ARMED police swooped on a suspected terrorist attack – only to discover it was an organised Halloween event.

A team of Sussex Police officers descended on the South Downs after a worried member of the public reported seeing men dressed in black, wearing balaclavas and carrying guns in Hurstpierpoint on Sunday at 8.45pm.

It is thought more than ten people were detained, with handguns and rifles seized before organisers could reassure police it was all part of horror experience Outbreak Brighton. No-one was arrested or charged and the imitation firearms were discovered to be BB guns.

Partcipant Elouisa Crowther, 25, of Hove, was detained as part of the raid and said it “killed the buzz of the event."

She said: “We were kept there for more than half an hour, frisked and had our details taken before being allowed to carry on with the event.

“I was the only girl detained and it was quite scary. No-one really knew how to respond and it seemed a little heavy handed. Apart from that it was a great event.”

More than 1,000 participants took part over four days of Outbreak events.

Organisers said 14 people were so frightened that they could not finish the course and there was five minor injuries dealt with by paramedics on site.

David Parker, of Outbreak, said the 60 cast and crew members went to a lot of effort to make the first year of the event very realistic.

He said: “This was a genuine case of crossed wires – the event was operated on private land and the local authority was informed.

“But we accept the police had to respond to reports of armed men on the loose.”

Sussex Police superintendent Rex Matthews urged people not to carry imitation firearms in a public place.

He said: “The threat level from international terrorism in Britain is currently assessed as severe and there have been a number of terrorist plots thwarted.

“Incidents such as this are clearly going to worry people who were unaware of the intentions of the event organisers.

“We would ask anyone organising such events to be mindful of how their actions could be perceived by others and are likely to attract the attention of the police - inadvertently placing those involved at significant risk.”

He said police did not intend to halt any Halloween celebrations but reminded people to use “common sense” when getting involved in activities.

He reminded people to continue reporting anything suspicious to police.

 

REVIEW: What reporter Flora Thompson thought of Outbreak

ARE you afraid of the dark?

If not, you will be after taking part in the latest spooky experience to hit Sussex.

A nervously chatty crowd gathered under the arches of Brighton Station on Saturday night to take part in Outbreak.

Everyone was full of anticipation about the evening ahead.

There were strict orders to wear waterproof clothing or gym gear. Most followed the rules – just as well as everyone was muddy and wet after – while others dressed in military costume.

What followed was completely unpredictable and unprecedented.

A bus abandoned us in the darkest depths of the South Downs – where the experience plays out across deserted fields and forests, marshalled by ‘armed’ guards.

Anyone who sniggered was punished.

The trail is part assault course, part mock ‘medical experiment’, part spooky show.

There were periods of running, climbing, crawling, challenging your endurance.

But the real test was seeing who could keep their nerve.

Especially as you worked your way through the course, not knowing what challenge or danger would be waiting for you next.

Moments when you were left to navigate through unknown parts of a forest or walk through tunnels in the pitch black – unsure of what could be around the corner – were the most eerie.

You were at times stopped in your tracks by an infected creature, zombie or ghoul, and at points chased by them.

The event is described as an extreme immersive physical horror experience and it definitely lives up to its name.

But seasoned horror thrill seekers should not liken it to the famed London zombie runs or another intense blood- curling scream inducing event, as this may not have the same effect.

Nevertheless it was fun, packed with spooky moments, completely unlike any other entertainment and a brilliant experience.