Elite forces storm convention centre in mock anti-terror exercise in Czech Republic

Elite forces stormed a convention centre in the biggest security exercise ever to be held in the Czech Republic.

More than 400 police officers, 50 medical officers and six fire brigade units took part in a mock anti-terror drill to free 2,000 ‘hostages’ from the Prague Convention Centre last week.

In a carefully choerographed operation, special forces swooped on the venue – the largest convention venue in the country – to test new security systems installed in the building.

As part of the exercise, 70 armed perpetrators ‘invaded’ a musical performance in the presence of 2,000 visitors – extras, who were freed by the intervention of elite units of the Czech police. Preparation of the event with the Security Director of the PCC took more than a year.

The Prague Congress Centre is the second largest building in terms of engineering technologies in the Czech Republic, and for its location, position and purpose, it is among the Czech Republic’s ‘strategic buildings’.

Over the last two years, the PCC has been working closely with the Integrated Rescue System (IRS).

“The effort to increase the safety of our visitors has naturally led to the idea of carrying out a drill where all IRS groups will be able to prove their skills and test their limits and the Prague Congress Centre will be able to practice the evacuation of a large number of people from such complex premises,” said the Security Director of the PCC, Mr. Jiří Brych.

Within 100 minutes of the intervention, the last “wounded” person was transported to the Královské Vinohrady Faculty Hospital, where medical crews brought dozens of other “wounded” persons. Besides the IRS units, the Fire Brigade of the Prague Congress Centre, which is an integral part of the building, took part and applied its experience in cooperation with Prague firefighters.

Since 2016, the Prague Congress Centre has been constantly investing in security. The modernization of firefighting technologies and the retrofitting of the fire brigade has already been carried out, as well as a complete modernization of the CCTV system. The building is now monitored by more than 300 cameras. All dispatching units have been centralized, and a modern security concept has been set up. Strengthening physical security has also been a part of these changes. The number of security guards has been increased, turnstiles have been installed at the Prague Congress Centre’s entrances, and chip-cards, which contribute to better security of the building and at the same time help when evacuating people, have also been introduced.