Transit fears spark security alarm

PARIS – Security experts fear an attack on the Athens Olympics is more likely to come when athletes are in transit to and from the Games than when they are in the Greek capital.

European security sources have confirmed to AFP that a stepped up security operation at key European airports has been launched to prevent possible terrorist attempts on athletes travelling to the Athens Olympics. Extra security involving anti-terrorist experts from several European counties has been mounted at Rome and Larnaca, Cyprus airports and sources say London Heathrow is also under high alert.Geneva is also on the list as a possible target.American intelligence services are also involved.”The most likely danger is not Athens.The Athens Olympics will probably be the safest Games in Olympic history.The biggest danger comes from transit airports,” one security source told AFP.It is believed that the biggest threat comes from Larnaca and Rome airports where hundred of athletes are expected to pass through.The British team are amongst several that are using Cyprus as a training base and will fly out from Larnaca to go to Athens.”These airports are a very potential target of terrorists.Rather than hit at Athens, hit at the transit sites,” added a source.Security forces from several European nations have been put in place to protect athletes both in transit and at training camps.It is believed that the IOC and security agencies have discussed the problems.Ever since the devastating attacks in the United States three years ago the Greeks have broken all previous Olympic budgets to secure the Games.The government expects to spend around 1,2 billion euros (US$1,5 billion) on the Games’ security – five times more than at the previous summer Olympics in Sydney.More than 50,000 Greek servicemen and 2,400 officers have been drafted in for the security operation codenamed “Ifitos” after the Greek king who founded the ancient Olympics, said the lieutenant general of Greece’s joint chiefs of staff Vassilis Yiannopoulos.Around 15,000 troops will guard the Olympic venues, vital installations and tourist sites in Athens as well as in another four cities hosting the football tournament.The rest will be on duty in airfields and on war vessels which have been out since Monday, patrolling the country’s extended sea frontiers in search for rogue boats possibly carrying foreign extremists.Greece is also deploying anti-aircraft Patriot missiles to enforce a shoot-down policy against rogue planes entering the Greek capital’s airspace, echoing similar action in the 1996 Atlanta summer Olympics and the 2002 Salt Lake City winter Games.- Nampa-AFPExtra security involving anti-terrorist experts from several European counties has been mounted at Rome and Larnaca, Cyprus airports and sources say London Heathrow is also under high alert.Geneva is also on the list as a possible target.American intelligence services are also involved.”The most likely danger is not Athens.The Athens Olympics will probably be the safest Games in Olympic history.The biggest danger comes from transit airports,” one security source told AFP.It is believed that the biggest threat comes from Larnaca and Rome airports where hundred of athletes are expected to pass through.The British team are amongst several that are using Cyprus as a training base and will fly out from Larnaca to go to Athens.”These airports are a very potential target of terrorists.Rather than hit at Athens, hit at the transit sites,” added a source.Security forces from several European nations have been put in place to protect athletes both in transit and at training camps.It is believed that the IOC and security agencies have discussed the problems.Ever since the devastating attacks in the United States three years ago the Greeks have broken all previous Olympic budgets to secure the Games.The government expects to spend around 1,2 billion euros (US$1,5 billion) on the Games’ security – five times more than at the previous summer Olympics in Sydney.More than 50,000 Greek servicemen and 2,400 officers have been drafted in for the security operation codenamed “Ifitos” after the Greek king who founded the ancient Olympics, said the lieutenant general of Greece’s joint chiefs of staff Vassilis Yiannopoulos.Around 15,000 troops will guard the Olympic venues, vital installations and tourist sites in Athens as well as in another four cities hosting the football tournament.The rest will be on duty in airfields and on war vessels which have been out since Monday, patrolling the country’s extended sea frontiers in search for rogue boats possibly carrying foreign extremists.Greece is also deploying anti-aircraft Patriot missiles to enforce a shoot-down policy against rogue planes entering the Greek capital’s airspace, echoing similar action in the 1996 Atlanta summer Olympics and the 2002 Salt Lake City winter Games.- Nampa-AFP