Did you see a low-flying, police helicopter flying over Hendon yesterday?

If so, you were not alone.

After receiving initial reports of the helicopter spotted flying low, people reached out on social media to see if anyone else had seen the somewhat unsettling image.

It has since been revealed that it was taking part in a police training exercise.

More than 500 staff and officers from a variety of agencies took part in Exercise Treblerope, a three-day response exercise for police, military and other partners from Monday to Wednesday (November 28-30).

Yesterday was day three of the London-wide exercises, in which officers were tested on their ability to resolve a siege scenario at the Met’s training centre in Aerodrome Road, Hendon between midday and midnight.

This exercise involved a helicopter, which was in the air above the scenario for the bulk of the prcoeedings.

Exercise Treblerope was part of a series of exercises held across the country as part of a programme of national counter terrorism exercises.

It was not in response to any specific threat or intelligence regarding the locations it took place in.

Commander Dean Haydon of the Met’s counter terrorism command said: “The public may have seen extra police and military personnel in some areas and may have heard some noise from firearms being used during the course of the exercise in Hendon but there was absolutely no risk to the public.

“Every effort was made to minimise disruption and I thank the public for their patience.”