Crushed pedestrians lie covered in blood as armed cops respond to ‘jihadi truck attack in Edinburgh’ in chillingly realistic anti-terror drill
BLOOD-soaked victims of an ISIS terror atrocity cower in fear as armed cops race into action in a terrifyingly realistic training drill today.
Counter-terrorism cops sheltering behind bulletproof shields could be seen running between “dead bodies” while rescuers in bomb suits stretchered away the “injured” after a simulated attack in Edinburgh.
Emergency services have begun a three-day exercise rehearsing their response if a Barcelona-style outrage struck in Scotland or the North of England.
Today’s scenario involving a vehicle attack began at the Royal Bank of Scotland headquarters at Gogarburn near the Scottish capital.
It is believed police officers wearing gruesomely realistic makeup played the roles of the injured including one man who appeared to have blood streaming from a gaping wound to the scalp and a woman with a gash on her forehead.
Other “victims” were wrapped in foil blankets by paramedics and firefighters called to the scene of the “jihadi attack”.
And surgeons operated on dummies in a makeshift field hospital full of casualties.
Meanwhile teams of black-clad firearms officers with automatic rifles and with cameras on their helmets could be seen lining up to take on the simulated terror threat.
Only the yellow blank-firing adaptors on the rifle muzzles gave away that they were not using live ammunition.
Exercise Border Reiver will continue over the next two days at other sites in central and southern Scotland and the north of England.
Officials would not reveal precise details of the training scenario but it is believed to involve and car or van like the ISIS-inspired attacks in Westminster, London Bridge and Barcelona.
Jihadis behind those atrocities used vehicles to mow down pedestrians before leaping out and stabbing further victims with knives.
Emergency services involved in the drill include Police Scotland, Northumbria Police, the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, Scottish Ambulance Service, North East Ambulance Service, and Northumberland and Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue services.
Transport Scotland, NHS Scotland, NHS England and the Ministry of Defence are also taking part, as are council chiefs and government ministers.
Home secretary Amber Rudd will chair a Cobra briefing with ministers and officials from the UK and Scottish governments as part of the exercise.
It echoes the meetings chaired by Ms Rudd and PM Theresa May to assess the threat and determine the response after recent terror attacks such as the Manchester Arena bombing and the failed Tube attack at Parsons Green.
After both those attacks the threat level was raised to critical, the highest level, with troops deployed to help police amid fears further bombings were “imminent”.
No members of the general public will be involved in the drill and the areas will be cordoned off and tightly controlled to minimise disruption.
Police have taken steps to warn locals of the alarming noises that are likely to be heard beyond the cordon in case they believe a real terror attack is under way.
The home secretary said of the drill: “The events of this year have shown why it is vital that the emergency services, government and agencies prepare and rehearse our response to potential terrorist attacks.
“The professionalism with which front line services dealt with the atrocities in London and Manchester is in part due to the planning and practice that goes into exercises like this.
“I will chair a meeting of Cobra as part of the exercise and working with colleagues in both the UK and Scottish Governments as we test our plans to keep families and communities across the UK safe.”
Scotland’s Cabinet Secretary for Justice, Michael Matheson, said: “The Scottish Government shares the commitment of our partners to taking all necessary steps to assess and strengthen our preparedness to deal effectively with terrorism.
“While fortunately such real life incidents are rare, the public can be assured that government, our blue-light services and other agencies are continuously testing and reviewing how we are best able to respond to an attack should it happen.”
David Mundell, the Secretary of State for Scotland, said: “The current threat level for international terrorism in the UK is severe, meaning that an attack is highly likely.
“We know from recent incidents in London and Manchester that there are those who seek to destroy lives and communities in our country, tearing at the heart of what we hold dear.
“Our police and security service work tirelessly to detect and prevent atrocities, but we must be prepared to respond effectively to an attack.
“Exercises like this will ensure that our public services are as well prepared as they can possibly be, to ensure public safety and bring the perpetrators to justice swiftly.”
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