Armed police have been deployed at Wembley Stadium as part of a massive security operation ahead of tonight’s England v France football match.
Officers were pictured beneath the Wembley Arch, which is lit in the red, white and blue of the Tricolore.
The Prime Minister, the leader of the opposition, Prince William and the Mayor of London are all set to attend the friendly match in west London.
They are standing guard in Olympic Way, the main approach to the stadium.
England fans have been encouraged to join in the singing of the French national anthem before kick-off.
Some expressed sadness at seeing armed cops at a sports event.
Interactive graphic: What equipment are the armed officers carrying?
Liverpool fan page Liverpool News (@RedMenMedia) tweeted a picture of the police and wrote: “Armed police outside Wembley tonight. But how dark a world we need this at a football match.”
Stuart McKinnon (@sweetsweetstu_) echoed the sentiment, saying: “Armed police at Wembley for a friendly game of football. Is this the world we live in now?”
And Le Bâtard Vert (@qualitystreeter) tweeted: “It’s crawling with armed police in London. Is this what the future holds?” He added the hashtag #ItsOnlyAFriendly.
Others praised the security services’ response to the terror threat.
Brad Feldman (@BFeld67) tweeted: “Armed guards visible around Wembley but unobtrusive. Choppers audible overhead. Subdued, friendly vibe.”
This is the French team's first match since terrorists slaughtered 129 people in Paris on Friday night. One bystander died outside the Stade de France after a man detonated a suicide vest, while a further two suicide bombers blew themselves up nearby.
French president Francois Hollande had been attending the game, which saw France oppose Germany.
