Six sites earmarked for missiles (From Hereford Times)

Six sites earmarked for missiles

11:01am Monday 30th April 2012 in National © Press Association 2013

Surface-to-air missiles could be deployed at six sites in and around London during the Olympics, the Ministry of Defence has said.

The Lexington Building in Tower Hamlets and the Fred Wigg Tower in Waltham Forest, both in east London, have been identified as potential sites.

Blackheath Common and Oxleas Wood, both in south-east London, plus William Girling Reservoir in the Lea Valley Reservoir Chain in Enfield and Barn Hill at Netherhouse Farm in Epping Forest are other possible sites.

These are all potential locations for ground-based air defence systems, should the Government decide to deploy them during the Games.

No final decision has been made about this potential deployment but it does form part of Olympic Guardian, a major exercise in which security preparations are being tested this week.

Both military and civilian personnel are working on the exercise, which takes place on land, sea and in the air in London and Weymouth. A wide range of actions and capabilities are set to be tested over nine days.

Defence Secretary Philip Hammond said: "Support for the Olympic Games will be an important task for defence in 2012 and this exercise is about pushing our people and our systems to the limit to ensure that we are ready for the challenge. The majority of this exercise will be played out in full view of the public and I hope that it will have a secondary effect of reassuring the British people that everything possible is being done to ensure this will be a safe and secure Olympic and Paralympic Games."

On whose decision it would be to deploy the missiles, standing joint commander General Sir Nick Parker said it would be taken "at the very highest political level".

Relating to this week's exercise, this is an area which needs to be tested and the military advice to Government "will depend on the success of that test", he said.

Talks have taken place with housing associations, members of the public will have the chance to meet the teams, and leaflets will be dropped to try to keep the public informed, he added.