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Police To Confront Terrorists In New Tactic

The victims of a marauding gun attack on Britain's streets would probably have to wait until the attackers had been dealt with by armed police before they could be treated, according to Scotland Yard commanders.

It is part of a shift in tactics, as police decide how best to deal with terrorists who are no longer interested in negotiating and only want to kill as many people as possible.

The number of armed officers is being boosted in London and other centres of population in the wake of the terrorist attacks in Paris.

Dozens of armed officers honed their skills in a training operation in central London on Tuesday, where a group of their colleagues played the part of terrorists.

Armed with AK47 assault rifles, but firing blank ammunition, the four men targeted an empty office block, simulating an attack on a shopping centre.

Groups of armed-response police officers were quickly on the scene and pushed their way into the building.

It was a dramatic illustration of that shift in armed police tactics.

In the past, those officers would probably have held back at a safe distance and tried to negotiate with any hostage takers.

The priority now, though, is to push forward, to confront the threat and stop them killing members of the public.

Tony Long served as a specialist firearms officer in London for more than 25 years and helped shape Scotland Yard's counter-terrorism armed tactics.

He said: "You're not negotiating with terrorists in the old days, who might have wanted the release of captive colleagues in another country, or something of that nature.

"Their calling card is to start killing people straight away and so the police in this type of situation need to start gaining ground, closing the terrorist down and suppressing them so that we rescue as many people as possible."

Scotland Yard commanders say they are confident they have the resources and expertise to deal with multiple gun attacks.

Assistant Commissioner Patricia Gallan said: "We have additional armed-response vehicles on the streets of London. We've increased that as a result of Paris and I'm confident in London we can meet that threat.

"Around the country, forces are reviewing their plans and I've confidence in their abilities too."

Within about half an hour of the simulated terrorist attack in London, paramedics and members of the London Fire Brigade were able to begin treating some of the 'victims'.

Ms Gallan acknowledged that having to wait to treat the injured is difficult for all concerned, even armed officers, who might have to pass by injured colleagues.

"I think it's a very challenging situation," she said "The important thing in such instances is that we need to go forward and towards the threat, to stop that threat.

"That means we've got to do that as quickly as possible. The ambulance service, as soon as it's safe, will come in and help save lives. But we know our primary responsibility is to get to the threat, to stop it, to save as many people as possible."

Armed police in London, joined by colleagues from other forces, are currently going through a 15-week programme of intensive counter-terror training, planning for scenarios including marauding gun attacks, to ensure they are as prepared as they can be, should they have to put themselves in harm's way to confront armed attackers on Britain's streets.