US preparing to send 500 FBI agents to London Olympics
The US is reportedly preparing to send in 500 FBI agents to the London Olympics next year, following concerns about existing security arrangements for their athletes.
The British Government insists it has “full confidence” in its security plans for next year’s Olympics, after reports the United States are worried about protection levels.
According to the Guardian, the US is preparing to send up to 1,000 of its own agents, including 500 from the FBI, to look after America’s contestants and diplomats at the event.
The newspaper reported that US officials have raised “repeated concerns” about security.
The restriction of the scope of anti-terrorism stop-and-search powers is claimed to be one of their reasons for concern.
Earlier this year, National Olympic security co-ordinator Chris Allison, of the Metropolitan Police, said he believes 12,000 officers will be needed nationally to police the event.
Another 10,000 to 15,000 security officials could also be deployed by firm G4S.
The British Ministry of Defence is also understood to be involved in security discussions.
A British Home Office spokesman said: “Security planning is on track and funding has been protected. The Government is committed to delivering a safe and secure Games that London, the UK and the world can enjoy.
“The International Olympic Committee (IOC) undertake detailed inspections of security preparations and have full confidence in our plans. The UK has a strong and close working relationship with the US, who have expressed similar confidence.
“The Government, London 2012 Organising Committee (LOCOG) and G4S are working together to finalise the requirement for venue security and, as is common at major events in the UK, we will make the best and most appropriate use of all available resources.”
A Home Office source said it did “not recognise as true” suggestions there are concerns from the US.
The US state department declined to comment, and the FBI was not available for comment.
London 2012 said the venues and competition schedule needed to be completed before they could finalise security plans.
A statement from the organising committee said: “Since winning the bid, a huge amount of collaborative work has been completed.
“We finalised the competition schedule, with 650 sporting sessions over 18 days, built and selected over 100 competition and non-competition venues, and designed the transport and accommodation plans.
“This all needed to be in place before the detailed security plans could be confirmed.
“Over the last year LOCOG has been working in close collaboration with government and the security agencies, whose role it is to determine all risk and mitigation aspects of security for the Games.”
