Builder takes fake bomb onto Olympic site

Grant Prior 11 years ago
Share

A construction worker has smuggled a fake Semtex “bomb” into the Olympics to highlight security flaws on the Stratford site.

The builder brought the device onto the 2012 site in the cab of his digger just hours before the main Olympic Stadium held its first official event yesterday.

The worker told The Sun that he passed through checkpoints unchallenged with the bomb on board.

The paper had given the builder the dummy package to test security after he contacted them expressing fears over security levels at the site where £1bn has been spent protecting the games.

The builder said: “I’ve worked for several years on the Olympic Park and keep hearing how the security is water-tight.

“But after a thorough check every morning, I can come and go from the Park all the day with my digger without being searched at all.

“I can meet anyone on the outside without anyone knowing and bring anything inside without anyone checking. If I had terrorist connections I could be bringing in explosives, chemicals — anything at all.

“It’s a massive security loophole.”

Olympic organisers LOCOG said: “Clearly a tupperware box containing batteries, a mobile phone and some loose wires would not pose a security threat on a construction site.

“However, we will be looking into the allegations to ensure our security regimes are as robust as they need to be at this time.

“As you would expect our security increases significantly the closer we get to the Games. The Park and the Village will be searched and sealed before it is locked down for Games time.”

For a video of the security breach click here

Latest news

£500m southern highways framework up for renewal

Ten firms face fight to retain places on major councils roads framework
10 hours ago

Engineering losses halve Briggs & Forrester profit

Main engineering services arm suffers £1.6m loss
11 hours ago

Plans in for University of East London campus expansion

Work to start in early 2024 on 280,000 sq ft Stratford teaching and student rooms scheme
11 hours ago

CITB told to improve by Ofsted inspectors

Number of in-house apprentices drops as training body changes business model
19 hours ago

IHP wins £100m Derbyshire mental health projects

Vinci/McAlpine JV will build two 54-bed Adult Acute Care units
9 hours ago

Align hits key milestone on HS2 Colne Valley viaduct

Engineers rise to the challenge to complete first V-piers in lakes
11 hours ago

£9.3bn race starts for National Grid construction partners

Plan for Great Grid Upgrade Partnership to be set out at bidders day in early June
1 day ago

Plan approved to redevelop major Glasgow shopping mall

Outline plan backed for demolition of St Enoch centre for over 900 homes, shops and leisure space
1 day ago

Banned demolition boss wins appeal to remain a director

Paul Cluskey wins Court appeal to remain director of Cantillon but steps down as MD
2 days ago

B&K confirms £140m Leeds build to rent project

Work to start on Whitehall Riverside twin blocks for client Glenbrook
2 days ago

McLaren Property to revamp Liverpool roller skating site

242-bed student scheme unveiled for sensitive site
1 day ago

Wates names Midlands construction chief

Matt Johnson promoted after just 10 months at family-owned builder
2 days ago

Glencar lands £28m Peel Ports Liverpool shed job

240,000 sq ft Alexandra Docks warehouse will be five football pitches long
2 days ago

Private equity giant buys United Living

US based investment group Apollo makes latest swoop on UK construction market
2 days ago

Quartet secure Thirteen Group £500m new homes deal

Esh, Morris & Spottiswood, ReGen and Henry Boot secure spots on new build framework
2 days ago

Luton Town FC to start new stadium before end of 2023

Talks already underway with contractors ahead of submission for detailed planning this summer
2 days ago

Plans for renovation of historic Cardiff Market

Subject to planning and final funding work could start next year
2 days ago

£53m race to cut Magnox reactor buildings down to size

Trawsfynydd reactor buildings to be reduced in height by a third
2 days ago

Cyclist dies in lorry collision outside Keltbray site

Work shut down after fatal collision with truck delivering to central London site
6 days ago

Another demolition director banned after bid rigging probe

Brown and Mason boss becomes fourth director disqualified after cartel investigation
6 days ago

Five hospitals at risk of collapse added to new build programme

Weak concrete crisis and soaring costs force £20bn hospital programme rethink
1 week ago

Scottish South West Hub names new partners

Balfour Beatty joins construction partners for first time
6 days ago

RC frame specialist Getjar revenue tops £100m again

Profit margins nearly halved in face of labour and material price rises
6 days ago

London’s Camden Council advances £470m King’s Cross scheme

Camley Street scheme to consist of 350 homes and 200,000 sq ft of offices
6 days ago

Vinci issues fraud alert to suppliers

Subcontractors targeted by scammers posing as main contractor
1 week ago

Solar panels set to cover commercial buildings

Latest government taskforce targets power potential of non-residential roofs
6 days ago

Quantum Construction collapse costs suppliers £4.3m

Liquidator reveals scale of debts at Staffordshire contractor
1 week ago

Jaguar Land Rover set to build huge gigafactory in Somerset

The vast battery plant would be one of the biggest buildings in the UK
1 week ago

Tender race starts for £95m Victoria Tower repair job

Up to five firms will be invited to bid with work set to start by end of next year
1 week ago

Go-ahead for Brum iconic curved truss HS2 bridge

Balfour Beatty Vinci will carry out one of the largest bridge launches in the UK
1 week ago

Contractor services