Up to 1,000 people took part in the largest training exercise in modern times at London's Canary Wharf on Sunday, testing emergency services' response to terror attacks. The event, codenamed Firebird, was organised by Counter Terrorism Policing London and involved police, firefighters, paramedics, counter-terrorism teams, and Canary Wharf security staff.
The exercise drew on lessons from the Manchester Arena attack and deployed new technology, including drones. Dozens of actors created realistic scenarios to test responders' skills in dealing with a marauding terrorist attack. The location was chosen as a poignant reminder of the 1996 Docklands IRA bombing, which killed two and injured over 100.
Metropolitan Police Chief Superintendent Kris Wright, who directed the exercise, said: 'I'm incredibly grateful to Canary Wharf for providing us an iconic site to test these capabilities for what is the largest exercise of its kind in modern times.' He added that the threat level had moved to 'severe', making it crucial to test responses to various attack types, including knives, guns, fire, vehicles, and technical threats.
Wright highlighted the '10-second triage' method, a lesson from the Manchester Arena attack, which aims to quickly categorise and care for casualties. He emphasised that the exercise was not in response to any specific threat but was part of ongoing preparedness. 'The response that Londoners see from their emergency services is world-leading, but we shouldn't be complacent,' he said.
Security Minister Dan Jarvis praised the exercise, stating: 'Our emergency services work around the clock to keep us safe. Exercises like this ensure they are able to respond quickly and effectively.' He urged the public to remain vigilant and report suspicious activity, noting that the UK terrorism threat level is currently 'severe'.
