Police to increase presence as Reykjavik Culture Night progresses

Police say road closures and general crowd management have gone well so far in central Reykjavik, but people heading into the city centre later today should expect delays. The police response will be increased and officers will become more visible as the day progresses, mbl.is reports.

Árni Friðleifsson, chief superintendent in the traffic department of the Capital Region Police, said the situation had developed as expected, with large crowds in the city centre and the Reykjavik Marathon occupying the central road network. Police have also managed the arrival of a cruise ship carrying 3,000 people at the Vatnagarðar quay.

People attending Culture Night in central Reykjavik should expect traffic delays in various places, Friðleifsson said. Delays on Hringbraut earlier in the day cleared quickly, he said, and asked the public to understand that traffic and other arrangements may move more slowly than on an ordinary day.

Friðleifsson said there was a strong atmosphere in the city centre around the marathon and that the weather had not caused problems so far. Several dozen more police officers than usual are already on duty, and additional staff will be deployed as the day continues. Police are expected to be highly visible in central Reykjavik this evening.