High-tech security net over Athens

8220;It is a very vast network and it is the first time that is being operated in such scale on an international level,8221; said Greek police spokesman col Lefteris Ikonomou.

The system 8211; developed by a consortium led by Sandiego-based Science Applications International Corp., or SAIC 8211; cost about 312 million and took up a sizable chunk of Athens8217; record security budget of more than 1.5 billion.

It includes real-time images, sound and information from an electronic web of over 1,000 high-resolution and infrared cameras, 12 patrol boats, 4,000 vehicles, nine helicopters, a sensor-laden blimp and four mobile command centres.

8220;The advancement of technology is very important,8221; Ikonomou said. 8220;The system allows the users to manage a critical incident in the best way possible and in the shortest time possible because they have all the information in front of them.8221;