The training is to test preparedness in the event of a major incident

Emergency services took part in a training exercise which simulated a terror attack on the SSE Arena on Tuesday night. Pic: Kevin Scott

Emergency services took part in a training exercise which simulated a terror attack on the SSE Arena on Tuesday night. Pic: Kevin Scott

Emergency services took part in a training exercise which simulated a terror attack on the SSE Arena on Tuesday night. Pic: Kevin Scott

Emergency services took part in a training exercise which simulated a terror attack on the SSE Arena on Tuesday night. Pic: Kevin Scott

Emergency services took part in a training exercise which simulated a terror attack on the SSE Arena on Tuesday night. Pic: Kevin Scott

Emergency services took part in a training exercise which simulated a terror attack on the SSE Arena on Tuesday night. Pic: Kevin Scott

Emergency services took part in a training exercise which simulated a terror attack on the SSE Arena on Tuesday night. Pic: Kevin Scott

Emergency services took part in a training exercise which simulated a terror attack on the SSE Arena on Tuesday night. Pic: Kevin Scott

More than a hundred emergency services personnel have taken part in a multi-agency training exercise to test preparedness in the event of a major terror incident in Northern Ireland.

Earlier police closed off a number of roads in the Harbour Estate to facilitate the training in the vicinity of the SSE Arena.

Emergency services took part in a training exercise which simulated a terror attack on the SSE Arena on Tuesday night. Pic: Kevin Scott

Emergency services took part in a training exercise which simulated a terror attack on the SSE Arena on Tuesday night. Pic: Kevin Scott

The PSNI, NI Ambulance Service (NIAS) and NI Fire and Rescue Service (NIFRS) all took part in the drill, alongside the Harbour Police and Coastguard, as well as colleagues from the bomb disposal teams, firearms officers and counter terror officers.

The simulation focused on reports of an explosion in the area with several hundred casualties as a result. Simulated injuries ranged from minor to catastrophic.

Emergency services took part in a training exercise which simulated a terror attack on the SSE Arena on Tuesday night. Pic: Kevin Scott

Emergency services took part in a training exercise which simulated a terror attack on the SSE Arena on Tuesday night. Pic: Kevin Scott

Officers manned cordons during the operation, which stretched over a large area around the arena. A number of search and rescue boats were stationed on the River Lagan behind the venue, as a drone kept watch overhead.

Police had earlier warned the public about the operation.

“Police and other emergency services are today (Tuesday September 16) conducting a multi-agency training exercise in the Harbour Estate in Belfast,” said a spokesperson.

“The exercise is designed to test the preparedness, response and collaborative working between a number of agencies in the event of a major incident.

Emergency services took part in a training exercise which simulated a terror attack on the SSE Arena on Tuesday night. Pic: Kevin Scott

Emergency services took part in a training exercise which simulated a terror attack on the SSE Arena on Tuesday night. Pic: Kevin Scott

News Catch Up – Tuesday 16th September

“Agencies including the Police Service of Northern Ireland, Belfast Harbour Police, NI Fire and Rescue Service, NI Ambulance Service and HM Coastguard are taking part in the exercise that has been a number of months in the planning.

“The Queen’s Quay from the front of the SSE Arena will be closed from the roundabout from 8pm to 11pm. The car park will remain open and can be accessed from either side of the closure.”