Strong security in New Delhi: Russell Mark

CHAMPION shooter Russell Mark says India has amassed the strongest security force he has seen while at the first Commonwealth Games test events in New Delhi.

A veteran of 10 Olympic and Commonwealth Games, Mark said India had reacted quickly to the lethal bombing in Pune.

The Olympic gold medallist said athletes had been ordered not to move outside their hotels and the competition venue.

"We're in entire lockdown mode," he said from New Delhi.

"We can only go to the shooting range and our hotel.

"I reckon there's about 900 security guards around the place. They've gone overboard on security to the point that when you walk through the airport, everyone seems to have an AK-47.

"I've been going to Olympic or Commonwealth Games since 1988 and this is the biggest security force I have ever seen."

Mark said spectators had been barred from attending the shooting range for the test events. He said the 20 Australian athletes and staff in New Delhi did not feel threatened in the wake of the Pune attack.

Nine people were killed and 60 injured when a bomb exploded outside a restaurant.

The attack triggered further warnings from groups aligning themselves to al-Qa'ida.

Mark said Indian officials and security were "on a knife's edge".

"They are obviously worried and they don't want anything bad to happen," he said.

"They want the Commonwealth Games to go ahead and they're doing everything they can to make sure we are safe.

"I don't think the test event is going to be a worry. I think the far bigger threat surrounds the Commonwealth Games."

The Games are scheduled for October 3-14.

Mark said the shooting facility had been completed, but lacked finishing touches.

He said security at the venue and hotels far exceeded the "ring of steel" used to fortify Athens for the 2004 Olympics.