Why did 'blacked out' helicopters fly over city?

A woman said she was left "freaking out" after seeing two low-flying helicopters and figures dressed all in black on a nearby rooftop.

The resident, who did not wish to be named, told the BBC the helicopters were over Media City in Salford, Greater Manchester, from about 19:00 GMT until 21:45 on Monday.

She said she spotted one "SAS-style" chopper hovering above a rooftop, where people dressed all in black had gathered, and saw some pedestrians apparently running away from the scene.

The BBC understands the helicopters and personnel were taking part in a training exercise.

The resident said she and her neighbours had not been sent any communications either before or after the incident and this had left them feeling concerned.

She said she had been watching a news programme about the conflict in the Middle East when it happened, and that then to suddenly see the helicopters and people in black on a roof nearby left her feeling anxious.

"I thought 'what on earth is going on?', she said.

"I saw them land in the piazza at Media City and I've never seen that before.

"It's just not what you expect and everyone is on such high alert anyway."

The resident said then seeing a helicopter land on a roof and people in black also on the rooftop "freaked me out".

Another resident, who also did not wish to be named, said the helicopters landed on the piazza at about 19:20 GMT and several people got out.

"It did feel kind of eerie seeing dark figures on top of a building," he said.

He said that a couple of hours later a helicopter was seen doing manoeuvres on top of a building nearby and personnel dressed in black were seen descending on to the roof from a rope attached to the helicopter.

The man also expressed concern that he had not been warned about was happening either beforehand or afterwards.

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