London's Preparation to defend the Olympics from terror attack

Defending the Olympics from terror attack: Fighter planes at Northolt for first time since WWII as elite RAF say they will shoot down passenger jets to protect London

Four Typhoon aircraft touched down at the west London base ahead of a nine-day exercise designed to prepare the capital in case of a '9/11-type attack' during the Games. It is the first time fighters have been based at Northolt since Hurricanes were stationed there during the Second World War (inset bottom left). Military chiefs say they hope Exercise Olympic Guardian, which has seen Chinooks over the main stadium and missile defence systems in Blackheath (both pictured), will act as a show of force to deter would-be terrorists.