ITALY: Italian emergency services were put to the test in anti-terrorist exercises in Turin

Record ID: 352017

  • Title: ITALY: Italian emergency services were put to the test in anti-terrorist exercises in Turin
  • Date: 27th October 2005
  • Summary: SMALL DEMONSTRATION ON SCENE AS AMBULANCES ARRIVE EMERGENCY PERSONNEL IN CHEMICAL SUITS
  • Embargoed: 11th November 2005 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Italy
  • Country: Italy
  • Topics: Crime / Law Enforcement
  • Reuters ID: LVA3NJY3TQ9SFSBTZFWM7YQFF2GY
  • Story Text: Italy's northern town of Turin came to a halt on Thursday morning (October 27) when a large-scale bomb drill designed to test emergency services' response to a major attack blocked central roads in the town. Ambulances rushed to the scene of the initial faked explosion inside the main train station as moments later a further two explosions occurred outside. Police dressed in chemical protective clothing rushed into the station to give the all-clear whilst uniformed police helped the faked injured at a bus stop to safety. Several drills have been staged throughout the main cities in Italy following the July 7 bombing on London transport. But fears for such an attack in Turin are heightened due to the upcoming Winter Olympics to be held in the town in February 2006. "I am worried about what is happening in the world which is why we have terrorism today - the olympics are just another possible moment like many others," said onlooker Franco Battistini. "It's all too prepared and doesn't seem real at all - when there are real attacks its just not like this," said another onlooker Silvio Barrella.
    A small demonstration by the Communist party took place near the exercise with demonstrators blowing whistles and holding a placard reading: 'Is it carnival time already?'
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2014. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
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