Police forces in Tarbes and Lourdes are preparing for the risk of a terrorist attack. A large-scale exercise involved 45 participants at the Méga CGR to simulate an attack, including a chemical one. The objective is to test the reflexes and coordination of the local forces.
Four terrorists armed with knives and firearms carried out an attack at the Méga CGR in Tarbes, in the Arsenal district, surrounded by police tape to cordon off a security perimeter. One of them “targeted customers” at the counter while the others entered darkened rooms during film screenings, where they released a chemical substance.
This was the scenario envisioned for the annual exercise of the national police focused on the risk of a chemical attack, on Tuesday morning. 25 police officers from Tarbes and Lourdes took part in the simulation exercise, along with 20 students from Saint-Pierre High School who acted as the public, with the assailants played by reservists.
“Avoiding a state of shock”
“Our job is to imagine the worst-case scenarios to be prepared when the attack occurs. It’s not the day a disaster strikes that we should question how to react. It’s during peacetime that we should prepare for war,” explained Vincent Gorre, the departmental director of the national police.
“The aim of this exercise is to avoid the state of shock among the security forces in the department on the day because it is they, the first responders, who will be most at risk,” as expressed by Sophie Miegeville, the prefect’s chief of staff, who highlighted the increased vigilance level in our territory since it has been targeted by numerous attacks, such as at Bataclan, Charlie Hebdo, Hyper Cacher, Nice, and even with knives.
“The goal is to acquire reflexes, to be able to secure the area, and ideally, to be able to neutralize the assailants while waiting for level 2 units like RAID or GIGN to intervene. The prefect’s role is to coordinate all services in the field,” emphasized the deputy prefect.
“Pushing the police officers to their limits”
Every year, “we try to find a new location,” such as the Méridien shopping center in Ibos or the Sanctuary of Lourdes. In 2026, the choice was made for the Méga CGR in the Arsenal district, with several darkened rooms during film screenings.
“The exercise aims to push the police officers to their limits, with the goal of learning from mistakes,” added Vincent Gorre. It also involves self-reflection and using equipment they are not accustomed to, such as chemical-proof waterproof suits “that allow for safe intervention” but are not comfortable at all.
