspicuous eight-ton vehicle – officially known as the Cadillac Presidential State Car – was ferried across the Atlantic Ocean by Air Force transport aircraft.
Mr Trump’s heavyweight seven-seater boasts armour-plated doors which are eight inches thick, the same weight as those on a Boeing 747 jet, and designed to completely seal up the passenger cabin in the wake of a chemical or biological attack.
The president also has at his side at all times a White House doctor and one of five rotating military aides who carry the nuclear “football” – equipped with communication tools and a book with prepared war plans.
A panic button and an internal oxygen supply have also been installed in the rear compartment of the vehicle.
The $2million (£1.5 million) bullet-proof limo, which reportedly does around 5mpg, also carries an armoury of weapons including machine guns, pump-action shotguns and tear gas launchers.
It also features Kevlar-reinforced, bullet-proof tyres, night vision cameras, GPS tracking, a steel-reinforced chassis and a firefighting system in the boot compartment.
A satellite phone installed in the vehicle enables communication to be maintained from anywhere in the world.
Cases of the president’s blood type are also carried on board the official state car, sometimes referred to as Cadillac One, in case of a medical emergency.
The presidential motorcade also includes two identical limousines, one of which is used as a decoy and backup should any problems arise.
A new version of The Beast, featuring anti-roadside bomb underplating and improved communication systems, is expected to be unveiled later this summer.
Secret service agents and a “ring of steel”
Upon arriving, Mr Trump was helicoptered to Winfield House, the US ambassador’s residence in London’s Regent’s Park, where a “ring of steel” has been set up to keep protesters at arm’s length.
The Metropolitan Police and Counter Terrorism Command (CTC) specialist branch, working closely with US secret service teams, are heading up the security operation.
Will Geddes, an international security specialist who has been involved in past state visit planning, estimates Mr Trump has brought around 150 secret service agents with him.
“A working trip is a little bit more low key, than a state visit,” he told the Telegraph. “From a security perspective it doesn’t have the same degree of dynamics attached to it.”
“Inevitably there are a number of factors,” he continues, “not only around the profile of someone with the status of Trump coming in, but also the fact that there are many other extraneous measures that need to be considered. Obviously demonstrations are one of the most visible ones, but there’s also the potential opportuning and exploitation of the visit by those with more nefarious intentions.”
He confirmed secret service agents will have arrived in the UK a “significant time” before the president to prepare for the security operation.
“The secret service will have carried out advance reconnaissance,” he explained. “Going to all the venues, meeting with the venue security, their counterparts in the Met Police and the CTC.
“They’ll also be looking at what we call the journey management – by what means of transport Mr Trump gets from one location to another.
“They would no doubt look at everything along the journey from Stansted airport right through to him travelling to Prestwick in Scotland later on.
“He will be able to secure his private Prestwick property more to the liking of the secret service, however they will still be supported by police.”
Secret service agents have already arrived in Scotland ahead of Mr Trump’s visit, along with two US Air Force planes and a motorcade carrying surveillance and satellite equipment.
Mr Geddes, the CEO of ICP Group, experts in niche threat management, says the security around Winfield House will be “pretty monumental”.
The US ambassador’s residence was purchased by world-famous heiress Barbara Hutton in the Thirties who was concerned about threats to kidnap her son and was impressed with the security the property offered her family.
“So even back then it was regarded as a pretty secure location,” adds Mr Geddes.
Surveillance
An enormous surveillance operation will be running in the background throughout Mr Trump’s trip to identify any potential threats to the president.
The secret service, Met Police counter terrorism and firearms teams, along with GCHQ will all be working together to protect Mr Trump.
“You’ve got many, many different moving parts,” adds Mr Geddes. “It’s a little bit like a ripple effect. At the middle of the ripple you have Trump. Then the various ripples that circulate out of there will be those different layers of security.”
He added: “Immediately close to the president, the operation will primarily be led by the secret service, while representatives for the diplomatic state protection teams will probably be playing some role too.
“There will also be a more covert element, particularly around more public areas. They will be carrying out more covert threat identification exercises and, in addition to that, you’re also going to have GCHQ monitoring all the various known channels used by extremists.”
It is thought Mr Trump will avoid central London during his trip, where thousands of protesters are set to take to the streets and a controversial balloon depicting him as a giant baby will be flown near Westminster.
Marine One
A number of presidential helicopters, either VH-3D Sea Kings or VH-60N White Hawks – which are known as Marine One when the president is on board – are also brought on overseas trips.
The Marine One helicopter is fitted with communications equipment, anti-missile defences and hardened hulls. Staff and security personnel are ferried around in MV-22 Ospreys and CH-46s.
Air Force One
The US leader touched down at Stansted in Air Force One – one of two specially modified Boeing 747-200s.
The luxurious aircraft, carrying the tail codes 28000 and 29000, are highly customised and can act as a mobile command centre in the event of an attack on the United States.
The words "United States of America", the Seal of the President of the United States and the American flag are all visible on the outside of the plane, making it instantly recognisable.
The aircraft has 4,000 square feet of floor space, including a Presidential suite with a large office and conference room, a medical suite that can be used as an operating room and two food preparation galleys that can feed 100 people at a time.
Overseas trips see additional staff and security flown over on an Air Force C-32, which is a modified Boeing 757.
Ahead of his arrival to the UK, Mr Trump appeared to question the Prime Minister’s Brexit strategy – asking if what the British people voted for is really being delivered.