A witness has told how he saw people being lowered from an SAS Blue Thunder helicopter onto roofs below being being picked up again. Mark Stevenson videoed the aircraft as it flew over the skies above Bury deep into the night.
It is understood the helicopter and those onboard were taking part in a training session aimed at giving them the skills to go places which are too small for the aircraft to land. Mr Stevenson told the Manchester Evening News the chopper was in use for several hours.
He told how he watched the helicopter circle around the skies of the Greater Manchester town. He said he could see people abseiling down from the aircraft onto a roof below.
The exercise is known as fast-roping and it involves people descending using a thick rope in a similar way to a firepole. First used in the Falklands War, it is used for getting into areas which are too small to allow the helicopter to touch down.
It sees the person descending by holding onto the rope with gloved hands and sliding down. Several people can use the rope at the same time making it a fast method of deploying troops to difficult areas.
According to witnesses, the helicopters were in operation for several hours on Tuesday evening (March 15). Mr Stevenson, who shared the videos with the Manchester Evening News said the operation was centred around Bury Training and Safety Centre, in Hinds Lane.
The chopper was deploying cables and that figures were seen abseiling down to the roof. According to Mark, the helicopters then circled back around to pick the same people up from the roof.
The purpose behind the operation is currently unknown. Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service is not believed to have been involved.
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