'Suicide bomber' blows himself up in all-night anti terror training exercise at Britain's second-biggest shopping mall

Explosions and gunfire could be heard ringing out from Britain's second busiest shopping centre this morning in one of the biggest counter terrorism training exercises to ever take place on these shores.

A 'suicide bomber' detonated his explosive in the middle of the Trafford Centre in Manchester, 'killing and wounding' dozens of the 800 volunteers recruited to test the emergency response to an extremist attack in the wake of ISIS led assaults on Paris and Brussels.


Bloody victims were seen running for their lives during the mock-up, while scores more were forced to play dead as the 'terrorists' attempted to seize control of the shopping mall.
 
The terrifying enactment began shortly after midnight this morning, codenamed Exercise Winchester Accord, when a man dressed all in black walked in and shouted at the would be shoppers.

Seconds later an explosion rocked the food hall as he detonated a bomb, 'killing and wounding' many in the vicinity, all of whom were wearing ear defenders and safety glasses and had been given gruesome, blood injuries by make-up artists.

As their screams echoed through the building, a masked gunman then entered, firing a number of rounds, leaving more people dead and injured.
 



Agony: One actor lies screaming in pain after sustaining both facial and torso wounds as a result of the 'bombing' that started the exercise 

Pleading: Two shoppers seek cover beside one of the Trafford Centre's restaurants as they both lie wounded following the initial attack
 
The terror cell then continued in their attempts to maim and kill as the emergency response got underway, their targets hiding behind walls and in restaurants.

A squadron of police cars, fire engines and ambulances raced to the scene, while masked counter-terror officers made their way inside hoping to gain control and quell the deadly assault - an operation which is believed to have been ongoing until 6am.
The exercise followed similar simulations to have taken place in London, Glasgow and Essex in recent months.
 Taking hold: The first of the armed police response can be seen entering through one of the Manchester mall's front doors 
Situation: An ambulance support unit is seen pictured outside the Trafford Centre, which will open again this morning following the exercise 


'Suicide bomber' blows himself up in all-night anti terror training exercise at Britain's second-biggest shopping mall