Tight security on an Olympic scale_美文_趣味英语-查字典英语网

Tight security on an Olympic scale

Intelligence officials say there has been an expected increase in chatter among extremist groups but there are still no specific or credible threats to the London Games. The terror level is labeled substantial, a notch below severe and what it has been for much of the past decade.

A substantial threat level indicates that an attack is a strong possibility. "There is a perception in some quarters that the terrorist threat to this country has evaporated," said Jonathan Evans, head of Britain's domestic spy agency, MI5. "Bin Laden is dead, al-Qaida's senior leadership in Pakistan is under serious pressure and there hasn't been a major terror attack here for seven years.

"In back rooms and in cars and on the streets of this country, there is no shortage of individuals talking about wanting to mount terrorist attacks here."

The potential threats to the Games are broad and diverse - a lone wolf attacker, a possible non-Asian Muslim convert who could slip by security with a European passport, a coordinated strike like 9/11 or a debilitating cyberattack.

Up to 1 million visitors are expected for the Games. Some 300,000 people are expected to flow into Olympic Park in east London each day at peak times.

About the broadcaster:

Lee Hannon is Chief Editor at China Daily with 15-years experience in print and broadcast journalism. Born in England, Lee has traveled extensively around the world as a journalist including four years as a senior editor in Los Angeles. He now lives in Beijing and is happy to move to China and join the China Daily team.