Royal Wedding terror training by SAS troops sparks panic

THE sight of heavily armed special forces soldiers surging through part of London caused panic among residents who had not been told that a training exercise was underway.

BRITAIN’s elite Special Air Servie (SAS) yesterday stormed a landmark building in the London suburb of Mortlake in what was a secret training exercise. Locals were less than amused.

Did anyone else in #mortlake just hear a massive explosion? @LoveMortlake

— Petra Saxby (@Petra_Saxby) May 16, 2018

Residents of the leafy residential Thames-side suburb in the city’s southwest had no warning that the anti-terror exercise was going to take place. So, naturally, when the heavily armed special forces troops stormed the iconic disused brewery, many feared the worst.

We just heard a loud boom too. And a helicopter coming down very low over the house.

— Topaz Amoore (@TopazAmoore) May 16, 2018

Helicopters dashing in low to offload troops. The heavy carumph of explosions. The chatter of gunfire. All enhanced the sense of panic.

Speculation quickly spread to social media.

A British soldier clears a stairway during Exercise Urban Warrior. A similar exercise was conducted, without warning, in a London suburb. Picture: British Mod

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Tensions were already rising ahead of this weekend’s Royal wedding. Police and military activity was obvious on the streets. And the potential for a terror attack to spoil the special occasion is high.

Weird stuff going on SW14. 3 loud bangs - sounded like gunshots - close enough to send our cat scuttling in from garden & now helicopters circling low near #Mortlake and the river. Anyone know anything??

— Jessica Duchen #FBPE (@jessicaduchen) May 16, 2018

Belatedly, Britain’s Ministry of Defence began to quell their fears.

“A military exercise was conducted in South West London on Wednesday night and the Metropolitan Police Service was informed in line with policy. The exercise has concluded.”

Helicopters flying low, shots and bombs all day and continuing after 11pm around #Mortlake Brewery. One way to dislodge roosting #bats I guess. Why didn't @info_stag and #DartmouthCapital warn residents that the 'military' were arriving and at least supply earplugs?!

— Amy Hodges (@AmyMortlake2016) May 16, 2018

Scotland Yard says it knew of the practice raid, but had not been asked to warn the public.

The Telegraph reports the troops came from the elite SAS service. They were using blank ammunition and training ‘flash-bang’ grenades to enhance the realism of the scenario.

Good Morning. Just to let you know that this was in relation to a joint military and police exercise held at the Mortlake Brewery yesterday.

— Richmond Police (@MPSRichmond) May 17, 2018