Britain to beef up Olympics security with up to 13,500 troops

Dec 15, 2011, 20:48 GMT

London - Britain is to deploy up to 13,500 military personnel to help provide security at the London 2012 Olympic Games, the Ministry of Defence said Thursday.

Around 5,000 troops will support the police, while up to 7,500 will provide venue security and 1,000 will provide logistical support, the ministry said.

The military presence will include special forces and specialist bomb disposal units as well as a 1,000-strong contingency force 'in the event of an Olympics-related civil emergency,' Defence Secretary Philip Hammond said in written ministerial statement.

The Olympic Park in Stratford, east London, will be protected by missiles against airborne attack, in line with measures taken by Beijing in 2008 and Athens in 2004.

The Games security budget was revised last week from 282 million pounds to 553 million (857 million dollars).

It is estimated that 23,700 security staff will be needed at Olympic and Paralympic venues next summer, more than double the original estimate of 10,000.

Hammond told the BBC that the Games were 'the biggest security challenge this country has faced for decades.'

But he said the military deployment during Olympic Games was routine since the 1996 Atlanta Olympics.

'This defence contribution is on a similar scale to that deployed at other recent Olympic Games and will contribute to ensuring a safe, secure and enjoyable 2012 Olympics,' he said.

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