Weapon shirt banned by Olympics staff

Security threat? Danny Hynes of Weapon

A rock fan was ordered to hide her Weapon shirt by Olympics security staff – even though she was surrounded by soldiers wielding genuine firearms.

Eyewitnesses say the girl, a supporter of the 1980s NWOBHM outfit who reformed last year, was told the Weapon logo might offend people.

Bob Mitchell, who saw events unfold on Saturday, tells Metal Talk: “A young girl and friends go to see the Olympic torch go through their borough. After a couple of hours a steward comes over and asks one of them to a tent.

“All four girls go to where several police officers are waiting. The girl is asked, ‘What does the writing on your t-shirt mean?’

“She says it’s a rock band’s name. She is told she will have to remove or cover it up, as it might upset other people since it advertises weapons.

“This is happening as the army are standing around with guns.

“How’s that for fucking crazy?”

Metal Talk says: “Banning Weapon t-shirts is totally against the Olympic spirit, and shows up security as brainless and moronic. They have to totally ruin what should be a great occasion, in what should be a free nation.”

Weapon formed at the end of the 1970s and got back together in 2011. Original singer Danny Hynes and guitarist Jeff Summers are joined by bassist PJ Philips and drummer Iain Sweeting in the new lineup.

Last week Olympics chief Sebastian Coe warned that people wearing Pepsi logos would be told to remove them since the Olympics are sponsored by Coca-Cola. His staff later said that might not be the case.

The month-long event is already mired in scandal after costing £9.4bn instead of the original £2.3bn quoted.

Many of the main sponsors have been offered tax breaks in return for their support, and over 200,000 members of the public have signed a petition to stop the move.

Security firm G4S – who changed their name from Group 4 after a series of earlier blunders – have failed to provide the services they were contracted for, meaning off-duty soldiers have been drafted in to cover.

Some Londoners are furious at traffic jams caused by lanes being closed to all but Olympic traffic, while others are outraged at the placing of missile launchers on roofs of buildings across the UK capital.

Dozens of Olympic torches have been sold on eBay after being used in the nationwide parade, while a number of high-ranking staff have been embroiled in a ticket scam.