UK has embarked on a major counter-terrorism drill exercise in London in response to Friday’s terror attack in Tunisia which left at least 38 people killed majority of them being of British holidaymakers.
British security services; Soldiers, Police officers, Intelligence officials and emergency services are taking in part in the largest counter-terrorism exercise in London.
The exercise kicked off just a few days before the country commemorate the 10th anniversary of the bomb attacks on London’s transport network.
Simulation planning of the terror attack exercises codenamed ‘Strong Tower’ involves 1,000 police officers across London began six months ago.
Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe said it would test responses to extremists using firearms.
The Metropolitan Police says this week’s exercise in London is not based on any specific intelligence and is part of a long-term strategy of planning and preparing for all possible types of terror attacks.
Sir Bernard said the terror threat level had been raised sometimes last year making it necessary we train and we learn.
The reason that we are having this exercise is because we are concerned that terrorist somewhere are planning attack event and we intend to be ready to stop that before they strike.
Analysis
This event has been six months in the planning and is a part of a regular programme.
The recent Tunisia hotel attack, Charlie Hebdo attack in Paris and the Café siege in Sydney also influenced the terror drill exercise.
The exercise’s director, Deputy Assistant Commissioner Maxine de Brunner said the main aim of the exercise is to test and challenge security agencies response to an “ambitious multi-site marauding terrorist attack”.
Emergency services are under a legal duty to test their preparedness for all manner of crises occurring from terrorism attacks to calamities such as floods.
Drill should be conducted in almost every country.. terrorism is global