Diana crash tunnel opened to public

The Pont DAlma underpass in which Princes Diana died in a fatal high-speed crash in August 1997 has been opened to the public.

London, Oct 8 : The Pont D'Alma underpass in which Princes Diana died in a fatal high-speed crash in August 1997 has been opened to the public.

After the tunnel was opened on Oct 7, tourist thronged the site to take pictures next to the notorious 13th pillar, into which the Mercedes carrying the royal crashed.

The busy road on the banks of the river Seine in Paris was completely closed to traffic from morning, letting pedestrians wander inside.

The decision to open the tunnel ten years after the fateful event was taken on the eve of the arrival of the jury investigating the death of the royal, her lover Dodi Al Fayed and driver Henri Paul.

The team led by coroner Lord Justice Scott Baker are due to visit the tunnel, Ritz hotel where the princess' last evening began and Pitié Salpêtrière Hospital, where the royal was declared dead.

France's Interior Minister Michele Alliot-Marie has deployed specialist officers to every site.

The officers will include armed members from the RAID anti-terrorist unit, CRS riot police and undercover agents from the domestic intelligence agency DST.

"Everyone is aware that the British party will be working in public and in very prominent places which naturally poses a security risk," the Daily Mail quoted a source, as saying.

'But France also wants to highlight that its conduct throughout the last ten years enquiry has been exemplary.

'As far as the Diana investigation is concerned, there can be no mistakes.

'France is also, like Britain, seeking complete transparency, and that is why the Alma underpass has been opened in this way," the source added.

ANI