'Help to combat real-life threats'

Manchester Police's counter-espionage programme and was designed to test the UK's resilience against intelligence-gathering and physical disruption by a hostile state.

- By Marco Giannangeli

BRITISH troops have mounted a top-secret operation in support of police to test how hostile states such as China and Russia might gather intelligence and carry out sabotage attacks on critical national infrastructure, the Sunday Express can reveal.

The covert mission took place in Manchester in June and has only now come to light through an internal Royal Marines publication.

It saw plain-clothed soldiers from 45 Commando disguised as foreign operatives to infiltrate security sites across the city including Manchester Airport.

Codenamed Lightning Manc, the exercise formed part of Greater Manchester Police’s counterespionage programme and was designed to test the UK’s resilience against intelligence-gathering and physical disruption by a hostile state.

Crucially, the scenario went beyond surveillance.