A ring of steel is being erected in Birmingham today ahead of the Europa League match between Aston Villa and Maccabi Tel Aviv.

More than 700 West Midlands police officers have been drafted in for the football game, with horses and dogs teams on hand.

Drones will be deployed in the sky amid warnings that the event could be targeted by extremist groups, while the airspace has been closed for any non-official aircraft.

A Section 60 – allowing officers to stop and search people without a need for ‘reasonable grounds’ – has been announced from midday today until 3am on Friday.

Birmingham police commander Chief Superintendent Tom Joyce said: ‘Our message to those from all communities in Birmingham is that we have listened and will continue to engage with you.

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