Olympic Torch...

[Larkspeed]

My thoughts too. Usually compressed gas is used to boost the missile into the air, before the rocket motor takes over. On top of the high rise the roof space will be clear, so little chance of anyone being hurt directly by the launch.

Debris after impact? Different story agreed.

Most definitely agreed.

You shoot something down over a populated area there is going to be massive damage and potential loss of life when whatever it is hits the ground.

I think it is more the lesser of 2 evils really. if they shoot something down over the outskirts of London there would be considerably less loss of life than if they let it crash into a crowded stadium.

Not a nice thought but true.

[Lowe]

Most definitely agreed.

You shoot something down over a populated area there is going to be massive damage and potential loss of life when whatever it is hits the ground.

I think it is more the lesser of 2 evils really. if they shoot something down over the outskirts of London there would be considerably less loss of life that if they let it crash into a crowded stadium.

Not a nice thought but true.

Given the whole song and dance being made about their installation I think they're mostly there in a show of force capacity. Better they're there than not though, like you say - lesser of two evils.

[Macman]

Tbh... money would've been better spent if government dealt with this more effectively. I mean I bet somewhere we could've cut some of the costs [And no, I don't mean cut corners].. At this day and age.. £10 bill is excessive :/

[directhex]

Could you please cite your source of this info because it sounds totally ridiculous to me.

How can anything launched off the roof of a high rise building effect anything on the ground at launch

Looks like I was misinformed on the details of the launch

People who know what they're talking about have expressed some concern about what happens if a Starstreak (one of the two systems being deployed) submunition either fails to detonate, or misses.

[stevie lee]

not got anything useful to add to the discussion so ill add this picture



that is all.

(any smaller picture and its too grainy and cant see anything)

[TeePee]

While both Christian and Islamic terrorists have attacked the Olympics in the past, I don't think there's much chance of terrorists being that sophisticated.

Backpack suicide bombers, probably homegrown are the danger, but they will probably have as much success as with the Glasgow airport attack. The problem with suicide bombers is they aren't very smart...