Speaking to the BBC in mid-July, officials at the Royal Air Force Base in Northolt, northwest London, said they were prepared to use “lethal force” if suspicious aircraft enter the 30-mile-wide restricted airspace over London during the Games. To that end, officials brought in a fleet of Typhoon fighter jets that can travel at speeds of up to 1,370 miles per hour. The fighter jets have not been stationed at RAF Northolt since World War II.
Olympic Security: The Machinery Guarding London 2012
As spectators watch the Olympic Games, Britain’s intelligence and military personnel are watching the skies, the water, and the roads.
Typhoon Fighter Jets
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Olympic Security