Tenants await High Court decision over Olympic missiles

Tenants are up in arms about the Ministry of Defense’s decision to put surface-to-air missiles on the roof of their building for Olympic security, and are anxiously awaiting a High Court decision later to see if they can press legal action.

Residents are concerned that if their building were a platform for the surface-to-air missiles as planned, then it would put a target on their building for any terrorists.

The Fred Wigg Tower is a 17-story building in east London, and it is one of the six towers chosen to house the missiles from the 100 possible options considered by the Ministry of Defence.

The MoD wants to push ahead with the missiles, maintaining that they will not put the residents in danger and are necessary for the protection of the city during the Games.

“The MoD, intelligence agencies, and the Metropolitan Police do not consider there is any credible threat to the Fred Wigg Tower from terrorism,” said David Forsdick, appearing for the MoD in court.

The placement of the missiles is claimed by the residents to be a breach of Article 8 and Article 1 of Protocol 1 of the European Convention of Human Rights, which protects a person’s right to a private enjoyment of their home. They are calling for an injunction on the placement of the missiles until the legal issue has been resolved.

A document filed by the Marc Willers, the residents’ barrister, calls for alternatives to the MoD plan. Other options proposed include constructing a new tower to hold the missiles or moving out the residents and compensating them for the duration of the Games.

In the meantime, the police and defence organisations continue to maintain the safety of the building from a terrorist attack. The missiles are planned for installation in the middle of July, pending the upcoming High Court decision.

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