The Swedish Eurovision host city Malmo has promised heightened security for this year’s song contest, which faces protests over Israel’s participation during its offensive in Gaza.

According to AFP, authorities vowed “visible” measures, including police with submachine guns and reinforcements from Denmark and Norway, around the event ending with the final on May 11.

At least half a dozen applications have been filed for demonstration permits to protest the Israeli presence at the competition, which is organised by the European Broadcasting Union together with Sweden’s public broadcaster SVT.

The executive producer of the event for SVT, Ebba Adielsson, told AFP that the security plan is “extremely stable”. “Now what scares me the most is that people are too afraid” to participate in the event, she continued.