Tasmania Police locked down a Hobart shopping arcade on Wednesday night to conduct an active attacker training exercise.
Officers, including general duties and specialist units, entered the Cat and Fiddle Arcade following a simulated knife attack on shoppers and staff.
The scenario involved an offender armed with a box cutter targeting people in a crowded retail setting.
Simulated victims with stab wounds sought shelter in nearby shops, while retail workers barricaded doors and sheltered in place.
Police moved through the arcade with imitation firearms drawn before locating and apprehending the offender.
The exercise was conducted after hours to minimise public disruption, but was designed to replicate the conditions of a real incident, including panicked crowds and multiple casualties.
Acting Assistant Commissioner Stuart Wilkinson said the training focused on the initial response to a fast-moving attack.
“Retail operators are often the first people confronted in the early moments of an incident like this,” he said.
“Giving them the opportunity to practise their own emergency procedures alongside police is vital, as their ability to respond quickly, safely and calmly can make an enormous difference in protecting themselves, their staff and the public.”
Wilkinson said Tasmania remained a safe place to live, but preparedness was critical.
“While Tasmania is a safe place to live, exercises like this are essential to ensuring we are well prepared for situations that can unfold with little to no warning,” he said.
The drills were funded through the Australia–New Zealand Counter-Terrorism Committee as part of a national counter-terrorism preparedness program.
Wilkinson urged the public to remember three key actions in the event of an attack: Escape, Hide and Tell.
“Being prepared and knowing what to do can save your life and the lives of others,” he said.
