Montreal·Video

Mock terrorist attack puts Montreal's first responders to the test

The sound of gunshots and explosions echoed in downtown Montreal on Saturday, all part of a drill to test how first responders would handle a terrorist attack.

More than 350 people participate in drill, including paramedics and firefighters

SIMULATION: Montreal simulates terrorist attack

9 years ago
Duration 2:03
Montreal first responders practise how they would handle a chemical attack on a bus during a day of simulated terrorist attacks in the city.

The sound of gunshots and explosions echoed in  downtown Montreal today, but there was no threat to the public.

It was all part of an exercise to simulate a terrorist attack, and test how first responders would handle that kind of emergency.

The drill closed down several downtown streets for much of the day.

More than 350 people participated, including paramedics, fire fighters and other emergency response workers.

Montreal police Cmdr. Ian Lafrenière said the goal of the exercise was to see how responders "work together."

The exercise relied on volunteers to help act out several different scenarios, including a chemical attack on a city bus and a shooting at the Black Watch Armoury.