A reason to pay close attention to Manchester?

A major 'terror attack' training exercise is to be held in Manchester

The M.E.N. understands the exercise is likely to involve a mock terrorism attack

Manchester Evening News,

18 April, 2019

A major training exercise to test 'revised arrangements' for emergency services and other agencies following the Manchester Arena terror attack will be held next year.

The planned exercise in Manchester was revealed today in a report commissioned to address the progress of dozens of recommendations made in the Kerslake Report, which assessed both the strengths and weaknesses of how the atrocity was tackled.

Kerslake contained 56 recommendations in total, covering the emergency services, emergency response arrangements, health services, councils and a host of other agencies, both local and national.

Today's progress report, ordered by the mayor Andy Burnham, says 'learning' from the attack has strengthened 'planning, training and exercising' and reveals 'training and testing' of 'revised arrangements' have already started.

As a result a 'major multi-agency validation exercise' is being planned for early 2020.

The M.E.N. understands the exercise is likely to involve a mock terrorism attack, although no further information has been revealed.

The Kerslake Report was commissioned after the atrocity to learn lessons (Image: PA)

The exact scenario is still being planned, along with the format, location and whether it will take place at a venue indoors or outside.

Today's report said: "Notwithstanding the already high levels of readiness and capabilities in place in Greater Manchester, the learning from the Arena attack has further strengthened the planning, training and exercising both within individual agencies and in partnership