In ten days, the Olympic games begin in the main stadium in Stratford, East London. As the excitement builds, so does the panic. The internet is filled with theorists who postulate that the 2012 games will be the site of the next terrorist attack. Depending upon whose story you read, this attack will be a conspiracy by Islamic Militants, members of the Rockefeller family and the New World Order, or the Illuminati.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=awoF0dlUVQs
The method of attack? Depending upon who you believe, it will be a dirty bomb with large amounts of shrapnel causing the majority of damage, or an acoustic device that also acts as a sonic weapon, or large amounts of hand-cream that are laced with cyanide and smuggled through the airports.
It’s easy to dismiss these claims, but the facts are far more troublesome. Jonathan Evans, the MI5 director-general, briefed the Cabinet last week regarding possible threats to the upcoming games.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/olympics/news/9166546/London-2012-Olympics-terrorists-plotting-cyanide-poison-hand-cream-attack.html
There have been multiple accounts that security at Heathrow airport inadvertently let people from the no-fly list into the country.
Two of the people convicted of trying to blow up trans-Atlantic passenger jets were recently released from prison.
Perhaps most troublesome is the fact that the contracted security provider, G4S, did not deliver on its promise. The chief executive for G4S, Nick Buckles, accepted payment of 444 million dollars in exchange for providing security services for 100 Olympic related events. He promised that he would recruit 10,400 private security guards for the games, but he fell short by over 6,000 officers. In response, Britain will deploy 3,500 members of the service in an effort to protect the country. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has also agreed to help by sending some of its officials from the Transportation Security Administration. Buckles was the subject of a parliamentary hearing that was broadcast live in Britain today, where he was forced to agree with lawmakers who declared that this situation was “a humiliating shambles.”
Security at the Olympics has always been a daunting task.
In 1972, Palestinian terrorists attacked the Israeli team.
In 1996, a pipe bomb was set off at the Atlanta games.
In 2002, terrorists bombed Madrid on Champion’s League semi-final day.
In 2009, the cricket team from Sri Lanka was attacked by terrorists in Pakistan.
In 2010, the Togo National Football team was attacked by terrorists in Cabinda.
According to the UK Home Office website, Britain’s terror threat level remains at “substantial,” although it is clear that the British government is stepping up security.
Military jets and helicopters are on standby.
New airspace restrictions will begin on Saturday.
The Royal Navy has its largest ship, the HMS Ocean, moored in the Thames.
London’s public transport authority has been warning commuters to avoid tourist hotspots for weeks.
The army has placed high velocity missiles on the roof of the Fred Wigg Tower, an East-End housing project.
In response to all of this, Home Secretary Theresa May says, “There is no question of Olympic security being compromised.”
If you found this article to be of interest, please click on “subscribe” underneath the author’s photo to receive automatic email updates when she writes again.
