U.K. adds 3,500 military personnel to London Olympics security detail

(CBS/AP) LONDON - Britain put an extra 3,500 military personnel on standby Wednesday to protect venues at the London Olympics, after a private contractor said it may not be able to provide enough security guards on time.

The contractor, G4S, had been enlisted to provide the bulk of the 13,200 private security guards across 100 venues, but said in a statement that it may not hit its target because of problems recruiting and training staff.

In a statement, the government ministry in charge of crime and security said the troops would be ready to be deployed to cover any shortfall.

"We have agreed to offer help to G4S by revising the level of military support," the Home Office said.

Defense Secretary Philip Hammond will confirm the full details to Parliament on Thursday in an official written ministerial statement, the Home Office said.

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G4S insisted that it still hopes to be able to supply the guards, but Britain's government is putting the troops on alert to be quickly deployed if the contractor cannot meet its obligations.

"This has been an unprecedented and very complex security recruitment, training and deployment exercise, which has been carried out to a tight timescale," the company said in a statement. "We have encountered some issues in relation to workforce supply and scheduling over the last couple of weeks, but are resolving these every day."

The firm said it accepted "that the government has decided to overlay additional resources." It was not clear what, if any, penalties the company would face if it failed to meet its contract.

Main opposition Labour Party lawmaker Tessa Jowell, Olympics minister in the previous government, said the news was a concern with the London Games due to begin on July 27.

"This is clearly a serious problem, and we have to understand how this problem arose," she said.

In this May 3, 2012 file photo, a British soldier holds a high-velocity missile lightweight multiple launcher during a media event ahead of the London Olympics, in Blackheath, London.

/ AP

Britain has committed $857 million for venue security, covering arenas in London and a number of additional locations across Britain — including a southern England sailing center and five soccer stadiums.

U.S. officials tell CBS News they know of no specific threat targeting the Olympics in London. However, CBS News correspondent Bob Orr says American officials echo their U.K. counterparts in saying there's a "general concern" about the potential for attacks, for several reasons: the Olympics are a big stage, the U.K. has been targeted before, and the U.K. has a large indigenous population of known and suspected Islamic radicals, many of whom have at least some connection to terror hot spots like Pakistan. (Click on the player above to see Orr's full report on Olympic security preparations)

Between 125 and 150 U.S. federal law enforcement personnel will also be on the ground in London during the games, looking out for U.S. interests and citizens, according to officials.

In the U.K.'s mammoth Olympics security operation, 7,500 troops are already being deployed at venues and 6,000 more had previously been put on stand-by to provide a range of security duties. If all military personnel — including the extra forces announced Wednesday — were deployed, the total would be 17,000 — dwarfing the 9,500 troops Britain currently has on the ground in Afghanistan.

About 12,000 police, 3,000 volunteers, Typhoon fighter jets, helicopters, two warships and bomb disposal experts are also part of the vast program aimed at securing the London Games.

"The government has been clear that as part of a civilian and police-led overall security operation, military personnel will be playing a key role in providing venue security for Olympic sites ahead of and during the Games," Britain's defense ministry said in a statement.

London's Olympic Organizing Committee said in a statement that the security plan was "big and complex, but we have the best brains in the security business working on this — Home Office, Metropolitan Police, MoD (Britain's defense ministry) and (the) world's largest private security business."

[MagnaCartaUK]

Typical of the modern era, where everything is subject to the financial cost, incompetence, lack of communication and planning. We've had 7 years to organize, 7 long years in which to ensure that the right people, in the right numbers, are available to secure the right locations. Could it possibly be that the Home Secretary - or a family member - allegedly had a vested interest in one of the selected security companies chosen for the role? I'll give Margaret Thatcher one thing, if she were Prime Minister now, those guilty of producing this utter shambles would have lost their jobs already, or more likely, this shambles wouldn't have occurred in the first place. Lions led by donkeys once again.

[technocoffee]

We can thank The Religion of Peace who's now ruined air travel, international events, freedom of artistic expression....among other things.

[formerlyluvnut]

Luv the rocket launchers & would love to mount one on my car roof lol!

[yelobrikroad]

Ohhh... PLEASE you liberal knuckleheads. IF they DIDN'T prepare and there was a substantial attack you would be the same ones crying "Where was OUR military, OUR police when this attack happened??"

I for one am glad they are preparing for a safe Olympics. I pray it all goes well and thank all the planners for looking after the security issues beforehand.

So in closing all you liberal talking heads--
Just shut the "heck" up and watch the games on your iPads.

[smittyc]

Pretty clear they expect big trouble. Stay away from the games

[w_roos]

Frankly, if I were going, which I am not, I would be a lot more concerned about the humongous crowds, potential loose ordnance, and the trigger-happy soldiers than the terrists.

[w_roos]

How about tanks? What happens if the terrists hijack some tractor trailer trucks (lories)? Need to deploy some tanks, and why not a few pieces of heavy artillery?

[nancy_naive]

Probability of accidental shoot-down in an area without AA defense = 0.