UK Defence Secretary defends 'over the top' Thames ship Olympic security exercise

London, May 5 (ANI): UK's Defence Secretary Philip Hammond has said that sailing HMS Ocean, the Royal Navy's largest ship, on the River Thames is not 'over the top' in preparation for the Olympic Games.

HMS Ocean has arrived at Greenwich in east London to take part in a security exercise named Olympic Guardian, The Daily Star reports.

The ship is the launch pad for eight Lynx helicopters and a base for Royal Marine snipers.

Hammond said: "I don't think it's over the top. Every Olympic Games in recent times has had a significant military component to its security plan."

"There are no specific threats to the Games at the moment and we hope it stays that way, but if any threats do emerge I hope that the sight of these assets, this ship in particular, will reassure them that we will deal with any security threats in a determined and resilient way," Hammond added.

General Sir Nick Parker, incharge of the military's Olympics role, said the security exercise would prepare for any possible 'extreme threats'.

The sailing of Ocean to Greenwich was the final phase of Olympic Guardian.

Captain Betton said Ocean would provide vital assistance in stopping any potential threats on the river. (ANI)