Security checks at Prague Castle cause queues, anger tourist agencies
PRAGUE, Aug 18 (Reuters) - New security checks at Prague Castle, which attracts nearly two million tourists annually, have caused queues of visitors at peak times, sparking criticism from tourist businesses.
The vast historical complex overlooking the medieval city center is the seat of the president, Milos Zeman, whose office says security had to be tightened in response to terrorism in Europe.
Tourists queuing up at the Castle on Thursday mostly raised no objections to the checks, but the national association of tourist agencies said they were groundless or even dangerous.
"Somebody creating a mass of tourists is creating a security risk. If somebody wanted to harm people in the Czech Republic now, he can be sure tourists are grouped in one spot," a spokesman for the association, Jan Papez, said.
The Czech Republic has not suffered any attacks by Islamist militants nor have Czech security officials or the president's office warned of any specific threats.
Papez said he believed the increased checks were a response to a prank by artistic group Ztohoven who scaled the Castle roof last September and replaced the presidential flag with a pair of enormous red boxer shorts.
Zeman fired three security chiefs in response to that incident and said security at the Castle would be tightened.
State Secretary in charge of European relations, Tomas Prouza, said on Twitter Zeman was playing on people's fears with the new measures. "Building up fear is ever more popular game for some politicians," he said. (Reporting by Jiri Skacel and Jan Lopatka)
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