The announcement of a catastrophe exercise came as leaders of the UK's emergency services were gathered in Harrogate to witness a staged "terrorist attack".
A section of the Majestic Hotel in the North Yorkshire town was transformed into a decontamination unit to deal with the hypothetical aftermath of a dirty bomb detonation.
The demonstration came complete with fake smoke, sirens, pre-recorded screams and wailing and imitation casualties. Delegates were given a guided tour of the unit which showed how the emergency services would deal with a chemical, biological or nuclear attack.
More than 100 delegates attended the event, including ambulance, fire, police, executives of health care trusts and emergency planners.
The delegates were shown how the victims would be taken through the unit, their clothing and jewellery removed, decontaminated and moved on to treatment sections before being taken to hospitals in waiting ambulances.
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