Police warn rail firms on dealing with 'shooters'

Police have drawn up guidance for rail companies on how to respond to Mumbai-style terror attacks.

The British Transport Police (BTP) said the move was not in response to any specific intelligence, although it stressed that the current UK threat level was "substantial".

Guidance to station and train staff includes how to recognise a particular style of any attack, what actions to take and how to ensure passenger and their own safety.

Paul Nicholas, BTP head of crime and security, states: "Having seen the new style of attack option being used in Mumbai, and more recent events in Norway, it is considered by the Department for Transport (DfT) and BTP sensible that we should consider the scenario in the same way that we do other potential (and more familiar) terrorists threats to the railways as an incident of this nature could happen anywhere and any time, particularly if it is a crowded place."

The BTP document is headed: "Active Shooter - Attacks using firearms - Advice to Rail Organisations."

It states: "Media reporting has publicised the potential threat of a terrorist attack by Marauding Active Shooters, as seen in the India city of Mumbai in 2008 and more recently by a lone shooter as in Norway.

"An attack using firearms is considered to be one option that could be utilised by International terrorists groups."

Police forces in England Scotland and Wales have been training officers using "Stay Safe" guidance in relation to firearms attacks and have provided the business community with similar advice.

The document has been discussed and "fully endorsed" by the RMT union. But leader Bob Crow attacked plans to axe more than 1,000 station employees leaving hundreds of stations unstaffed.

He said: "Train and station staff are the eyes and ears of the service.

"You cannot have effective emergency and evacuation procedures in place if you don't have staff to deal with them."