Massive Terror Drill Shakes Heathrow in Major Met Police Exercise
The Metropolitan Police led a massive two-day counter-terror drill, dubbed Exercise Crystal Peak, involving over 200 participants. Emergency responders from blue-light services, specialist counter-terrorism units, and partners from the London Resilience Forum all took part. Volunteers acted as casualties to create a realistic chaos scenario.
Bomb Blast at Fake Stadium Concert
The mock disaster centred around an improvised explosive device detonating at a busy music concert in a stadium — a chilling reminder of real attacks in Manchester and Paris. Commander Ade Adelekan said:
“While this exercise wasn’t triggered by any specific threat, unfortunately, attacks like those at Manchester and Paris show this is a very real possibility at entertainment venues.
“The drill tests the speed and effectiveness of our joint response, checks our plans, and highlights areas to improve. It also gives our officers vital experience responding under pressure with all the sights, sounds, and smells you’d expect — so they’re ready if the worst ever happens.”
Heathrow Airport Used for Realistic, Disruption-Free Training
The venue for the exercise was a disused terminal building at Heathrow Airport. Though not an aviation-related attack scenario, Heathrow has hosted previous exercises, offering ample space and control for emergency teams to act realistically without affecting the public.
Specialist police units such as armed officers, bomb disposal experts, forensic teams, and police dogs took part. British Transport Police, City of London Police, London Ambulance Service, and London Fire Brigade all joined forces to handle search, rescue, and casualty management.
From Immediate Response to Long-Term Recovery
The second day focused on strategic coordination as the scenario shifted from the chaotic immediate response to longer-term recovery. Key functions like command and control, intelligence gathering, firearms response, communications, and disaster victim identification were put to the test.
This was the Met’s first big live-play exercise since March 2022, following recommendations from Lord Harris’s reports on London’s terrorism preparedness. Commander Adelekan stressed the ongoing threat level:
“The UK’s terrorism threat remains ‘substantial’. We can’t afford to let up — prevention and preparedness are critical. I’m grateful to Heathrow for their continued support, providing a safe space to train.”
He urged the public to stay vigilant:
“If you see or hear something suspicious, please speak up. It won’t ruin anyone’s life, but it could save lives.”
Stay Alert, Report Suspicious Behaviour
- In confidence: call 0800 789 321
- Emergency: dial 999
- Online reports: gov.uk/act
The Met and partners remain ever-ready — Londoners, beware and stay alert.
