Title:EXERCISE XYLOPHONE 16-18 JULY 1993 [Main Title]
Film Number:DED 237
Other titles:PORTON DOWN VIDEO COLLECTION [Allocated Series Title]
Summary: Exercise involving the deactivation of a possible explosive chemical device. This "device" has been set up as a booby trap in a building belong to a chemical company; in the exercise scenario, the building is the location of a proposed royal visit.
Description: (Tape 1) Opening shots show the interior of the building in question, which is semi-derelict; at a desk is evidence of bomb assembly - wire, cartridge cases, Araldite etc. There are partition walls, and the "device" itself is in the roof eaves. Officer on telephone reports an "incident at Woolwich Arsenal" - suspected booby trap bomb with a visible sensor. Police and military briefings are called. The site is evacuated, and an EOD (explosive ordnance disposal) team in protective clothes enter the building with a video camera. Outside, a cherrypicker is used to look through the skylight windows. Contamination control line is set - teams make further preparations and lengthy briefings take place. The Fire Brigade stand by.
(Tape 2) The windows of the building are boarded and scaffolded to limit possible blast damage, and the skylight is covered with blue sheeting. Further briefings and control room scenes with use of CCTV. Final approach - teams dismantle the device safely; individual components are boxed and removed. Aerial shots of both exercise area and central London. Final shots of interior of "TAG support" office.
Alternative Title:PORTON DOWN VIDEO COLLECTION [Allocated Series Title]
Colour:Colour
Digitised:
Object_Number:DED 237
Sound:Sound
Access Conditions:
Featured Period:
Production Date:1993-07
Production Country: GB
Production Details: Photographic Section Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment Porton Down (Production company)
Personalities, Units and Organisations:
Keywords:
Physical Characteristics: Colour format: Colour
Sound format: Sound
Soundtrack language: English
Title language: English
Subtitle language: None
Technical Details: Format: U-matic (large) (Ampex)
Number of items/reels/tapes: 2
Footage: 60 & 30; Running time: 60 mins (ca)
