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| Bow resident seeks to evict London Olympics missile base | Bow resident seeks to evict London Olympics missile base |
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| The owner of a flats complex to be used as an army missile base during the London Olympics is facing a legal challenge over its decision to lease roof space to the military. | The owner of a flats complex to be used as an army missile base during the London Olympics is facing a legal challenge over its decision to lease roof space to the military. |
| A resident of the Bow Quarter estate is challenging the legality of a deal between the company that owns the freehold and the Ministry of Defence to site a battery of surface-to-air missiles to guard against potential airborne terrorist attacks. | A resident of the Bow Quarter estate is challenging the legality of a deal between the company that owns the freehold and the Ministry of Defence to site a battery of surface-to-air missiles to guard against potential airborne terrorist attacks. |
| "We have appointed lawyers with a view to making a legal challenge to the management company's decision to allow the MoD to install the rockets here," said Brian Whelan, a resident. "They didn't consult with us and they have neglected their duty to ask the residents' opinions about this." | "We have appointed lawyers with a view to making a legal challenge to the management company's decision to allow the MoD to install the rockets here," said Brian Whelan, a resident. "They didn't consult with us and they have neglected their duty to ask the residents' opinions about this." |
| Some residents fear the high-velocity missile system, to be fitted on a water tower with clear views of the skies above the Olympic park, could make the complex more vulnerable to attack. Ten soldiers will operate the weapons at all times, possibly with armed police protection. | Some residents fear the high-velocity missile system, to be fitted on a water tower with clear views of the skies above the Olympic park, could make the complex more vulnerable to attack. Ten soldiers will operate the weapons at all times, possibly with armed police protection. |
| The property owner, Little Apple Holdings, said on Monday the decision to give the army roof access was "an issue of national security, not of commercial gain". | The property owner, Little Apple Holdings, said on Monday the decision to give the army roof access was "an issue of national security, not of commercial gain". |
| It added: "Under national security provisions, the MoD has the authority to place defence systems within civilian areas as is deemed appropriate in order to deliver security of the highest order." | It added: "Under national security provisions, the MoD has the authority to place defence systems within civilian areas as is deemed appropriate in order to deliver security of the highest order." |
| An MoD spokesman said there were "statutory and prerogative powers that allow the deployment of armed forces and their equipment". He did not specify what the powers were but added: "All legal requirements for the deployment of the equipment will be met." | An MoD spokesman said there were "statutory and prerogative powers that allow the deployment of armed forces and their equipment". He did not specify what the powers were but added: "All legal requirements for the deployment of the equipment will be met." |
| General Sir Nick Parker, in charge of co-ordinating the armed forces during the Games, also announced that high-velocity missiles will be located on top of the 17-storey Fred Wigg tower in Waltham Forest, sparking safety fears among residents there. | General Sir Nick Parker, in charge of co-ordinating the armed forces during the Games, also announced that high-velocity missiles will be located on top of the 17-storey Fred Wigg tower in Waltham Forest, sparking safety fears among residents there. |
| "This is a dense residential area with three schools nearby," said Flash Bristow, chairwoman of the Ferndale area residents' association, which represents people neighbouring the block. "I find it shocking we could even contemplate hosting missiles on residential tower blocks during peacetime." She said there had been no consultation of local people. | "This is a dense residential area with three schools nearby," said Flash Bristow, chairwoman of the Ferndale area residents' association, which represents people neighbouring the block. "I find it shocking we could even contemplate hosting missiles on residential tower blocks during peacetime." She said there had been no consultation of local people. |
| "All we have is this sensationalist piece of news that there are missiles on top of homes," she said. "We don't know if they will become a target for terrorists or what the likelihood is that they will be used." | "All we have is this sensationalist piece of news that there are missiles on top of homes," she said. "We don't know if they will become a target for terrorists or what the likelihood is that they will be used." |
| Jules Carey, head of the civil liberties department at Tuckers Solicitors, is acting for Whelan. He said: "We are trying to ascertain what power the company has to enter into agreement with the MoD to install missiles. Subject to the wishes of the residents more generally, we will challenge this decision." | Jules Carey, head of the civil liberties department at Tuckers Solicitors, is acting for Whelan. He said: "We are trying to ascertain what power the company has to enter into agreement with the MoD to install missiles. Subject to the wishes of the residents more generally, we will challenge this decision." |
| The threat of a legal threat to the missiles coincided with a military and police briefing ahead of an eight-day rehearsal, starting on Wednesday, for defending the Games. Parker said military snipers are to be deployed in helicopters to shoot pilots of low-flying aircraft that might be involved in terrorist attacks. He said that as well as the missiles on tower blocks, larger Rapier surface-to-air missiles could be located at Blackheath, Lee Valley reservoir, Shooters Hill and Epping Forest. He said the missiles would only be fired as "a very last resort" and a decision to do so would have to come from the "very highest level" – on the authority of the prime minister. | The threat of a legal threat to the missiles coincided with a military and police briefing ahead of an eight-day rehearsal, starting on Wednesday, for defending the Games. Parker said military snipers are to be deployed in helicopters to shoot pilots of low-flying aircraft that might be involved in terrorist attacks. He said that as well as the missiles on tower blocks, larger Rapier surface-to-air missiles could be located at Blackheath, Lee Valley reservoir, Shooters Hill and Epping Forest. He said the missiles would only be fired as "a very last resort" and a decision to do so would have to come from the "very highest level" – on the authority of the prime minister. |
| "The focus is on the air security of the Olympic Park," he said. "The two threats are a large 9/11 type threat, which is integrated into existing security plans. Then there's the smaller, what we'd describe as the 'low and slow', that is particularly what we need to practise over London." | "The focus is on the air security of the Olympic Park," he said. "The two threats are a large 9/11 type threat, which is integrated into existing security plans. Then there's the smaller, what we'd describe as the 'low and slow', that is particularly what we need to practise over London." |
| Parker said RAF Typhoon fighters and the anti-aircraft missile systems would help to deter the larger threats, and the snipers would be used for the smaller ones. The marksmen will be used in rotation from four Lynx helicopters based on HMS Ocean, which will be in the river Thames at Greenwich, and three Puma helicopters based at a territorial army headquarters in Ilford, Essex. | Parker said RAF Typhoon fighters and the anti-aircraft missile systems would help to deter the larger threats, and the snipers would be used for the smaller ones. The marksmen will be used in rotation from four Lynx helicopters based on HMS Ocean, which will be in the river Thames at Greenwich, and three Puma helicopters based at a territorial army headquarters in Ilford, Essex. |
| Metropolitan police assistant commissioner Chris Allison said the "vast majority" of police would not carry weapons during the event and said no diplomatic or security officials from other countries, including the US, would carry firearms. | Metropolitan police assistant commissioner Chris Allison said the "vast majority" of police would not carry weapons during the event and said no diplomatic or security officials from other countries, including the US, would carry firearms. |
| "The Games will be policed by the British police," he said. "If there are any firearms required, it will be the British police who will be using their firearms." | "The Games will be policed by the British police," he said. "If there are any firearms required, it will be the British police who will be using their firearms." |
| Allison said the police would not try to stop legitimate and peaceful protests during the Olympics. But he said that did not give people "the right to stop the Olympics happening, or the right to stop the torch bearer from having a once in a lifetime opportunity, or the right to stop an athlete who has trained for years and years for their one chance of a gold medal". | Allison said the police would not try to stop legitimate and peaceful protests during the Olympics. But he said that did not give people "the right to stop the Olympics happening, or the right to stop the torch bearer from having a once in a lifetime opportunity, or the right to stop an athlete who has trained for years and years for their one chance of a gold medal". |
| In all, 51 different police forces are now sending officers to support Olympic security; 12,500 police will be involved in the Games, and 13,500 members of the armed forces. Parker said he hoped most people regarded the military as a "very benign presence". | In all, 51 different police forces are now sending officers to support Olympic security; 12,500 police will be involved in the Games, and 13,500 members of the armed forces. Parker said he hoped most people regarded the military as a "very benign presence". |
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