Fans attending the NFL game between the Baltimore Ravens and Jacksonville Jaguars at Wembley this weekend will reportedly be subject to "enhanced" security procedures.
Around 80,000 spectators are expected for the first London-based game of the new season on Sunday afternoon and, according to the Daily Mail, the two sides' owners have expressed "concern" about the safety of their fans in the wake of recent terror attacks in the UK.
Numerous terror attacks have been enacted on British soil this year, including on London's Westminster Bridge and Borough Market, while in May, 23 people were killed by a suicide bomber after an Ariana Grande concert at the Manchester Arena.
Just last week an explosive went off on a London Underground tube, malfunctioning but still injuring almost 30 people, and the NFL has since been having "hourly" discussions about how best to protect fans at Wembley.
The NFL has not received any specific information about attacks on the game, but has decided that fans entering Wembley may be subject to additional searches and security staff could stop anyone entering with bags such as rucksacks, handbags and laptop carriers.
An NFL spokesperson said: "We have not been advised of any threats to our games or events. We have been and will continue to work in close co-ordination with law enforcement and intelligence personnel in both countries, along with our teams, our security staffs and outside specialists to ensure the safety of our events.
'We will constantly be reviewing the issue in the days and weeks leading up to our games. We have played 17 regular-season games to date safely and successfully in the UK and look forward to four great games in London this season, beginning with the Baltimore-Jacksonville game."
The NFL has advised fans to avoid bringing any non-essential items with them to the game.
Neil Wilkes
