There are plenty of reasons for terrorists to attack at an event where thousands of people will be celebrating. An event where millions will be at home watching the opening ceremony. An event where terrorism can be exploited as a fear-driven attack. The UK will of course have been tightening their security long-before the facilities were built but what type of security can prevent an attack?
Well at a staggering £550 million pounds (roughly three quarter of a billion US dollars) spent on security alone, it would only be an unimaginable risk to even try and attack the country during the games – but there are many ways that some could start an outburst of violence – however the impressive security numbers are very comforting for anyone planning to attend or be around the London Olympics.
57 SAS squads in secret bunkers along the River Thames, equipped with speed boats, sub-machine guns, stun grenades, assault rifles and biomechanical suits.
7500 trained soldiers (some freshly returning from Afghanistan and Iraq) will be patrolling London as security guards.
A security team of just over 25,000 will be amongst 13,500 trained military personnel with an undeclared amount being ex-SAS and ex-Mi5.
130 sniffer-dog teams will be placed constantly throughout London
25 join ground-based missile systems will be on standby in various secret locations.
12,000 police officers a day will be roaming high-alert during the London Games as well as a week before the opening ceremony and a week after the closing.
1000 QRF (Quick Reaction Force) officers will be alert daily – these officers all have a minimum of 15 years experience.
The $280 million dollar Boeing E-3 Sentry (as pictured above) will be deployed if security teams suspect anything severe or if a tip-off is received. The aircraft has an all-seeing-radar that can detect what is on the ground without anyone seeing or hearing the monstrosity above them. RAF Typhoon Interceptors and Royal Navy Sea-King will be there to clarify what is going on.
2000 Royal Marines will be aboard the HMS Ocean which is the Navy’s largest vessel – it will be docked in Greenwich about a minute away from the main Olympics attractions.
The UK security heads have also estimated that 100 million people will be searched over the course of the Games at train stations, venue entrances and pubs nearby.
