The emergency exercise by the security forces and health system last week simulated a smallpox attack by terrorists, Haaretz reported Wednesday. The participants were asked to respond to an imaginary scenario in which terrorists carrying the smallpox virus had disguised themselves as European tourists, and purposely passed through crowded places in order to infect as many people as possible.

Scores of representatives from dozens of countries took part in the exercise. One of the scenarios rehearsed involved an imaginary purchase of tens of thousands of medicines against the illness.

The fire department of Tel Aviv took part in the exercise along with the fire departments of Herzliya, K'far Sava and Petach Tikva.

The exercise simulated the infection of about 1,000 people with the virus. The 'identification and cleansing' crews and the medical staff were not told in advance what biological material they would be facing.