The UK has tested an emergency response to the discovery of a deadly biological toxin.
Up to 600 members of the military, police, ambulance and other services took part in the three-day exercise last week, which also involved dealing with a number of improvised bombs.
The annual simulation is part of efforts to ensure the readiness of specialist troops and the emergency services to an attack using chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear weapons as well as explosives, the Home Office said.
“Joint training is vital to ensure that our policing partners, armed forces and emergency responders can work seamlessly together to protect the British public from a range of threats,” said Dan Jarvis, the security minister.
“Their ongoing training and preparation ensures that when an incident happens, the UK can respond rapidly, effectively and with confidence.”
The media were not invited to attend the simulation.
The scenario is understood to have involved the discovery of a biological toxin and the body of the would-be attacker, as well as some improvised explosive devices.
There were no mass casualties, but the exercise did simulate what the effect of exposure to a biological toxin might be to those who are first on the scene.
Eastern Region Counter Terrorism Policing and the Ministry of Defence led the test.
Alastair Carns, the armed forces minister, said: “Exercises like this show how the military is integral to keeping Britain safe and secure at home.”
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The UK’s emergency response to chemical threats was activated for real in March 2018 when Russia was accused of attempting to kill Sergei Skripal, a former Russian double agent, and his daughter Yulia with a novichok chemical weapon in Salisbury.
Simulations like the one last week are designed to test responses to the use of a chemical or biological weapon, an improvised explosive device, a hazardous materials release, or a large-scale poisoning, the Home Office said in a statement.
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Earlier in the year, Sky News and Tortoise ran a wargame that simulated a series of Russian missile attacks against the UK and how the British government might respond for a podcast series that was released in June.
