Chicago, the third-most populous city in the U.S., is enhancing its security plans for the upcoming Chicago Marathon in the wake of the Las Vegas mass shooting, APA reports quoting Xinhua.
Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel on Tuesday met with officials from the Office of Emergency Management and Communications to discuss emergency plans for the marathon, which is set for the coming Sunday.
"Basically, we're prepared for any eventuality in this effort, and we trained for any possible circumstances in this type of event so everybody can enjoy a great marathon," Emanuel said.
The mass shooting in Las Vegas that left 59 dead and more than 527 injured Sunday night has prompted concerns over events that draw big crowds around Chicago.
The Grant Park, the venue for many big events, including the musical festival Lollapalooza, is surrounded by high-rise buildings on the west side and is similar to the outdoor music festival venue in Las Vegas, where the shooter opened fire from a nearby hotel.
"Remember, we started changing dramatically what we were doing after the Boston Marathon and we upped our game dramatically," Emanuel told reporters on Monday at City Hall.
Office of Emergency Management and Communications Commissioner Alicia Tate-Nadeau said the city has been modifying its security protocols in response to various attacks in public places.
Chicago Marathon is one of the six World Marathon Majors and the city's largest spectator event, with an estimated 44,000 participants, including 1,500 Chinese, and over a million spectators along the 42.195 kilometer route this year.
This year marks the 40th anniversary of the Chicago Marathon.
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