OVER 100 members of the emergency services took part in a response to a simulated terrorist attack in the town centre last night.

The mock incident, which ran from 4pm until around 9pm, involved States and honorary police, the Fire and Rescue and ambulance services and hospital workers.

A mock chemical attack on Cyril Le Marquand House was staged, forcing roads to be closed and a 100 metre cordon to be set up around the building.

Specialist decontamination tents and command posts were erected around the Parade, with many ambulances, fire appliances and police cars filling the surrounding roads.

Actors played the parts of injured people and terrorists and a press conference was also held for members of the media, who also volunteered to take part.

It was said that a person had run into Cyril Le Marquand House – the home of the Island’s tax office, Policy and Resources department and the Magistrate’s Court – and set off an explosion.

This, in turn, released a ‘white powder’ which affected many of the staff in the premises.

While the police set up a cordon around the area, the Fire and Rescue Service ‘locked down’ both Cyril Le Marquand House and the General Hospital to prevent contamination spreading.

It was not until then that officers wearing specialist breathing and skin protection apparatus were allowed into the building.

A debrief is expected to be held by the authorities on Monday to ascertain how the incident was handle and how the various departments and organisations dealt with the situation.