MORE than 100 members of the emergency services took part in a simulated terrorist attack in Bordon.

Operation Titanium saw ‘terrorists’ storm a block of flats and attack the occupants with knives, before setting the building on fire; they then attacked about 50 people in a nearby restaurant.

Fire and police officers had to deal with the ongoing incident at Prince Philip Barracks.

The army finally moved out of the barracks last year, and the complex has become one of Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service’s unique training facilities.

As well as using day to day equipment, those involved in Operation Titanium also had the chance to try out new equipment.

One state-of-the-art new tool officers tested was an ultra-high pressure cutting lance, designed to cut through walls quickly, safely and efficiently.

Hampshire Fire and Rescue Authority (HFRA) training officers monitored the annual fire service exercise, which also tested teams from South Central Ambulance Service and Hampshire Police.

Fire officer Jim Clarke took three months to organise Operation Titanium.

He said: “The chance to practise large scale incidents like this is invaluable to the emergency services.

“Ultimately it means we will be better prepared if we ever have to do it for real.

“It went very well and has been extremely challenging for all of those involved, as it was designed to be.

“Now we will be better prepared if we ever have to deal with such a situation, like that portrayed in Titanium.

“Exercises like this are food opportunities to see if there are ways in which can improve the excellent service we already provide, and to improve how we work with our partners.

“I have been impressed with the hard work and ambition everybody showed during the exercise to improve their skills to rescue people in serious situations.”

To help make exercise Titanium more realistic, firefighters fought real fires, and Prince Philip Barracks was littered with ‘casualties,’ courtesy of the Casualty Union.

HFRA chairman Chris Carter said: “Seeing how the team worked under deliberatly challenging and pressured conditions like a terrorist attack makes you appreciate the quality and dedication of Hampshire firefighters even more.

“These exercises are extremely important in ensuring the fire service is prepared for anything.

“We are always working to make the public feel even safer.”