Saturday 17 March 2012

London 2012 Olympics: Bomb Discovered at Games training venue

 Telegraph
An explosive device has been discovered less than three miles away from the Olympic Park, at a Games training venue, raising fears that the land has not been properly checked by security.
Bomb threat: Lee Valley, where a number of Games venues have been built, was found to have a bomb in its grounds
Bomb threat: Lee Valley, where a number of Games venues have been built, was found to have a bomb in its grounds Photo: DAVID ROSE
The object - believed to be a Second World War bomb - was found at 10am on Wednesday morning behind the Lee Valley Ice Centre in Lea Bridge Road, Leyton.
To assuage doubts over safety with less than 136 days until the Opening Ceremony the Olympic Delivery Authority, the public body responsible for developing and building the infrastructure for the Games, quickly released a statement.
“A small Second World War incendiary device, weighing around a kilogram, was safely removed this morning from the site of a temporary Games-time basketball training venue on Leyton Marsh," it read.
"A routine scan of the site in early February detected metal underground and because of this, an ordnance expert was appointed to oversee the start of works.
"Police were immediately contacted after the device was discovered and it was later removed by specialist officers. At no time were nearby people or property put at risk and work has now resumed on site.”
A Metropolitan Police spokesman said: "Police were called to Leyton Marshes to reports of a suspected unexploded Second World War bomb being discovered at the site.
"The area was cordoned of and the site evacuated as a precaution, whilst EOD (Explosive Ordnance Disposal) officers made the bomb safe."
However, Save Leyton Marshes campaign group voiced queries as to whether the ground for the Olympic training venue has been properly checked.
Speaking on behalf of the group Katy Andrews told the Waltham Forest Guardian: "We've been told there was a site survey for contamination before work began, but how thorough was it if they didn't spot this?
"This survey wasn't submitted as part of the planning application to Waltham Forest Council either.
"Residents are worried and wondering what else could be there that hasn't been discovered yet."

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