Residents of Plymouth were left fearing a terror incident had struck the city after a dramatic, classified military and police training exercise unfolded without warning on Plymouth Hoe on Monday, 21 July.
At around 8.30pm, stunned members of the public watched as specialist police vehicles pulled over a vehicle full of military personnel, all of whom were fiercely detained by police officers.
The exercise was captured on video by Plymouth Plus after a flurry of messages to us, with many fearing a live terror response was underway.
Devon and Cornwall Police confirmed their officers took part in the exercise. RAF St Mawgan later confirmed that the event was a routine urban training drill simulating an “evasion from a non-friendly police force” and stated the public were not meant to be alarmed. The RAF has since apologised to the public saying:
"A routine military training exercise took place in Plymouth with the support of Devon and Cornwall police.
"There was no intention to cause alarm to the public and we apologise if this training has done so, however, staff, both in uniform and civilian clothing, supervised the exercise throughout and were available to explain to the public what was going on if required".
Despite this, residents received no prior notification from police or the military in relation to this planned training exercise. Several told Plymouth Plus they believed they were witnessing a terror attack, with one person describing the scene as “utterly convincing". The RAF added:
"It is noted that the Staff supervising the exercise witnessed no members of the public showing concern or alarm."
@plymouthplus Residents left fearing terror incident as classified military exercise unfolds in Plymouth #fyp #news #uk
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The exercise is said to be one of several conducted each year to prepare service personnel for real life scenarios in hostile environments:
"This exercise occurs several times a year and is planned at a time and location to minimise disruption to the public and is one of many exercises that are required to train military personnel in the skills needed for operations."
Despite a high degree of realism, including verbal commands, resistance, and the photographing of those detained by the police the RAF say no police powers were used:
"No police powers were exercised as this was a simulated part of a military exercise."
A police sergeant at the scene told Plymouth Plus it was an “invasion training exercise” and confirmed that no log existed for the operation.
Plymouth Plus has protected the identities of all the military personnel involved at the request of the Ministry of Defence.
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