King Statement on Visit to London on Security of 2012 Olympics

Statement

Today, U.S. Rep. Peter T. King (R-NY), Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, issued the following statement on his visit last week to the United Kingdom to focus on international efforts to secure the 2012 Summer Olympic Games:

"My counterterrorism-focused visit to London was very productive. During the four-day visit, I continued a series of meetings with my British counterpart, Rt. Hon. Keith Vaz, Chairman of the House of Commons Home Affairs Committee, and met with the U.S. Ambassador Louis B. Susman, senior U.S. law enforcement and intelligence officials, and a number of British security officials, including the heads of British security services MI5, MI6, and New Scotland Yard.

"I received extensive and focused briefings from personnel responsible for security of the upcoming 2012 Summer Olympic Games in London. I was briefed on the current and anticipated terrorist threats to London and the Games, the significant vulnerabilities of the Olympic sites, and security enhancements being made to address them. Particularly concerning is the fact that the Olympic site is located in the area of London where so many of the recent Islamist terrorist threats have originated.

"I was pleased to observe the close coordination between the U.S. and U.K. law enforcement and intelligence agencies. We can be proud of the important contribution that U.S. personnel are making to help secure the Games."

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