{"id":602199,"date":"2026-04-13T23:20:17","date_gmt":"2026-04-13T23:20:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/602199\/"},"modified":"2026-04-13T23:20:17","modified_gmt":"2026-04-13T23:20:17","slug":"warmington-toronto-police-doing-their-best-to-prepare-for-worst","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/602199\/","title":{"rendered":"WARMINGTON: Toronto Police doing their best to prepare for worst"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Toronto & GTA<\/a><\/p>\n

Counterterrorism exercise Vital Archer will take place in city until Wednesday<\/p>\n

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Published Apr 13, 2026 \u00a0\u2022\u00a0 Last updated 41\u00a0minutes ago \u00a0\u2022\u00a0 2 minute read<\/p>\n

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\"PolicePolice dressed in full tactical gear and carrying weapons take part in counterterrorism training exercises in Cobourg. The Canadian Armed Forces, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Ontario Provincial Police, Toronto Police and United States military were among the participants. Photo by PETE FISHER \/TODAY’S NORTHUMBERLAND\u00a0Article content<\/p>\n

It may look like terrorism, but Toronto Police say what you may see this week is actually counterterrorism.<\/p>\n

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It may look like police reacting to a terror attack, but what\u2019s happening is a practice run of that very scenario.<\/p>\n

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Don\u2019t panic if you see it.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is a planned training exercise,\u201d Toronto Police said. \u201cThere is no threat to public safety.\u201d<\/p>\n

The purpose of this mock event is to ensure public safety should there ever be a terror incident. And with the World Cup coming to town this summer and world events being in chaos, police just never know what could happen.<\/p>\n

They have to be prepared for it.<\/p>\n

\"Police Police dressed in full tactical gear and carrying weapons take part in counterterrorism training exercises in Cobourg. The Canadian Armed Forces, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Ontario Provincial Police, Toronto Police and United States military were among the participants. PETE FISHER\/TODAY\u2019S NORTHUMBERLAND\u00a0<\/p>\n

A public safety exercise is taking place in Toronto beginning today through April 15th.<\/p>\n

Disruptions are expected to be minimal, but you may notice police and military personnel, vehicles, and some noise as part of the training.<\/p>\n

This is a planned training exercise \u2014 there is no\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/JvZS1vfKeQ<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Toronto Police (@TorontoPolice) April 13, 2026<\/a>\"opening<\/p>\n

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\u201cA public safety exercise is taking place in Toronto beginning today through April 15th,\u201d Toronto Police said on Monday. \u201cDisruptions are expected to be minimal, but you may notice police and military personnel, vehicles, and some noise as part of the training.\u201d<\/p>\n

Toronto is becoming accustomed to long guns<\/p>\n

Torontonians in recent weeks have already had a taste of this kind of thing with the deployment of Taskforce Guardian<\/a> where police are stationed outside of sporting events or religious sites to deal with modern-day threats.<\/p>\n

But this project will also include military. Toronto Police spokesperson Const. Viktor Sarudi told the Toronto Sun that \u201cExercise Vital Archer is a long-standing, bilateral, interagency training exercise focused on responding to complex, high-risk incidents, including weapons of mass destruction threats.\u201d<\/p>\n

This involves the Canadian Armed Forces, the RCMP and others.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis exercise isn\u2019t directly related to the World Cup, but it helps inform planning for major events in Toronto, including the World Cup, by strengthening coordination and response capabilities across agencies,\u201d Sarudi said. \u201cThis is the first time that Toronto Police has taken part, and the first time a Canadian municipal police service has taken part.\u201d<\/p>\n

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The training is something people noticed in Cobourg down Hwy. 401 over the weekend, as well. In fact, in that case, residents told Today\u2019s Northumberland\u2019s Pete Fisher that they saw police dressed in full tactical gear and carrying weapons while boarding a lake freighter, which was off the shore of Lake Ontario.<\/p>\n

This is expected to happen along Toronto\u2019s waterfront as well.<\/p>\n

Anyone travelling in or around Toronto now until April 15 may see an increased police presence due to a joint training exercise involving @TorontoPolice<\/a>, @CanadianForces<\/a>, @RCMP<\/a> and partner agencies. There is no threat to public safety. We appreciate the public\u2019s understanding and\u2026 https:\/\/t.co\/gY9VBEyrFT<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 OPP Highway Safety Division (@OPP_HSD) April 13, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

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The Breaker\u2019s Bob Mackin said there have been similar exercises that took place last year in British Columbia. But this time there are expected to be Americans involved. However, \u201cthe United States military is participating in the exercise from within the United States.\u201d In this case \u201cthe exercise involves the Canadian Armed Forces, the United States military, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, the Ontario Provincial Police, the Toronto Police Service, and other government partners from both countries.\u201d<\/p>\n

According to Toronto Police, \u201cExercise Vital Archer is a routine, bilateral interagency training exercise and is not connected to any real-world threat.\u201d The training is \u201cdesigned to strengthen coordination and readiness in response to complex, high-risk incidents, including terrorism and other major security events.\u201d<\/p>\n

But it might look real \u2014 in case it ever is real.<\/p>\n

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Play Video\"Toronto Toronto Police Deputy Chief Frank Barredo inspects his officers at a subway station as part of Task Force Guardian as Toronto marked the Jewish holiday of Passover Wednesday, April 1, 2026. HANDOUT\/TORONTO POLICE<\/p>\n

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