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U.K. police conduct largest terror attack training exercise in London

By Tomas Monzon

LONDON, June 30 (UPI) -- London's Metropolitan Police announced Tuesday the beginning of an exercise to test the response of its personnel to an armed terrorist attack.

Named Operation Strong Tower, the police made the first day of its exercise visible to the public as various units responded to a simulated terrorist attack by men wearing baclavas and firing AK-47 weapons amid the screams of innocent bystanders in central London.

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The exercise is being referred to on social media as a #999exercise.

In the works since January, the exercise will also involve London's transport authorities, hospitals and the Ministry of Defense. First responders will be tasked with containing an area, rescuing and treating the wounded and catching the perpetrators.

Both first responders' and decision makers' abilities will be tested, with more than 1,000 Metropolitan officers scheduled to participate. Most of them will not have advance knowledge of the venues where the exercises will be held.

The exercise will end Wednesday afternoon.

The exercise comes less than a week after a terrorist attack at a Tunisian beach resort, where 38 people were killed, many of whom were U.K. nationals. Metropolitan police stressed that the exercise was not a response to the Tunisian tragedy nor a result of any newly acquired intelligence.

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However, the British government fears that a similar attack is likely to happen in the U.K., with its current threat level marked severe.

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