UK - OLYMPICS 2012: Ground to air missiles on show for hi-tech Olympic security exercise.

Record ID: 332566

  • Title: UK - OLYMPICS 2012: Ground to air missiles on show for hi-tech Olympic security exercise.
  • Date: 4th May 2012
  • Summary: LONDON, ENGLAND, UK (RECENT - APRIL 30, 2012) (REUTERS) PAN FROM INDUSTRIAL AREA NEAR OLYMPIC PARK AND VIEW OF OLYMPIC STADIUM IN BACKGROUND ACROSS THE BUSY ROAD TO SEE THE BUILDING WHERE MISSILES MIGHT BE DEPLOYED DURING GAMES TOWER ON TOP OF BUILDING WHERE MISSILES MIGHT BE PLACED LONDON, ENGLAND, UK (MAY 3, 2012) (REUTERS) BRIAN WHELAN, RESIDENT OF BUILDING, WHO HAS BEEN COMPLAINING ABOUT MISSILES, WALKING ALONG STREET WHELAN LOOKING AT ORBIT TOWER IN OLYMPIC PARK (SEEN IN DISTANCE) (SOUNDBITE) (English) BRIAN WHELAN, RESIDENT OF BUILDING, WHO HAS BEEN COMPLAINING ABOUT MISSILES, SAYING: "I couldn't imagine what it would be like to walk past armed police to get into my apartment and sleep at night knowing their is missiles above my head, in what is an old red brick match stick factory. So, you know, it wasn't built as a military location. It's an old building. It's been struck by lightening, part of the masonry is crumbling, so I am not sure it is suitable." BUILDING AND WHELAN ON PHONE TALKING ABOUT HIS UPCOMING EVICTION SOLDIERS IN MILITARY FATIGUES IN VAN NEAR APARTMENT BUILDING ANOTHER VEHICLE WITH SOLDIER INSIDE IT (SOUNDBITE) (English) BRIAN WHELAN, RESIDENT OF BUILDING, WHO HAS BEEN COMPLAINING ABOUT MISSILES, SAYING: "They didn't have any answers unfortunately. They were very reluctant to speak to me at all. They weren't even able to tell me basic facts about the area, like what the name of the borough was. They said they met with the local council, but they couldn't tell me what the name of the council was. That is quite worrying, how do they make plans to put missiles on a roof if they don't even know what area they are in." LONDON, ENGLAND, UK (RECENT - APRIL 30, 2012) (REUTERS) RESIDENTIAL BUILDING SIGN "BOW QUARTER" "LOOK OUT" NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH SIGN AND TOWER
  • Embargoed: 19th May 2012 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: United Kingdom
  • Country: United Kingdom
  • Topics: Defence / Military,Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVAEGCJHWU3UF9HKUZAVLYR0GSX2
  • Story Text: In a show of force, Britain's military put on show ground to surface missiles in the heart of London on Thursday (May 3) as part of a week-long security exercise for the Olympic Games.
    Rapier radar and missiles and High Velocity Missiles (HVM) are placed on Blackheath, with the business district of Canary Wharf visible in the background. There are five other sites missiles will be placed around London to protect the Olympic Park in the summer.
    Observers with hi-tech heat seeking equipment and specialist binoculars will surround Greater London looking for unusual air activity.
    During the Games time air space will be prohibited in central London and restricted in Greater London.
    Typhoon jets will patrol the skies to deflect any planes which mistakenly stray into restricted space.
    Air Vice Marshall Stuart Atha, said it is important the military know what their plan would be in the event of an attack and also to show would-be enemies that Britain has the capability to deal with any threat.
    "The first reason for doing is just to test our system. Just to see are we ready? Would we be ready in the unlikely event that we have to use them? So that's the first thing. But by demonstrating that we have a credible and ready system, we would hope that in that unlikely event that there is someone out there with a malign intent for the Olympics would think again," he said.
    The military is at pains to stress that the missiles operation would only be launched in case of extreme threat, such as a 9/11 type scenario. Atha was reluctant to directly address what would happen if an enemy plane was heading towards the Olympic Stadium.
    "Of course we are talking about worst case in that very, very unlikely scenario, a decision has to be made about proportionality of what we are doing," he said, adding that it would be the prime minister who would make the ultimate call to shoot down a plane over central London.
    One of the locations the High Velocity Missiles may be placed is on the tower of an upscale apartment development near the Olympic Park.
    It is the first time such missiles have been deployed in London since the end of World War Two, shocking some residents at the Bow Quarter housing development, sited in a converted red-brick Victorian match factory.
    One resident, Brian Whelan, has spoken out vociferously against the plan and has consulted a lawyer over potentially blocking the move.
    "I couldn't imagine what it would be like to walk past armed police to get into my apartment and sleep at night knowing their is missiles above my head, in what is an old red brick match stick factory. So, you know, it wasn't built as a military location. It's an old building. It's been struck by lightening, part of the masonry is crumbling, so I am not sure it is suitable," he said.
    The defence ministry said in a leaflet sent to occupants on Saturday it had chosen the former water tower in the Bow Quarter complex because it offered "an excellent view of the surrounding area and the entire sky above the Olympic Park."
    Since the outcry the Ministry of Defence has sent a small team of people to talk to concerned residents.
    But the diplomatic move has now swayed Whelan.
    "They didn't have any answers unfortunately. They were very reluctant to speak to me at all. They weren't even able to tell me basic facts about the area, like what the name of the borough was. They said they met with the local council, but they couldn't tell me what the name of the council was. That is quite worrying, how do they make plans to put missiles on a roof if they don't even know what area they are in,"
    he said.
    Whelan said he is now being evicted from his flat. He said his landlady will not renew his lease and he is being forced to leave his home by July 23, four days before the Opening Ceremony.
    Also on exercises, off the south coast of England near Weymouth where the Olympic sailing events will be held, HMS Bulwark staged exercises as the vessel prepared to help provide security during the Games.
    "First and foremost this is one of the most fantastic global spectaculars that the country is going to see in a generation. My task is to ensure that the people here enjoy it and that we are discreet and almost invisible to them. That's the first thing that I can ensure them is that we can provide the security, we will provide the security for and with the police so that they can enjoy what will be a once in a lifetime spectacle," said ship's Captain Alex Burton.
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