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The Irish Sun
19-07-2025
- Politics
- The Irish Sun
Secret docs reveal London disaster plan for nuke blitz… from contaminated bodies stripped to victims held in ‘Hot Zones'
TERRIFYING secret plans setting out how London would deal with a nuke attack have been obtained by The Sun. The chilling documents lay bare the grim reality of how Londoners would face 9 Plans for dealing with a nuclear attack on London have been obtained by The Sun Credit: Getty 9 They show that the city is braced to deal with mass casualties and contaminated survivors following an attack Credit: Getty 9 Some parts of the plans have been redacted for security reasons Credit: Getty They include grim strategies for dealing with thousands of dead bodies and how thousands more survivors would have to strip off and be decontaminated after being affected by a nuclear bomb. Disturbingly, parts of the horror plans are redacted for national security and public safety reasons - meaning the reality may be even bleaker. Obtained by The Sun under Freedom of Information laws, the four documents, which total over 200 pages, reveal the extent of the nuclear preparations, showing a city braced for its darkest hour. But despite repeated threats from tyrants such as Vladimir Putin, it is unlikely the UK will be the victim of a nuclear attack. In the immediate aftermath of a nuclear attack, the agencies involved in the London Resilience Group, which authored the documents, have been told to put into place "urgent control measures" to prevent exposure, evacuate people, provide shelter and restrict access to the affected area. The official plans reveal how after a Chemical, Biological, Radiological Nuclear and/ or explosive materials or weapons incident, which they abbreviate to CBRN(e), a "Mass Fatality Coordinating Group" would be activated to manage the scale of death. The group would "provide options for dealing with incidents involving large numbers of human fatalities". They would also provide "strategy for body recovery and identification during an incident where the number of fatalities is greater than normal local arrangements can manage". A Mortality Management Group would "coordinate the management of excess deaths" including the recovery and repatriation of bodies. The Coroner would also step in to oversee the identification of dead bodies and deal with remains which have been contaminated by nuclear fallout. Chillingly the document adds: "Following decontamination there may still be contamination risks associated, for example, with internal organs of the body. "Precautions such as specialist protective equipment and procedures apply from transportation through to mortuary arrangements, storage, and burial. There are pathologists trained in CBRN(e)." The London Fire Brigade would also step into action, with the plans setting out how its firefighters have been "trained and equipped to enter the Hot Zone". 9 There are detailed plans in place to deal with the immediate, medium and long term effects of a nuke attack Credit: Getty 9 Firefighters have been trained to enter the 'hot zone' in the effect of a nuclear bomb dropping on London Credit: Getty 9 This graphic from the documents show what groups would be set up to deal with a nuclear attack Credit: London Resilience Forum Firefighters also have the capability to "carry out emergency mass decontamination of the public and to protect the environment" and have specialist instruments to monitor radiation and other hazards, it states. It comes as the UK and France signed a joint agreement to co-ordinate nuclear strikes in the event of World War Three as Russia, China and ramp up threats. In the immediate aftermath of a fireball the focus would be on threat and hazard assessment and scene management, according to the documents. The documents, released by the Mayor of London's Office, set out how first responders to the blast must "confirm incident details" using the METHANE acronym, which stands for Major Incident, Exact location, Type of incident, Hazards, Access to scene, Number, severity of casualties and Emergency services on scene. Then in the following hours and first few days after the nuke attack, the focus would switch to rescue, triage and treating victims, then "decontamination of persons". Police would be responsible for the control of people kept inside "the cordon" while the National Health Service (NHS) would oversee "the management of those people who are contaminated, potentially contaminated or who are in fear of having been contaminated". MASS DECONTAMINATIONS In harrowing detail, the document explains how bodies would have to be quickly removed and survivors would have to be separated into male and female, strip off and be decontaminated. "The prompt evacuation (removal of casualties from the scene of contamination), disrobing (undressing is a critical step in reducing exposure to CBRN(e) materials) and decontamination of those affected is crucial to save life and reduce impacts," it reads. Three types of decontamination will be used; initial, mass and clinical. Initial decontamination involves using "an immediately available method of decontamination" on all "disrobed casualties" as a priority by any emergency services on-scene. "It is recognised by all agencies that this may carry risk of exposure too cold for certain groups (e.g. children, the elderly, and the injured)," the document adds. NHS 'OVERWHELMED' If the number of people requiring decontamination "has overwhelmed, or threatens to overwhelm NHS capacity," the London Fire Brigade will "initiate mass decontamination procedures". "Due care must be taken to maintain the privacy and dignity of individuals," the sombre instructions read. "The process requires the removal of all clothing and belongings prior to decontamination. "The provision of separate facilities for males and females is important, as is respect towards beliefs and values." It adds: "Decontamination requires a high-level of compliance and consideration should also be given to language barriers and the needs of those with disabilities." 9 This document shows some of the strategies in place to deal with a nuke incident Credit: London Resilience Forum 9 Agencies are urged to make sure their staff are fully trained to deal with an attack Credit: Getty 9 This graphic from the papers show some of the financial impacts an attack may have Credit: London Resilience Forum Medical procedures to treat patients affected by or contaminated with nuclear materials will also be carried out by trained staff in Powered Respiratory Protection Suits (PRPS) or other appropriate PPE and "patients will be triaged according to clinical need". Soon after a nuclear blast, a communication group will be set up to co-ordinate information given to the press and media. "Key messaging regarding any deployment of assets (including military assets) should come through the communication group," the documents state. Those who have survived the blast will need to be evacuated and placed in shelters and an Evacuations and Shelter Co-ordinating Group would be formed to carry out the mammoth task. A "Survivor Reception Centre" would be set up to co-ordinate "medical counter measures" and deal with the logistics of helping thousands of displaced people - including providing food and transport. ROYALS MONITORED Threats to "strategically significant locations and events" and the security of royals and diplomats would be closely monitored. In the medium team focus would extend to the decontamination of buildings and the environment, the preservation of evidence, contact tracing for those who may have been exposed to nuclear material and help for animals and wildlife that may have been affected by the blast. The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) would lead on the decontamination of buildings and infrastructure. Support would also be available for the main responders from a group called the Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE) - Specialist Response Team, which is managed by the Ministry of Defence through a contractor, the documents reveal. They would provide "authoritative scientific advice and support to the Police on Radiological and Nuclear incidents" although further information on this group is redacted from the documents. The Met Office would provide nuclear "plume modelling" to emergency responders while the Environment Agency would provide guidance "likely remotely via telephone" about the disposal of contaminated waste and drainage systems. MASS CASUALTIES The NHS would coordinate health care across the city by establishing a command centre and collating the "numbers and types of casualties presenting". The documents note how some casualties may leave the scene and escape to NHS sites outside of London, so hospitals, clinics and GP surgeries outside of the capital should be prepared. NHS England would ensure that hospitals have access to antidotes and prophylaxis treatments, which would prevent an increase in the incidence of thyroid cancers following a nuke attack. The department would also distribute "clinical countermeasures across London". The Department of Health would set up contact tracing which would identify people who may have been exposed to contaminants - similar to the Track and Trace service set up during Covid. Again some of the information about the health response is redacted. TOP SECRET MEETINGS The incident would be declared Top Secret, which is the highest of the three Government Security Classification levels. Top Secret meetings during the attack response would have to be held in person and on site, and "there is unlikely to be any remote dial in or conferencing allowed" it is stated. "Some people may require security clearance, but this is not always practical or achievable and information may need to be shared on a 'need to know' basis," one of the documents, entitled the London Strategic Co-ordination Protocol, adds. Scientists would be called up to advise first responders and the wider public on how to cope with a nuclear attack. A Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE) group, would be activated by the Cabinet Office Briefing Room (COBR). BOFFINS IN CHARGE A Scientific and Technical Advice Cell (STAC) would also be set up "to advise on issues such as the impact on the health of the population, public safety, environmental protection, and sampling and monitoring of any contaminants." The group would write a report which would "pool available information and arrive, as far as possible, at a common view on the scientific and technical merits of different courses of action". Churches and religious groups would be tasked with providing support to survivors and their loved ones at hospitals and temporary mortuary facilities. Work would also need to be done to ensure any food products that are suspected or known to be contaminated do not enter the food chain. Satellite pics show Putin modernising Russia's closest nuke sites to Britain Beyond the immediate fireball and fallout, the stash of documents lay out an extensive vision for "recovery". They talk about "rebuilding, restoring and rehabilitating the community". A "Recovery Coordinating Group" would be established to try and rebuild London piece by piece - involving schools, faith groups, private businesses and mental health care. "Recovery in the aftermath of a CBRN(e) incident may take months or even years," it states. "The approach to recovery may need to address the enduring human, physical, environmental, social and economic consequences. "It may also need to include the ongoing collation of evidence, site cleaning, as well as impacts on public health and communities. "Support from the private sector, voluntary organisations and the wider community may be necessary." SURVIVORS 'TRAUMATISED' A Humanitarian Assistance Steering Group (HASG) would be set up to help meet the needs of those affected by the blast in the short, medium and long term. This would include support to survivors who have been decontaminated and "no longer present a cross contamination risk". Referrals to mental health support would be made for survivors and front-line workers traumatised by what they have seen. "Human impacts may be both complex and protracted, and the psychological effects on individuals and communities may be severe," the documents state. "The survivors of a CBRN(e) incident are likely to have been through a traumatic experience. "Those who do not require hospital treatment will need to be directed to a Survivor Reception Centre, where they can be met by the Police and other services for support." 'NEW NORMALITY' The Recovery Co-ordination Framework document states its main aim is to "work together to coordinate an effective emergency response to save and protect life, preserve evidence, minimise the impact on London's communities and facilitate recovery." It also aims to "mitigate and minimise the impact of contaminants on people and the environment" and offer "survivor and humanitarian assistance" to casualties before steering towards "recovery and the return to a new normality". Each agency and department has undergone training on how to deal with nuclear incidents, and must ensure training is reviewed and revisited regularly. Agencies are also urged to "consider how you would work with IT and communications lock-down" in the event of a large-scale attack. The papers also point out that a nuclear attack could have an even greater impact on poorer areas of London and make existing inequalities worse. "The unequal risk and impact of incidents have the potential to exacerbate existing health inequalities and cause new disparities across communities in London," it reads. Funding for emergency response in the wake of an attack is also set out in the papers. The government would consider providing financial support in the event of an "exceptional emergency" but local authorities should be prepared to "bear the costs". Local councils will also co-ordinate donations from concerned members of the public. The four documents obtained by The Sun were written by the London Resilience Group, which is funded and governed by the Greater London Authority, London Local Authorities and London Fire Commissioner.
NDTV
17-07-2025
- NDTV
2-Day Anti-Terror Drill Across Delhi Starts Today
New Delhi: A two-day anti-terror preparedness exercise began in the national capital on Thursday, with drills scheduled at more than 10 locations across Delhi on July 17 and 18. The drills aim to test the readiness and coordination of various agencies in handling potential terror-related situations. Delhi Police and other stakeholder agencies are taking part in the exercise to validate their preparedness and response. The general public has been advised to cooperate during the drills and not to fall for rumours or panic due to increased security presence. This exercise follows a large-scale drill conducted last month at Rajiv Chowk Metro Station. Held on the night of June 27-28, between 1:05 AM and 4:25 AM, the mock drill aimed to assess the emergency response and coordination among agencies in the event of a major crisis. The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) led the multi-agency mega mock exercise, which simulated Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) threats, terrorist attacks, hostage situations, and IED blasts. A total of 594 personnel took part in the operation, which involved teams from the CISF, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), National Security Guard (NSG), Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC), Delhi Metro Rail Police (DMRP), Delhi Fire Service, medical teams, Delhi Police, SWAT, the Intelligence Bureau, New Delhi Municipal Committee (NDMC), Delhi Traffic Police and the Disaster Control Department (DCD). As per the CISF, "Over 594 personnel from the CISF, NDRF, NSG, DMRC, Delhi Police, SWAT, IB, NDMC, DMRP, DCD, Fire & Medical Services, and Delhi Traffic Police participated--strengthening preparedness, inter-agency coordination, and public safety". Senior officials, including G Shivakumar, DIG/DMRC, and Ashok Jalwaniya, Sr. Commandant, were present during the exercise. The mock drill concluded with a debriefing session led by senior officers from the participating agencies.
Euractiv
15-07-2025
- Health
- Euractiv
EU health security planning prioritises protective equipment
The EU is putting personal protective equipment (PPE) at the heart of its health security strategy. With the launch of its first-ever Stockpiling Strategy and Medical Countermeasures Strategy, the European Commission aims to ensure swift access to PPE and other essential tools to protect workers and citizens in future crises. Europe faces rising threats from pandemics, armed conflicts, chemical, biological and radiological exposure and nuclear (CBRN) attacks, and PPE is now viewed as critical not only for healthcare professionals, but also for care home staff, civil protection teams and humanitarian workers. Commissioner for Equality, Preparedness and Crisis Management, Hadja Lahbib, said, 'We know the threats we face. And we know we can handle them. Hybrid attacks, power blackouts, extreme weather, and spreading diseases. These are no longer distant risks. That is why we are moving preparedness from the sidelines to the frontline of our defence.' The Preparedness Strategy, adopted in March 2025, reflects this shift toward resilience, placing PPE on equal footing with vaccines and diagnostics. It also introduces preparedness roadmaps, a priority list of medical countermeasures, and sentinel systems like wastewater monitoring. To support rapid deployment, the Commission is reinforcing its industrial base through EU FAB's ever-warm production and the new RAMP UP partnership. From strategy to action The Stockpiling Strategy establishes an EU network to coordinate reserves across Member States, improve visibility, reduce duplication, and guide joint recommendations. In a statement to Euractiv, 3M welcomed stronger EU coordination on health preparedness. 'The two EU strategies underscore the critical importance of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) in safeguarding frontline workers and the general population,' said Maxime Bureau, 3M Director of EU Government Affairs. 'The EU Stockpiling Network shows the EU's commitment to enhancing coordination among EU countries, ensuring transparency in the management and procurement of critical medical countermeasures, including PPE. As we move forward, it is essential to centralise actions at EU level to ensure a unified and efficient response to health emergencies, leveraging collective resources and expertise for the benefit of all Member States,' said Bureau. The Commission expects this network to map national reserves, including their locations, contents and management, to improve coordination and crisis response. Strengthening EU PPE reserves As part of its wider preparedness push, the EU is expanding rescEU, originally created for wildfire response, to include pandemics and CBRN threats. 'One lesson learnt from the COVID-19 pandemic was the importance of developing and sustaining comprehensive medical stockpiles.' These reserves now cover PPE, vaccines, medical devices and countermeasures for threats like zoonotic diseases and burns. To improve sustainability, the EU is testing virtual stockpiling and vendor-based models to reduce waste and ensure access without constant replenishment. In emergencies, rescEU allows direct or joint procurement and can cover up to 100% of transport costs. Mobilising partnerships The strategy also promotes public-private and civil-military partnerships to streamline logistics and supply chains. These collaborative models are seen as critical to delivering PPE and other stockpiled goods effectively during crises. This includes enhanced logistics and a fresh supply chain assessment for countermeasures not on the Union's critical medicines list, such as PPE or diagnostics. 'We will work with European companies in every Member State to make sure essential supplies, like food, water, medicines, masks, and testing kits, are ready when we need them,' said Commissioner Lahbib. Driving innovation, preparedness To improve readiness, HERA will continue to lead emergency procurement, manufacturing and R&D. Its 2026 Medifence initiative aims to stockpile reusable PPE and support innovation in biosensors and drug platforms. Meanwhile, the Medical Countermeasures Accelerator will help close innovation gaps in PPE, diagnostics, vaccines and treatments, offering regulatory and financial support. HERA is also piloting a shelf-life extension scheme to reduce PPE waste. Together, HERA and the Accelerator show the EU's broader shift from stockpiling alone to long-term innovation and preparedness. The pandemic demonstrated the need for consistent funding. In response, the Commission has allocated over €5 billion from 2021–2027 via EU4Health, Horizon Europe and rescEU. Future funding will be debated during the next EU budget round. MEP Nicolás González Casares warned that funding must match ambition. 'The truth is that the EU relies heavily on imports from China for much of its required PPE,' he said. 'While Horizon Europe and EU4Health can support R&D for more sustainable and scalable PPE, there should be European-specific funds for these needs. Otherwise, we risk diverting investment away from medical needs that are no less important.' He called for financial tools to ensure both rapid response and long-term security. 'We have been discussing how to reinforce Europe's security strategy. Let's allocate targeted funds for the short-term and long-term reinforcement of strategic supply resources.' Leaving no one behind Equity is central to the EU's PPE strategy. González Casares stressed that distribution must go beyond hospitals, saying: 'There are two levels at which this issue is addressed: one related to ordinary shortages and the other related to crisis management' 'Obviously, the supply strategy must address both needs, as well as distribution. Not only is direct healthcare at hospitals a need, but so are other things. Care homes, humanitarian actors, and civil protection teams must also be covered.' This reflects the Commission's commitment to ensuring shared EU resources benefit all Member States. Looking ahead, the success of both strategies will hinge on implementation. Key milestones now include the operational launch of the EU Stockpiling Network, deployment of the Medical Countermeasures Accelerator, and upcoming initiatives like Medifence in 2026. With funding discussions tied to the next Multiannual Financial Framework, the coming weeks will be crucial to ensure the EU's ambition for strategic autonomy and crisis resilience translates into concrete preparedness on the ground. [Edited By Brian Maguire | Euractiv's Advocacy Lab ]
Telegraph
06-07-2025
- Politics
- Telegraph
Twenty years on from 7/7, we have learned nothing
As our thoughts turn to the terror attacks which rocked London 20 years ago tomorrow, the Russian Federation is – according to the Dutch government – now responsible for thousands of chemical weapon attacks in Ukraine. The war in Ukraine is now heartbreakingly similar to the trench warfare of WW1. The casualty rate is similar and now the Russians are trying to break the stalemate with gas as the Germans did at the second battle of Ypres in April 1915. As then, the lack of respirators initially was decisive: but the delivery of protective equipment to the frontline in WW1 nullified this dreadful weapon, as it should in Ukraine once British masks arrive in the coming weeks. Twenty years ago, at the time of 7/7, I was commanding the UK's Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) defence force and we were on operations in Iraq. We were dealing with a potential Al Qaeda biological weapon attack against British troops in southern Iraq. Though much about that episode is still confidential, the basic detail is in my memoir Chemical Warrior. That situation ultimately turned out to be a false alarm, but it brought conventional operations to a halt for 48 hours as my team and I dealt with the threat. This is when I began to think that if you had no morals or scruples you would use chemical weapons all the time. In his brilliant autobiography Nine Lives, Aimen Dean, a jihadist turned MI6 agent working within Al Qaeda, details how the terror organisation was planning to use and develop chemical and biological weapons. This is undoubtedly still an aspiration of ISIS and other jihadist groups. What has vexed me for some time is the thought that had 7/7 been a CBRN attack, God only knows what the death toll might have been. I saw at close hand the vile Assad regime killing thousands of Syrian civilians with the deadly nerve agent Sarin, but also with much more readily available chlorine. When I was fighting with the Peshmerga against ISIS, in 2015-17, the terrorists frequently fired mortars at us full of mustard agent aka mustard gas. ISIS also tried to obtain highly enriched uranium to make an improvised nuclear device which could have devastated whole towns and villages. The successors of the 7/7 jihadists have tried and, so far, failed to devastate the hated West with some form of CBRN attack. Long may this continue, but we must not drop our guard. It is not just the terrorists who view this type of attack as the gold standard, but also tyrants and rogue states. The dictator of North Korea had his stepbrother assassinated with the nerve agent VX, and my hometown of Salisbury was attacked by Russian hitmen on the orders of Putin himself, with Novichok, the deadliest chemical man has ever produced. There was enough Novichok used in the attack to kill half the population of Salsibury. Nonetheless there are countermeasures for every threat. It is the one that is ignored or put in the too difficult bracket that will cause us serious harm. The routine use of readily available toxic industrial chemicals like chlorine in Syria, and of 'non lethal' CS gas in Ukraine, has drawn very little comment from the international community. Tyrants like Putin may become emboldened to use more toxic and lethal substances or pathogens against us. The awful events of 7/7 showed us long ago that it's a dangerous world, full of people who wish us harm, and it is much more dangerous today. But for too long we have allowed evil to flourish without action or even protest. Worse, we have failed to strengthen our defences: we have used creative accounting to pretend spending was adequate, rather than actually finding more money for the armed services, the intelligence agencies, the special forces and all the others who guard us while we sleep. Going forward we need to remember that stark lesson we should have learned 20 years ago. It won't matter how good (or not) our other public services or our welfare system may be if our defences are inadequate.
India Gazette
28-06-2025
- India Gazette
Mega mock drill conducted at Rajiv Chowk metro station to test emergency response
New Delhi [India], June 28 (ANI): A multi-agency mega mock exercise was conducted at Rajiv Chowk Metro Station in Delhi during the intervening night of June 27 and 28, from 01:05 AM to 04:25 AM, to assess the preparedness and coordinated response of various agencies in the event of a major contingency. The drill imitated multiple high-risk scenarios, including a Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) attack, a terrorist strike, a hostage situation, and an IED blast. The primary objective of the drill was to evaluate the real-time coordination, crisis response, and operational readiness of the relevant agencies. A total of 594 personnel participated in the exercise, which saw the involvement of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), National Security Guard (NSG), Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC), DMRP, Delhi Fire Service, Medical Services, DCD, Delhi Traffic Police, Delhi SWAT, Delhi Police, New Delhi Municipal Committee (NDMC), and the Intelligence Bureau. Senior officials, including G Shivakumar, DIG/DMRC, and Ashok Jalwaniya, Sr Commandant, were present during the exercise. The mock drill concluded with a debriefing session led by senior officers from the participating units. Earlier, a Joint team of NDRF (National Disaster Response Force), SDRF (State Disaster Response Force) and the Indian Army conducted a mock drill in view of flood prevention and rescue operations at Bada Talab in Madhya Pradesh's Bhopal on Friday. The mock drill aimed to ensure a quick and coordinated response in the event of an emergency, enhance efficiency in rescue and relief operations, and strengthen cooperation and coordination among various agencies. During the joint exercise, relief, search, and rescue operations were demonstrated, taking into account the scenario of a flood. The team practised dealing with emergency situations, such as evacuating people trapped on the island, rescuing those trapped in houses or trees, and saving them with the help of boats and ropes. The team of NDRF-SDRF and army personnel demonstrated their preparations using flood relief equipment and modern techniques. Additional Chief Secretary (ACS, Home) J N Kansotiya said, 'Today, a mock drill was conducted by our Army and SDRF (State Disaster Response Force) team. Efforts were made to deal with flood situations and to rescue people affected by them. Different situations were created in this mock drill, such as rescuing someone stuck on an island or trapped in a house surrounded by water or trees. Our army personnel performed the exercises in the mock drill.' The civil administration takes the assistance of the Army when required during field operations, which helps in saving the lives of people. The SDRF team also gets help with it, he added. (ANI)
