During a training exercise in Manchester, England where police simulated a terrorist attack, a man dressed in black garb acting as a suicide bomber yelled, “Allahu Akbar” before he “detonated” a mock explosive device. The use of the common Islamic religious phrase offended many people, leading the Greater Manchester police to apologize.
The popular Islamic declaration “Allahu Akbar” is Arabic for “God is great.” It is often exclaimed before, during, or after terrorist attacks, beheadings, and other havoc-wreaking by Muslim terrorists.
The Independent reported that community groups were offended by the religious stereotypes used in the training exercise and that it would only serve to fuel anti-Islam prejudice. As one community group put it, “A terrorist can be anyone.” Critics claim this training exercise unfairly linked terrorism with Islam.
Here’s video of the training exercise where many volunteers acted as victims. They wore protective coverings for their ears and eyes, and also used fake blood: