One of London's busiest Tube stations will be the target of a simulated terrorist attack designed to test the capital's ability to cope.
The British Home Secretary, Mr David Blunkett, announced the planned exercise yesterday ,and sources have confirmed it will centre on Bank station in the financial heart of the City.
Police, ambulance teams and firefighters will all be called to the station on Sunday, March 23rd, with dozens of volunteers standing in as "victims" of the attack.
The nature of the simulated attack - whether chemical biological, nuclear or some other threat - will be kept secret so the emergency workers will have little warning of what to expect when they reach the scene.
Some roads around the station will be closed during the simulated attack. No Tube trains will be stopping at Bank during the exercise but will pass through to other stations.
The Home Office stresses the exercise is meant to see how people will react, adding it would be "pointless" if everyone knew all the details in advance.
The exercise is thought likely to be based on the scenario of a "dirty bomb" strike on the capital or a biological attack, such as smallpox.
PA