Guns raised, counterterrorism police scramble onboard a large ferry on the south coast of England as marauding terrorists shoot passengers and take the captain hostage.
This “live play” is only an exercise – but the scenario is designed to test the UK’s emergency response to a very real threat.
Firearms officers, hostage negotiators and paramedics must decide what to do over the next five hours as the Islamist militants turn the multiple decks of the Brittany ferry – carrying around 300 terrified passengers – into a warzone.
Sky News was given exclusive access to the drama at Poole Harbour on Wednesday.
“It’s a really important opportunity for us to develop our plans, to test those plans, to strengthen our response,” said Assistant Chief Constable Andy Hill, Counter Terrorism Policing South West.
“Ultimately we need to be able to respond should the worst happen.”
The attack begins
The simulated crisis – which is not based on any specific intelligence or threat – began with an alert from the Coastguard at around 9am that a group of gunmen had launched an attack on a vehicle and passenger ferry as it crossed the English Channel from France.
Urgent messages sent by some of the people onboard revealed that the militants were opening fire at passengers. There are deaths and injuries.
With the ferry headed for Poole, Counter Terrorism Specialist Firearms Officers (CTSFO) from across the region are mobilised, along with hundreds of other emergency responders, including paramedics and firefighters.
A Coastguard helicopter swoops overhead as a ramp from the shore is lowered to enable armed police to race on to one of the decks, where vehicles would usually be stowed.
The lifeless bodies of two or three victims are already visible.
How do police respond?
Needing to regain control of the ferry, the teams break off to search the many floors, including cabins, open-plan seating areas and a canteen.
The counterterrorism officers are in constant communication over radios with a control centre on shore, relaying what is happening.
They are alerted to a stand-off on the bridge – the part of the ferry where the captain commands the vessel.
He has been taken hostage.
For the rescue team, finding his location is difficult.
A member of the crew offers to lead the way.
“We have a walking map,” one of the police officers says.
She guides them up to a closed door that leads to the bridge.
Without hesitation, the armed police burst inside, shooting dead a hostage-taker and rescuing the captain.
“I am OK,” the captain says. “I was held for about 45 minutes.”
Leaving officers behind to secure the scene, the rest of the team push on to one of the other decks where lines of individual cabins stretch along a labyrinth of corridors.
They need to establish whether any attackers are hiding in the cabins – all of which are locked. The police use key cards to open the doors, one after another.
Suddenly they find a militant inside one of the rooms, holding a wounded woman hostage.
Caught by surprise, he surrenders and the lady – with a stab injury to one of her arms – is saved.
But the nightmare is still not over.
At another end of the ferry, two more gunmen have seized around 20 passengers and barricaded themselves in a room.
One of the attackers demands to speak with a negotiator.
Police negotiators move forward, protected by armed officers, including one holding a bullet-proof shield.
The militants, who appear to sympathise with Islamist terrorist groups such as Islamic State, make various demands to end the siege.
The police team try to reason with them, but the attackers become agitated.
The hostages can be heard crying out in fear, as they are threatened with being beheaded.
With the situation deteriorating, a decision is taken to storm the room.
Within seconds, the two attackers are dead.
But the police need to be sure no one else is hiding amongst the passengers. They order everyone to hold their hands in the air or put them on their head.
Crisis over, the tension eases, especially for the passengers, who are all civilian volunteers, including teenagers.
‘Let’s pray it never happens’
“I knew that it was acting and that we were safe, but it was kind of, how can you say, intimidating,” said one 16-year-old student, called Viktoria from Germany.
Older people also took part such as Bernadette, 66, a police volunteer. “It was scary at first because it’s all quiet, and then it just happens – like that,” she said.
Bernadette said she wanted to take part to contribute to her local community’s resilience.
“It really is a great opportunity and if it does happen, let’s pray it never does, but if it does, we know we’re ready in Dorset.”
In total, six pretend militants took part in the attack. At least three were killed and two captured. The fate of the final man was unclear.
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There were multiple casualties, among them dead and seriously wounded.
The exercise, which involves police, paramedics, firefighters, and the Coastguard, will formally conclude on Thursday.
