Germany conducted a large-scale civil defense exercise on Wednesday to test the country's ability to deal with chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear threats.
Around 800 emergency workers and 400 extras were seen taking part in training at a football stadium in the western German city of Cologne on Wednesday.
Support the TIME. Preserve the truth.
Professional journalism is in the public interest. Your support helps it remain independent and credible. Contribute too. 1 euro makes a difference.
Letter to the Reader — Why We're Asking for Your Support ContributeThe scenario involved hazardous materials, and emergency service members were seen practicing decontamination of people, vehicles, and equipment.
According to the Federal Agency for Technical Assistance (THW), the exercise scenario involved an accident at a pesticide manufacturer's factory near the stadium.
A cloud of hazardous substances then spread across the region, to which emergency workers had to respond.
German news agency dpa reported that the focus of the exercise was a new unit that is planned to be operational by the end of 2026 to respond to chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear threats.
It is called “rescEU-CBRN-DECON” and is operated jointly by the THW, the Federal Police and the Federal Office for Civil Protection and Disaster Relief (BBK). It is funded by the European Union.