Elite counter terrorism police conducted a rare training exercise on the Isle of Wight today (Wednesday), with loud explosions sparking concern amongst local residents.
Counter Terrorism Specialist Firearms Officers (CTSFO), from the Metropolitan Police, travelled across the Solent to the Island with a fleet of unmarked Police cars – vehicles more commonly seen on the streets of London.
Island Echo readers got in touch at just gone 13:00 to report the suspected Police vehicles – a BMW X5, a BMW saloon and 2 Mercedes-Benz Vito vans – responding on blue lights and sirens along Military Road towards Freshwater.
It can now be revealed that the mainland officers were carrying out a training exercise at the former Weston Primary School in Totland. It is unclear why this location was picked out of all the empty buildings in the country and why the training exercise took place on the Island during the COVID pandemic lockdown.
Residents living in the Weston Road area knew nothing of the training scenario until loud explosions were heard shortly before 13:45, prompting calls to 999. It’s thought the explosions were likely to be flash bangs or similar tactical devices.
The officers, fully clad in grey Kevlar body armour, relocated to the waterfront at Totland Bay to de-kit before returning towards Newport at normal driving speeds.
In a statement, a spokesperson for the Met Police has told Island Echo:
“We can confirm that Met firearms officers have been involved in an essential training exercise today on the Isle of Wight. This exercise is part of critical training to ensure that firearms officers are able to respond swiftly and effectively to incidents and keep communities safe, not only in London, but across the country.
Article continues below this advertisement “The Met were in close contact with Hampshire Constabulary ahead of this exercise.”
more covic from the mainland
Covic? Not a new threat.
Good time to do that now, coming to the island
And we get a fine if we go to far from home as always 1 rule for hem and 1 rule for the rest of us don’t get me wrong I know they need training but surely they could of used so where local to their base
Where’s the fun in that ?
1 Rule for 1 and 1 rule for us
Fancy pissing about during a Pandemic.
I think that was the point of it, This exercise is part of critical training to ensure that firearms officers are able to respond swiftly and effectively to incidents and keep communities safe, not only in London, but across the country. If anywhere has issues with access its an island, hopefully we’ll never need them but surely it is better that they understand the logistics of getting here before an incident occurs.
Something coming
Probably Bojo on his bike!
Couldn’t they of chose the floating bridge as a training exercise with proper explosives
Your English is pathetic. Couldn’t they ‘of’? Idiot. Learn English.
Should it not read, your knowledge of English language leaves a lot to be desired.
No. It could read, ‘Your written English needs to be improved. No shame in making mistakes, however, help is at hand….’ Or something similar. Instead Ventnor Richard became absolutely frustrated with wannabe NME journalists murdering a perfectly beautiful language because someone who is a faux liberal once taught him at a questionable establishment of education ( Hovertravel Cafe, Ryde perhaps?) that grammar, spelling, and punctuation don’t count for shite! Regards. Your’s, Lady Dunstanding.
Thirty-eight negative responses, Ventnor Richard? We have disagreed in the past, but because we are able to communicate using a command of our own language, at least we knew what the other was talking about. Fair play, sir! Language is important.
Bet they didn’t feed the parking meter while they were parked up. DS ought to send them some parking fines
Maybe because of the tanker hijack?
But yes, should have been postponed.
Hijack! Ha ha they were stowaways. Bet they paid the captain off.
It doesn’t matter when or where for this type of exercise as far as I’m concerned. They aren’t on a “jolly”, they are training for events that could easily be real. Let’s stop the Military training as well shall we?
Pretty much anywhere would have been a lower risk option so why go to an infection blackspot that needs a ferry to access instead of, say, the dedicated (and isolated) training facilities on Salisbury Plain?
Madness!
As if your an expert. Pathetic…
That’s the whole point, it is training in the unusual, that’s what training is for. If all future terrorist attacks are to take place on Salisbury Plain then that would be fantastic. Do you know how we request this? Until that agreement is established with all known terrorist organisations then I’m happy for the forces to train in situations that they may encounter. After all it would be more likely to be encountered on the Island than the isolated as you put it Salisbury Plain. I hope this helps you to understand the concept of a training exercise.
WTF definitely not essential travel and who came up with the idea should lose their job/jobs. Absolute prats
Hang on they may not have travelled over the water. One of that group look like they came from the West Wight freedom fighters. This is a splinter group from the Vectis resistance party.
Maybe they were practicing on that safe house as part of their daily exercise. Wonder if they had info that the the council where holed up there.
Come on comrades, face masks, in pairs only, at a distance please. I wonder if they were a bubble?
It’s about time the council got out on our streets to clean up all the disgusting discarded biohazard face masks people are throwing away on our roads and pavements.They are everywhere,The isle of wight people are disgusting,Also people should not keep reusing the same mask and when you put on your mask you should be sanitizing your hands afterwards and when you remove your mask sanitize your hands to reduce the risk of spreading your germs or viruses!!!!!!
Calm down dear ,it’s only a muzzle .
As usual the keyboard experts abound. Shouldnt have , could have , one rule for them etc. Id rather trust their judgement on training needs than the ” experts ” here. No doubt first in the queue to moan when theyre not up to standard too.
Get off MSM , engage brain ffs.
When I was a nipper in Carisbrooke, the West Wight was known as “bow & arrow” country, nothing changes
Correct, the retarded sheeple still think this is about a pandemic though, they are slow.
They are protectors and have to protect. Get a life you small minded Island morons. I bet half who made these negative comments havnt ever left the Island….
Perhaps you moaners would prefer to get some morrisons Keyworkers to deal with this from now on. After all they are the real true heros over here…..
Did they really need to travel here it doesnt really sound like work that needed to be done on the island more on a jolly
Do you think Criminal and Terrorists are obeying the lockdown rules. Police have to do undergo constant training. I think its a good thing they tried it on the island now they will have a greater understanding of the problems with getting to the island.
Many of us trained in Nuclear, Biological and Chemical warfare situations. We weren’t on “jollies” and we hoped never to be a situation where the training was needed …..just like these guys. Some of you need to open your eyes and think further ahead but all you do is moan.
Last comment not aimed at you Anon, just agreeing with you.