Huge emergency services presence outside Manchester Arena for training exercise

Police, fire service and ambulance personnel have been spotted outside Manchester arena today (February 28).

The emergency workers are taking part in a large-scare training exercise to test their ability to work together.

It comes almost five years after communications failures between agencies blighted their response to the terror attack at the venue which claimed 22 lives and injured a thousand others.

Greater Manchester Police said the training involved a 'mock scenario' - they declined to reveal what the scenario is, but said it is not counter terrorism.

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The training is taking place at and around the AO Arena, formerly Manchester Arena.

The force said in a statement: "Greater Manchester Police and partner agencies will today (Monday 28 February 2022) take part in an exercise in Manchester City Centre.

"The exercise is not a real incident or emergency. It is a mock scenario, not related to counter terrorism policing.

"This is a test of the multi-agency response to incidents and emergencies, ensuring we work together to deliver an outstanding service."

Pictures from the scene showed the police, fire and ambulance services at the scene.

Greater Manchester Police has admitted a series of deficiencies , centred around a failure to communicate with other emergency services and training in connection with the May 2017 Manchester Arena bombing, and has formally apologised twice at the continuing public inquiry into the disaster.

Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service has also apologised but blamed 'silence' from the police.

It was more than two hours before the first firefighters arrived at the scene.

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