Some people were critical of the use of a ‘religious phrase’ (Picture: PA Wire)

Police have apologised for having a volunteer shout ‘Allahu Akbar’ during a counter-terrorism exercise in Manchester.

Anti-terror police stormed Trafford Centre on the outskirts of Manchester in a training exercise designed to test a British response to a Paris- or Brussels-style attack. An estimated 800 people made up of volunteers, fire and ambulance service personnel and the North West Counter Terrorism Unit took part in the role-play.

Police descend on Manchester shopping centre for massive anti-terror drill

In one of the devised scenarios, an suicide bomber shouted ‘Allahu Akbar’.

Some social media users criticised Greater Manchester Police for what they deemed to be an ‘unnecessary’ link made between terrorism and Islam.




Many, however, were quick to defend the force, who had said that they wanted to make the drill as realistic as possible, and given the perpetrators of the attacks on Paris and Brussels, felt that was the most likely scenario.

The exercise began at midnight (Picture: PA Wire)

Now police have apologised for having the bomber use a ‘religious phrase’. Greater Manchester Police’s Assistant Chief Constable, Gary Shewan, called the decision ‘unacceptable’.

‘The scenario for this exercise is based on a suicide attack by an extremist Daesh (Isis) style organisation and the scenario writers have centred the circumstances around previous similar attacks of this nature, mirroring details of past events to make the situation as real life as possible for all those involved,’ he said.

People are angry that police used ‘Muslims’ in terror exercise

‘On reflection we acknowledge that it was unacceptable to use this religious phrase immediately before the mock suicide bombing, which so vocally linked this exercise with Islam.’

The exercise began at midnight, when a man, dressed in black, walked in and shouted at the crowd.

Moments later an explosion shook the food hall and the volunteers, who wore ear defenders and safety glasses, dropped to the floor.

MORE: Somebody is building a full-scale model of Noah’s Ark for a theme park

MORE: Boy, 15, discovers forgotten ancient village

MORE: Alton Towers told woman she couldn’t ride Smiler because she only has one arm