The Trafford Centre played host to a huge counter-terrorism training exercise last night.
Hundreds of volunteers played the role of shoppers involved in the staged 'attack'. Dozens of officers from Greater Manchester Police , Merseyside Police, and the North West Counter Terrorism Unit raced to the scene to take action.
Assistant Chief Constable Rebekah Sutcliffe reveals what will happen during the exercise:
Counter-terrorism police say there is no specific threat against Trafford Centre, which was chosen because the exercise can take place away from the public at that time of night.
Reporter John Scheerhout was at the Trafford Centre — read a play-by-play account of the evening's drama below.
Watch: Armed police responding to the 'suicide bomb attack'
Armed police respond to 'suicide bomb attack' at Trafford Centre during exercise
Update: Police chief apologises after 'suicide bomber' shouted 'Allahu Akbar' during Trafford Centre training exercise
Police chiefs have apologised after a ‘suicide bomber’ shouted ‘Allahu Akbar’ just before a fake terrorist attack at the Trafford Centre .
GMP came under fire on social media following the staged training exercise with people demanding to know why it had been linked to Islam.
‘Allahu Akbar’ is Arabic for ‘God is Greater.
Assistant Chief Constable Garry Shewan responded personally to the complaints on Twitter, saying the use of the phrase was unacceptable and apologised to anyone who was offended.
He then released a statement repeating the apology and saying it was ‘unacceptable’ to use the phrase.
That's it for the night
That’s it from our live blog now. We’re no longer allowed to take pictures inside the Trafford Centre, which, by the way, will be open for business as usual tomorrow! We’re told the exercise will now go on until Wednesday, although most of it will be out of the sight of the public.
Watch: The terrifying moment the pretend 'suicide bomber' struck
Our video from the scene of the mock ‘terrorist’ setting off a fake bomb at the Trafford Centre
More pictures from the scene
Some of the ‘injured’ volunteers. It’s make-up, obviously, but it still looks quite graphic
'It is quite graphic'
So here’s a full summary from John about what’s happened at the Trafford Centre training exercise so far:
- The operation begins with a man dressed in black coming into the building and start to scream at the people around him.
- There is then a simulated explosion and the group of people who are standing at the entrance to the Trafford Centre’s Orient Food Court then fall to the ground.
- Smoke is released and the actors simulate groaning and screaming for help.
- Those who are not ‘injured’ try to make a run for it. They begin to run from restaurant to restaurant, presumably looking or a place of safety, This continues for a few minutes and then five minutes later armed police on foot approach the building in groups of two.
- We see them enter the Food Court and then hear the sound of gunfire. Outside the building there are dozens of people lying outside in blood with apparent bullet wounds on their head, arms and body. They are wearing make-up but it is quite graphic.
Why the Trafford Centre?
The Orient, the scene of tonight’s exercise, is the largest food court in Europe. But it’s worth pointing out again that police say there is no specific threat to the Trafford Centre. The venue was chosen because it allows them to carry out the exercise away from the public at this time of night. However, as they told volunteers, the threat from ‘real’ terrorists is real.
A reminder
This phase of the exercise at the Trafford Centre is due to go on until 6am and police have warned that there may be the sound of gunfire and explosions.
First response
From what we gather so far, the emergency response is due to start about five minutes after this phase of the exercise. More pictures and video to come.
'Good luck'
A lot of goodwill out there to everyone taking part. Lots of people have friends in the emergency services, and thousands of people from the area work at the Trafford Centre
Pictures to come...
OK, so we’ve been told we can’t start filming yet. But as soon as we CAN, then we’ll get video and pictures straight to you
Trafford Centre facts
A couple of often-quoted facts which help explain just why there’s so much interest in this exercise. 1. 10 per cent of the population of the UK live within a 45-minute drive of the Trafford Centre, and 2. Around 35 million people visit it a year
Terrorist threat 'severe'
To put the disturbance to local residents into context, it is worth stressing that following deadly attacks in Paris and Brussels, the terrorist threat remains ‘severe’ according to MI5.