British Army Deploying Surface to Air Missiles on Residential Rooftops for London Olympics

The United Kingdom's Ministry of Defense warned residents it would be placing high velocity surface to air missiles on rooftops in a gated community near the site of the 2012 London Olympics.

Residents received leaflets telling them a team of soldiers and police will be deployed in the flats during during the London Olympics, and that the missiles on the roof top would only be used as a "last resort."

The London Telegraph reports:

It was unclear who was responsible for liaising with the residents, but it is understood the MoD and the Metropolitan Police were working together with community groups over the issue. It was also unclear if the building's owners would be paid to have the missiles stationed on the roof—or whether the decision was made under the Emergency Powers Act. An MoD spokesman said: "As announced before Christmas, ground-based air defence systems could be deployed as part of a multi-layered air security plan for the Olympics, including fast jets and helicopters, which will protect the skies over London during the Games.

The United States last hosted the Olympics in 2002, in Salt Lake City, in the immediate aftermath of 9/11, and has not won a bid after 9/11. Since then, along with the gradual militarization of domestic police, sporting events have become security theater affairs, with this year's Super Bowl including toxin monitors, F-16s and robots.

At least we have the Third Amendment, right?