A COUNTER-TERRORISM exercise is taking place in Crystal Palace this week.

Emergency services will be tackling the aftermath of a make-believe chemical attack at the national sports arena in Ledrington Road until Thursday (October 30).

Parts of the complex will be closed off during the event and helicopters will be seen flying overhead on some days.

A Home Office spokesman said: “The multi-agency event will exercise the response to the aftermath of a terrorist attack using a chemical device and in particular the recovery and identification of fatalities of the incident."

The spokesman added: “The exercise is part of the regular range of civil resilience planning and preparation exercises and is designed to rehearse procedures and provide opportunities to consolidate multi-agency working.“

The exercise is being partially funded by the European Commission and will involve participants and observers from a range of EU countries.