Security fears for Olympic Park as BOMB is smuggled on site in covert security tests

Security staff carrying out dummy runs for London 2012 have managed to smuggle at least one bomb into the site at Stratford, where the Olympic stadium, velodrome and pool are based.

A number of covert operations have been taking place and so far staff have achieved a 90 per cent success rate.

But the revelation that one operation failed has raised security fears.



through unnoticed during a dummy run at the Olympic stadium

It is thought the level of threat is so severe that all of the Army's explosive search dogs are likely to be involved in the operation.

The dogs are believed to be so crucial to the operation they will be recalled from duty, possibly leaving none in Afghanistan.

Currently there around 30 on active duty but they can only work for 30 to 40 minutes before becoming distracted or bored.

Thousands of troops will also be called in to assist police and private security firms to carry out searches on members of the public.

According to the Sunday Telegraph 7,500 military personnel will work alongside 16,200 security guards inside the park, while 12,000 police officers and a further 6,000 service personnel will patrol the streets outside.

Security experts have said tighter security around Olympic venues mean there could be an increased risk at places like the London Underground, shopping centres and mainline railway stations.

Any terrorist attacks leading up to the event could mean tighter security at the stadium, resulting in fully body searches and leading to longer queues.

Cars would also be banned from entering the park.

Army sniffer dogs, similar to this police one on patrol in central London, are thought to be crucial in the process of checking for bombs

There are also concerns there might be a risk from dissident Republicans or an unknown al-Qaeda cells based in the UK.

Lord Carlisle, the former terror legislation watchdog, warned: 'My concern is that we don't displace so many people to Olympic venues that it leaves a risk elsewhere. Proper policing levels need to be maintained in other areas.'

He added that it made perfect sense to use soldiers to carry out searches because they were used to being cautious and carrying out checks on civilians in places like Northern Ireland and Afghanistan.

A Scotland Yard spokesman said: 'The Metropolitan Police has provided support to the Olympic Delivery Authority's assurance process that is being run at the Olympic Park.

'The ODA also runs its own security resilience tests to ensure that preparations for the London 2012 Games are as robust as possible.'

It added that thousands of events took place across the capital each year and said the Met would deliver it's key policing responsibilities during the games.



The Olympic Delivery Authority said test runs were standard practice and were key in ensuring it was prepared for any potential threat.

