Athens is preparing to welcome German Chancellor Angela Merkel with draconian security measures on Friday, April 11th 2014, a day after a powerful car bomb exploded in the middle of the city’s downtown. Some 5,000 police officers are to safeguard the areas where the German delegation will be moving around. Main roads in downtown will be closed to traffic at 3 p.m. and open again when the German Chancellor will depart from the city.