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| Terror gas exercises to be held | Terror gas exercises to be held |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Tests to monitor how poisonous gas let off by terrorists might spread are to take place in central London. | Tests to monitor how poisonous gas let off by terrorists might spread are to take place in central London. |
| Harmless perfluorocarbons (PFCs) will be released later this month in Marylebone in an effort to see how vapours move around a built-up area. | Harmless perfluorocarbons (PFCs) will be released later this month in Marylebone in an effort to see how vapours move around a built-up area. |
| A computer model will then be designed for use if there is ever an attack. | |
| The environmental impact of the gas released - equivalent to a return car journey from London to Sheffield - is to be "offset", an official said. | The environmental impact of the gas released - equivalent to a return car journey from London to Sheffield - is to be "offset", an official said. |
| Weather | Weather |
| Similar tests have been carried out recently on the London underground network. | Similar tests have been carried out recently on the London underground network. |
| The PFCs, which are invisible and odourless, will be released in 50 loads over a period of four to six weeks. | The PFCs, which are invisible and odourless, will be released in 50 loads over a period of four to six weeks. |
| Scientists hope to see how they can deal with chemical attacks in all weather conditions, where to position response teams and how best to evacuate attack areas. | Scientists hope to see how they can deal with chemical attacks in all weather conditions, where to position response teams and how best to evacuate attack areas. |
| They will look at the effects of street layout and the size of buildings. | They will look at the effects of street layout and the size of buildings. |
| An official said: "The point we want to be at is that when a frontline team get to the incident, we are running the models and saying 'this is where we want you'." | An official said: "The point we want to be at is that when a frontline team get to the incident, we are running the models and saying 'this is where we want you'." |
| No specific threat | No specific threat |
| He added that the information found could be used in the event of an attack at the 2012 London Olympics or other large-scale events. | He added that the information found could be used in the event of an attack at the 2012 London Olympics or other large-scale events. |
| The official said: "We continue to be concerned about the possibility of terrorists using chemical or biological weapons." | The official said: "We continue to be concerned about the possibility of terrorists using chemical or biological weapons." |
| But the tests were part of a long-term programme rather than a response to a specific threat. | But the tests were part of a long-term programme rather than a response to a specific threat. |
| They are being carried out for the government by university experts air pollution. | They are being carried out for the government by university experts air pollution. |