A helicopter-borne team of SAS 'counter-terrorism experts' landed on the roof of a fire station near to Manchester city centre.
Two choppers were seen hovering over the Manchester Central Fire Station in Ancoats , before crew members abseiled out of the aircrafts onto a roof.
A number of eyewitnesses said the helicopters were part of the elite SAS counter-terrorism unit nicknamed 'Blue Thunder'.
The blue AS365N3 Dauphins took off from the City Airport and Heliport in Salford, according to onlookers.
They flew over Trafford Park and towards the Manchester Central Fire Station on Thompson Street in Ancoats.
At least four armed forces members were then seen to descend from one of the choppers onto the flat roof of a building.
They climbed down a rope using a technique known as fast-roping.
An SUV vehicle was seen taking the crew away from the scene almost immediately after they landed at the station.
One resident said the helicopters came within 'spitting distance' of his balcony and he 'jumped out of his skin' when he saw the operation take place.
A Ministry of Defence spokesman said: “We can confirm that a military training exercise took place in Manchester yesterday evening.
“We have some of the best armed forces in the world and training maintains our readiness to respond.”
The 'Blue Thunder' helicopter team landed in London Bridge in the wake of the terror attack on June 3, 2017.
It arrived shortly after the attack had ended, but made their presence clear at the scene of the tragedy.
The twin-engine Eurocopters can hold up to 12 passengers.
They have special radio communication suites and can provide overwatch as well as rapid transport for SAS commandos.
