'Makes zero sense': Security experts cast doubt on Harry and Meghan’s claim of 2-hour paparazzi chase
NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: A security expert has shared his doubts over Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's allegations that they were chased by paparazzi for hours on the streets of the Big Apple. AllSTAR Security president Mark Selden also stated that he failed to understand the Sussexes’ move from a protected SUV to a cab as they took shelter in a police station after they left a charity event at the Ziegfeld Ballroom on Tuesday, May 16.
The Sussexes have alleged that they were tailed by photographers after leaving the highly-publicized charity event and the former royals apparently first sought refuge in a police station 18 blocks away. A spokesperson for the royal couple told Fox News Digital: "Last night, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex and Ms. Ragland were involved in a near catastrophic car chase at the hands of a ring of highly aggressive paparazzi. This relentless pursuit, lasting over two hours, resulted in multiple near collisions involving other drivers on the road, pedestrians and two NYPD (New York Police Department) officers," the spokesperson said.
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It has been said that the pair along with Meghan’s mother Doria Ragland first took shelter at a police station. Later, they decided to take the cab and leave for their next destination. However, eventually, they came back to the station. Selden told Fox News Digital, “Completely zero sense. You're in a protected environment. You're with your security.”
‘One security guard is obviously not enough for the former royals’
Selden said, “They were at a police precinct, which is the safest environment they could be in. And that's where they should have stayed in a safe environment, never should have left.” He further noted, “If what I understand, they were with one security guard from what I've read, allegedly. And, you know, one security guard is obviously not enough for the former royals or the royals that they are.”
Selden mentioned the unlikelihood of the alleged two-hour-long chase as he told the publication, “It makes zero sense to someone who's a New Yorker. You could have gone to a police station in 15 minutes anywhere in New York City, could have gone to a firehouse, go to a governmental building. You could have gone to a hotel where [the paparazzi] could have been locked out. You could have gone anywhere. You could have been in a much more safe situation, let alone running around New York City in a car.”
He added, “When you are someone that's in the public eye, you're always going to be a bit aware that there's going to be paparazzi looking at you. That's part of your job but at the same time, if you put yourself in an unsafe situation, you have to know how to get yourself to safety and your security, that's their job to know that.”
‘The most bizarre part of the story’
Meanwhile, former Secret Service agent Dan Emmett told Fox News, “I believe if they’re going to stay in this country they’re going to continue to attract this type of attention from the media from the paparazzi. They’re going to have to get a little more police support. If you surround the vehicle with police you’re not going to have this type of situation.”
Emmett also was reluctant to buy the apparent two-hour-long chase story. He added, “I also find it very unlikely that this occurred for two hours and NYPD made no arrests. To me, that seems the most bizarre part of the story.”
Selden expressed his thoughts on the same line as he remarked, “I can't imagine running around New York City for two hours and not finding safety is beyond me. I mean, you can walk into a hotel, you can walk into a building, you can walk into a Fifth Avenue building, and they'll close the door behind them and lead you to safety … I mean, there are buildings you can walk into that will take you in for cover. I mean, all over New York.”