Emergency services respond to training exercise in Stockton
Operation Trafalgar took place at the Lord Nelson pub behind Splash last night, with students playing injured attack victims.
Emergency services from across our region were put to the test last night in a massive emergency exercise in Stockton.
Operation Trafalgar saw Cleveland Police, North East Ambulance Service and Cleveland Fire and Rescue respond to a serious hostage situation.
It took place at the Lord Nelson pub behind Splash, with the roads around the site cordened off.
The initial call to emergency services was for a woman lying in the road, who claimed she had been run over.
A second injured person suffered knife wounds and claimed to have been sliced with a machete.
The exercise quickly became an armed response, with half a dozen armed police called to the scene.
The hostile suspects held a number of people hostage in the pub and after negotiations broke down, armed police stormed the building and removed the suspects.
Ambulance crews are responding to two casualties - armed response police on the scene. #ClevelandLRF pic.twitter.com/nIZcvMnmMf
— TFM News (@TFMRadioNews) June 14, 2016
Paramedics move the two casualties to a safe area as armed police surround the Lord Nelson pub. #ClevelandLRF pic.twitter.com/dA11tHJsZz
— TFM News (@TFMRadioNews) June 14, 2016
Armed police have surrounded the Lord Nelson pub. Screams can be heard from inside. #ClevelandLRF pic.twitter.com/xbJXp5GmRP
— TFM News (@TFMRadioNews) June 14, 2016
Another casualty is dragged out by armed police with a gunshot wound to the neck. #ClevelandLRF pic.twitter.com/1IvkXBoX4M
— TFM News (@TFMRadioNews) June 14, 2016
A helicopter is circling above the scene here in Bath Place in Stockton. Armed standoff continues. #ClevelandLRF pic.twitter.com/cu1FPIkOP8
— TFM News (@TFMRadioNews) June 14, 2016
Another casualty has managed to escape. Police gathering information from him about situation inside. #ClevelandLRF pic.twitter.com/Q8ppoXAjl0
— TFM News (@TFMRadioNews) June 14, 2016
A suspect is reprimanded after being taken down by a police dog. A number of hostages have escaped. #ClevelandLRF pic.twitter.com/tCscbn9MPx
— TFM News (@TFMRadioNews) June 14, 2016
Armed police deliver food to the suspects as part of the negotiation process. #ClevelandLRF pic.twitter.com/6qWR1AOhpG
— TFM News (@TFMRadioNews) June 14, 2016
With the final set of hostages released, the fire brigade move in following threats of a fire. #ClevelandLRF pic.twitter.com/frcWvN0xTK
— TFM News (@TFMRadioNews) June 14, 2016
Stockton Training Exercise: The remaining hostage takers are with armed police. One is receiving medical treatment. pic.twitter.com/OqNGRgCY3l
— TFM News (@TFMRadioNews) June 14, 2016
The injured bystanders and hostages were played by students at Stockton Riverside College, who also provided the special effects make-up needed for the wounds.
A crowd gathered around the scene as the drama unfurled and gunshots could be heard inside the pub.
A police dog was also used to bring one gang member to the ground.
Superintendent Mark Thornton from Cleveland Police directed the exercise.
He said: "We'll leave the community in peace and then the planning team, along with the players will sit down and work out some debriefs.
"We'll assess what was good, what was bad and what we could do better in the future.
"Then we'll bring together the lessons learned for future exercises."