I don’t know about you but for me this is the story of the day. I wonder if the MoD has applied for planning permission? Would love to be a councillor deciding on that one. (See the leaflet on Bow Quarter resident Brian Whelan’s blog.)
From the BBC:
The Ministry of Defence is considering placing surface-to-air missiles on residential flats during the Olympics.
An east London estate, where 700 people live, has received leaflets saying a “Higher Velocity Missile system” could be placed on a water tower.
A spokesman said the MoD had not yet decided whether to deploy ground based air defence systems during the event.
But estate resident Brian Whelan said firing the missiles “would shower debris across the east end of London”.
The journalist said: “At first I thought it was a hoax. I can’t see what purpose high-velocity missiles could serve over a crowded area like Tower Hamlets.
“They say they’ll only use them as a last resort, but… you’d shower debris across the east end of London by firing these missiles.”
Mr Whelan, who claims to have seen soldiers carrying a crate into the building, said his property management company put up posters and gave out the leaflets on Saturday.
He continued: “They are going to have a test run next week, putting high velocity missiles on the roof just above our apartment and on the back of it they’re stationing police and military in the tower of the building for two months.
“It [the leaflet] says there will be 10 officers plus police present 24/7.”
Rushanara Ali, MP for Bethnal Green and Bow, said: “It looks like it’s been imposed without proper consultation.“I will be asking the government to explain why. The MoD does need to look at this again.”
The leaflet states that members of the Armed Forces will be at the location for a military exercise between 2 and 7 May.
It goes on to say there will be a “major national exercise” from 2 to 10 May to test the Armed Forces’ capabilities for providing security during the Olympics.
The document added that if the government decides to use the missiles during the Games, the soldiers could be “operationally deployed for a period of up to two months this summer”.
The weapon being considered is a High Velocity Missile (HVM) system, which would be based on the Lexington Building Water Tower. The tower contains residential flats.
The MoD says in the leaflet that the missiles will not pose a hazard to residents and “will only be authorised for active use following specific orders from the highest levels of government in response to a confirmed and extreme security threat”.
The document states: “Having a 24/7 Armed Forces and police presence will improve your local security and will not make you a target for terrorists.
This part of the leaflet assures residents that their residence will not become a terrorist target“The location has been chosen as it is situated close to the Olympic Park and offers an excellent view of the surrounding area and the entire sky above the Olympic Park.
“The top of the tower also offers a flat, uncluttered and safe area from which to operate.”
The Army website says the HVM system is “designed to counter threats from very high performance, low-flying aircraft”.
It says the missile travels at more than three times the speed of sound, using “a system of three dart-like projectiles to allow multiple hits on the target”.
The missiles can be fired from the shoulder, from a lightweight multiple launcher or from armoured vehicles.
A MoD spokesman said: “As announced before Christmas, ground based 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.
“Based on military advice we have identified a number of sites and, alongside colleagues from the Metropolitan Police, are talking to local authorities and relevant landowners to help minimise the impact of any temporary deployments.
“As part of our ongoing planning, we can confirm site evaluations have taken place.”
The MoD has previously said it was considering plans to install surface-to-air missiles in south-east London at Blackheath and Shooters Hill during the Olympics.
Trial by Jeory 
What a story! Some of the neighbours objections at committee would be something to behold I am sure!
Actually, knowing Tower Hamlets, they’d probably just decide this one under delegated powers.
It is a grade 2 listed building within a conservation area. If there are enough local objections (22 in LBTH I believe – by letter not a petition) it has to go to committee.
Sorry my mistake – 20 objections needed to get to committee – in peacetime anyway
Its good that MoD is considering to use missiles. They should use whatever weapons they consider necessary to protect us. They shouldn’t need permission anyway. Do they permission to save us, I think not. I am happy and wish put a few battalions on the street for the Olympics. I got 2 children who wil working at the olympic venues. Their safety is a big concern for me. I am Muslim, I belive nut jobs in will try to do some sickness on our society. So bring all the guns. If had one. I’d be put there ready to take them out.
Interested to read the leaflet, why is at 90 degrees to the horizontal – had to download & rotate it, or risk getting a crick in my neck!!!
Ralphy – documents at a jaunty 90 degree angle is a trick we profesionals use to confuse the enemy especially if said documents indicate the position of guns, amunition stores or officers quarters. It disorientates the enemy puting him off guard. Gives time for one of the three Rapier missile warheads traveling at 1km per second a sporting chance to hit.
Amusing… if it weren’t for the free publicity it gifts to Bow’s (here today, gone tomorrow) Rushanara Ali
Requiring a direct line of fire from a parapet might well have been appropriate to an archer and longbowman a thousand years ago, but surely not for a laser aimed missile travelling at Mach 3+. The Starstreak HVM is anyway intended for slow moving ground targets, so seems singularly inappropriate as a single point of defence against incoming high speed low altitude air born targets. Ah, but wait, this is of course the British MoD – cunning fellows they are – perhaps the HVM is a cover for a section of longbowmen.
It’s a non issue. And let ‘s be clear about this, if the MoD considers the nation’s security is at risk, they have no obligation to publicise their counter terrorism plans before hand and certainly not through inconsequential parliamentarians.
As for Rushanara Ali well, of course she lunged at the opportunity for air time. This was an easy piece of local PR for a career politician focused on (Asian) International Affairs rather than her own constituency issues. Repeating scripted platitudes on a comic scale was so much easier for her than the serious challenges of tackling electoral fraud, racism, ethnic unrest, housing shortage and allocation abuse, not to forget anti-social behaviour; you name it, she’s dodged it.
I cannot imagine that the army needs planning permission to do anything. All these military things are ‘residual powers’ aren’t they? Frankly. I’d welcome the army being deployed in Tower Hamlets…perhaps we can have UN election monitors too….
Wish there was a ‘Like’ button!
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I’m still trying to get my head around surface-to-air missiles being added to the general range of armoury that sections of the local yoof seem to carry already. I’m thinking that the occupants of Bow Boys school will be looking at the army efforts and thinking ‘yeah, we could do better than that’.
“Bling” missiles – how to really ratchet up the crime statistics……..
So what happens to the debris from any aircraft they hit?
John Rowe
Yes, this is the interesting question isn’t it? I suppose it’s just a numbers game, that residents could become collateral damage.
1941 all over again hey John? Bloody ack-ack guns everywhere.