PETROL bombs and bricks were thrown, buildings exploded and casualties lay trapped as part of an emergency training exercise.
The dramatic operation involving all three blue light services was staged at the St Luke’s Hospital site, Crosland Moor, yesterday.
Police responded to a 999 call where a stolen car was reported to be on fire.
But on arrival the patrol car was met by jeers from 30 youths pelting bricks at their vehicle.
The officers were forced to retreat and wait for back up along with the fire service.
A swarm of riot trained officers were soon on the scene armed with shields to dodge petrol bombs thrown from behind a barricade.
Elsewhere on the site a car overturned trapping the driver and a passenger but paramedics are forced to standby as trouble continued to flare.
In the scenario the closure of a nearby immigration centre sparked anger as protesters barricaded themselves in the building which then caught fire.
Finally an explosion at a nearby residential home and building collapse caused resources to be tested to the limit.
Insp Jon Morgan, from West Yorkshire Police Public Order Training Team, said: “Although these are mock emergency situations we are making them as real as possible and officers will respond as if it is a real life emergency.
“It is vital that in situations such as the ones we are making that we work together to test our responses.
“It is much better to do it now so any weaknesses can be identified and ironed out rather than in real life.”
Huddersfield Inspector Adrian Waugh, who helped co-ordinate the operation said: “We know from incidents in August at Sheepridge that we need to protect ourselves so that we can protect the public.
“We have a lot of gear to put on in the event of public disorder.
“We wouldn’t be any use going in when there are petrol bombs being thrown if we weren’t kitted out to deal with it. If there are mistakes to be made it is far better we make them here than in a real-life situation.
“This training makes us better at what we are already good at.”
West Yorkshire fire and rescue service station manager Chris Bell said: “Working together at this type of incident is an all too common event for the emergency services so the opportunity to train together in a safe and controlled environment is always very welcome. We can then say we are truly prepared if the real thing does occur.”
Mick Hardaker, hazardous area response team manager at Yorkshire Ambulance Service, said: “This exercise created a realistic environment from which to test our plans and procedures for handling such an incident and, although it will be simulation, it will be as real to life as it gets so will put our staff through their paces.
“Multi-agency exercises like this one also offer us a real opportunity to work together with our emergency service colleagues to reassure us that the things we have practised separately will work when we’re operating side-by-side.”
What was it like to be so close to the 'riot'? Reporter Louise Cooper gives her verdict.
ROWS of police riot vehicles can be seen on approaching the former St Luke’s Hospital site.
But the silence on the site is broken by an explosion and the sound of chants and jeers can be heard.
As trouble flares a group of 30 yobs become visible and are already armed with bricks. They are soon throwing them at the police or ‘pigs’ as the choose to call them.
Tensions are mounting and they have built a barricade around the back of the site.
The smell of petrol is lingering in the air as riot police line up with their batons ready to disperse the crowds.
A lead officer shouts through a megaphone and warns the rioters to ‘get back or force may be used’.
On the command police move forward towards the yobs as petrol bombs land inches from officers.
Minutes later the police move forward and are pelted with more petrol bombs.
The rioters start to retreat and police take over a barricade they have made.
Police use dispersal techniques to make three arrests.
