Local, state and national authorities are boosting security measures around this weekend's Arnold Sports Festival after recent vehicle attacks in New Orleans and Germany.
The measures include steel barriers at the corner of North High and East Goodale streets near the Greater Columbus Convention Center, which hosts the annual festival and draws thousands from around the country and world.
The barriers are there to prevent vehicles from going on to the sidewalk or hitting the building.
"They help stop vehicles right where they are," said Columbus Police Cmdr. Justin Coleman, who spoke to reporters Thursday at the convention center about security preparations.
He mentioned the Jan. 1 attack in New Orleans' French Quarter, when a driver in a pick-up truck killed 14 people and injured dozens more.
"New Orleans was a reminder of what can happen and then other areas where vehicles and other things have been used to attack crowds," Coleman said.
In December, a driver drove into a Christmas market in the German city of Magdeburg, leaving five women and a 9-year-old boy dead and 200 people injured.
"We pay attention to the global threat," Coleman said. "We have a counter-terrorism group here and we have members that are on our joint terrorism task force."
Coleman said officials monitor upticks in attacks throughout not only the United States but around the world.
Columbus police have said they adjust strategies while learning from other attacks and events.
Coleman said Franklin County Sheriff's Department drones will fly over the area near the event, as will Columbus Police helicopters.
Agencies monitoring the event include the Columbus police and fire divisions, the Franklin County Sheriff's Department, Franklin County Emergency Management Agency, the FBI, Ohio Homeland Security and the Ohio State Highway Patrol.
Coleman did not say how many law enforcement officers would be patrolling in and around the festival, but he said their presence will be robust. He also said convention center staff will be monitoring what items people bring in.
"We're doing everything we can to make a safe environment," Coleman said.
