Counter-terrorism exercises held in Warsaw

''The most important matter was to examine previously adopted procedures and verify where there are errors, so that these procedures can be improved upon,'' commented Poland's Chief of Police, Krzysztof Gajewski.

In the simulated terrorist attack on the museum of the National Bank of Poland, four masked men took a group of mock tourists hostage.

The attackers opened fire on police, and 'wounded' tourists were evacuated from the building. Negotiations with and then arrests of attackers were likewise carried out, among other potential developments.

Several thousand functionaries, including police officers, firefighters and paramedics, as well as members of the Internal Security Agency (ABW), the Border Guard, the Military Police, the Government Security Centre (RCB) and the Centre for Counter-Terrorism (CAT), took part in various operations across the capital.

Counter-terrorism exercises held at the museum of the National Bank of Poland. Photo: PAP/Radek Pietruszka

The threat of Islamic terrorist attacks in Europe was reinforced this year by January's Charlie Hebdo killings in Paris and the subsequent shooting in Denmark.

At present, Belgium and the Netherlands have an ''imminent danger'' warning level, while the UK and Germany are on high alert.

Although a former deputy chief of Poland's Internal Security Agency (ABW) claimed in December 2014 that plans for Islamic terrorist attacks on Poland have been foiled in the past, the official warning level is currently lower than in many other EU countries.

Minister of the Interior Teresa Piotrowska, who watched Wednesday's exercises, said that there is no ''special terrorist threat'' at present.

''However, we must be vigilant and prepared for this eventuality,'' she added.

In November 2011, the Internal Security Agency (ABW) arrested a Krakow academic and alleged Polish nationalist who had apparently planned to blow up Poland's parliament while the prime minister and the president were present. (nh)

Source: PAP/IAR