Barriers designed to prevent hostile vehicle attacks will be installed at key locations during this year’s International Festival and Fringe, police have confirmed.

The Festival is reported to be the third largest ticketed event in the world, just behind the World Cup and the Olympics.

Whilst there is no specific intelligence at this time to suggest that this year’s events are at risk from a terrorist attack, the threat to the United Kingdom from Internationally Inspired Terrorism remains at “Severe”. This means that ‘an attack is highly likely’.

A post on the Edinburgh Police facebook page stated: “Following recent attacks in London and Manchester, Police Scotland have been reviewing security arrangements for this year’s events with their partners, including the The City of Edinburgh Council, The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo and Edinburgh International Festival/Fringe.

“Following this review Police Scotland, in collaboration with the City of Edinburgh Council, submitted a request for the deployment of the National Barrier Asset (NBA) at certain city centre locations for the duration of the Festival and Fringe.

“The NBA is a temporary deployed system including high security gates, portals and barriers, which are designed to prevent hostile vehicle attacks on key or busy crowded place locations.

“The NBA has been utilised extensively in the UK this year at other major events including Wimbledon and the European Cup Final in Cardiff.

“The NBA forms part of Police Scotland’s holistic security plan for this year’s event.

“It will help to keep people safe whilst attending events at Edinburgh Castle and the High Street in the event of Vehicle as a Weapon Attacks, such as those seen at Westminster Bridge and Borough Market in London.”

The cost of this will be met by the UK Government.