Paris attacks: Security increased at St. Louis sporting events

The National Hockey League has sent out an advisory to its clubs, including the St. Louis Blues, to be on heightened alert this weekend in the wake of the attacks in Paris Friday. This comes on the heels of a night where St. Louis police had extra officers on street for the U.S. Men’s National Team’s World Cup qualifying match against St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

Chief Sam Dotson says he was in touch with the FBI Friday as events were unfolding in France.  The bureau had no evidence of any credible threat to the U.S. men’s soccer match being held, but considering one of the targets in Paris had been near the stadium where France and Germany were playing soccer, no one was interested in taking any chances.  Dotson says extra police were added to a ring of manpower that was already equivalent to a Cardinals playoff game.

Dotoson said, “We're prepared.  We already had extra officers here, but as we saw what was happening in Paris this afternoon, I thought it was prudent. I talked to the mayor and he agreed we needed an extra layer down here just to make people feel safe.  There are not threats toward anything going on in St. Louis and no reason to believe anything will happen here but it`s our job to be prepared and we're prepared."

Downtown Saturday, another big crowd will be in place as the Blues take on the Blackhawks at Scottrade Center.  Once again, the NHL issuing a statement Friday night saying, “We have sent an advisory to our clubs to be on heightened alert given (the) events in Paris.”