Anthrax jabs stockpiled in biological terrorism alert

Britain is building up stocks of vaccine to cope with an anthrax attack at the Olympics, the Standard can reveal.

The Government is replenishing its anthrax jabs stockpile in time for April to safeguard the 2012 Games as part of London's biggest security operation.

The supply of inoculations to combat anthrax poisoning to the Department of Health was hit by delays between October 2009 and March 2011. The resulting shortfall in supply is set to be made up within the next four months.

More than 500 health workers have also been vaccinated against smallpox, enabling them to respond to a biological terror attack.

Terrorists have rarely used anthrax but fear swept through America in 2001 when letters containing anthrax spores were sent to news media offices and two Democratic US senators. Five people were killed and 17 others infected.

Leading US scientist Bruce Ivins, who was suspected of the attacks, died in August 2008 after taking an overdose of painkillers.

In Japan, 12 people were killed in 1995 when the doomsday Aum Shinrikyo cult released sarin gas on the Tokyo subway.

But al Qaeda and other terror groups normally use bombs, other explosives or firearms in attacks and this security operation to protect the Olympics is unprecedented in Britain.

Special forces will be on high alert to respond within minutes to a Mumbai-style attack where terrorists seek to run amok, killing people indiscriminately.

The SAS and Special Boat Service may use small attack helicopters that can fly into confined spaces.

Military snipers in helicopters will also watch over the Olympics and the Navy's largest ship, HMS Ocean, will be anchored off Greenwich. Fast jets will be moved to RAF Northolt in west London for the duration of the Games.

It has also emerged that police smuggled a fake bomb onto the Olympic site, which is already in "lockdown", in tests of security measures. Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt said: "The reality is we are testing everything at this stage in order to make sure that we do deliver a safe and secure Olympics."

Home Secretary Theresa May, though, has faced criticism over the decision to allow terror suspects banned from London to return to the capital. They were given greater freedom after the Government replaced control orders with terrorism prevention and investigation measures. They will be placed under intense surveillance by MI5 and the police.

Mr Hunt said: "We will use every lawful way to make sure undesirable people don't have access to Olympic sites."