London, April 29 (IANS) Surface-to-air missiles may be mounted atop at least one block of flats in London during the upcoming Olympics, a media report said Sunday.
According to the Daily Express, the ministry of defence was forced to confirm the plans – that include positioning troops and air defence missiles – on top of a building, after a resident revealed he had received a leaflet about it.
“They are going to have a test run next week, putting high velocity missiles on the roof just above our apartment and they’re stationing police and military in the tower for two months. We have a ministry of defence leaflet saying the building is the only suitable place in the area,” said Brian Whelan, a 28-year-old journalist.
The ministry said if the test run was a success, -missiles would be deployed at sites around London, to protect the skies during the Olympics.
Whelan said the missiles and the 10-strong team of soldiers -stationed at the private, gated building in Bow, East London, could make it a target for terrorists.
The air defence systems “could be deployed as part of a multi-layered air -security plan for the Olympics, including fast jets and helicopters, which will protect the skies over London during the Games”, a ministry spokesman said.
He, however, said no final decision has been taken on the deployment of missiles.
