Warship in the Thames for 2012 Olympics  (*)

by Owen Gibson, The Guardian, 16 December 2011
 

The [British] Ministry of Defence has insisted that the London Olympics will retain a celebratory atmosphere despite unveiling plans for a warship on the [River] Thames, surface to air missiles and fighter planes on standby and the deployment of 13,500 military personnel.

[British Defence Minister Philip] Hammond revealed that the Royal Navy's largest ship, 22,500-tonne helicopter carrier HMS Ocean, would be based in Greenwich [south London] for the duration of the [Olympic] Games, while assault vessel HMS Bulwark would be moored in Weymouth, where the sailing events will take place.

An “appropriate and scaleable” air security plan includes Typhoon aircraft at RAF Northolt [airbase in northwest London], helicopters operating from HMS Ocean and “appropriate” surface to air missile systems. The [London Metropolitan] police will also deploy up to 12,000 officers on the busiest days of the [Olympic] Games, with the operation being planned on the basis that the terrorist threat level will be set at severe.