Terror attack response test for 999 crews

Jersey's emergency services are being tested on how they respond to major incidents during an exercise simulating a terrorist attack.

The government said Exercise Tempest at Fort Regent, which is expected to go on until 15:00 GMT, is part of routine preparedness work for firefighters, police officers and paramedics.

It added the exercise simulated an "extremely challenging" marauding firearms attack.

Richard Blake, the island's deputy emergency planning officer, said the event was not in response to any specific threat and would help emergency services be ready for "all types of incidents".

Planning for the exercise started six months ago and Blake said it would put commanders of all the emergency services through their paces and come up with a joint response plan.

He said the exercise would help the crews understand their strengths and where they needed to improve.

Blake said residents should not be alarmed and added it was "important to challenge the responders to work together".

"We like to train hard and exercise hard in often very difficult scenarios," he said.

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