Police chiefs have apologised after a 'suicide bomber' shouted 'Allahu Akbar' just before a fake terrorist attack at the Trafford Centre.

Greater Manchester Police came under fire on social media following the staged training exercise with people demanding to know why it had been linked to Islam.

'Allahu Akbar' is Arabic for 'God is Great'.

Assistant Chief Constable Garry Shewan responded personally to the complaints on Twitter, saying the use of the phrase was unacceptable and apologised to anyone who was offended.

He then released a statement repeating the apology and saying it was ‘unacceptable’ to use the phrase.