Behind the scenes at top secret SAS headquarters, where Britain’s most elite killers are deployed at a minute’s notice

THIS is the secret military base where Britain’s most elite assassins can be deployed at a minute’s notice.

The headquarters of the Special Air Service (SAS) regiment, feared by terrorists and rogue militias the world over, is deep in the Herefordshire countryside.

PA:Press Association The so-called Blue Thunder helicopter used by the SAS lands on London Bridge following a terrorist attack in June 2017(/caption)

Special forces backed police as houses searched linked to Manchester suicide attack

Eamonn and James ClarkeThe dramatic raid took place on Elsmore Road in the Fallowfield area of ​​south Manchester(/caption)

Today, their James Bond-esque base houses the elite Blue Thunder team and is shrouded in mystique.

Now a civilian with knowledge of the dark site has spoken to The Sun about life behind the barbed wire.

He said: “So a key area is the motor pool. It’s like a big garage with helicopters parked outside.

“So this is the Blue Thunder hub from where they are sent on tough jobs like the Liverpool taxi attacker.

“The guys who work here are all on pagers – so one will be allowed to be 24 hours away from the motorpool and another will be on an hour’s notice. Another one will be a few minutes away.

“So there’s a big table full of uniforms — they can dress up as paramedics or other emergency workers. They tend to dress normally as police officers.”

The covert unit uses a fleet of Dauphin helicopters, marked in blue and white, which appear to the untrained eye as civilian helicopters.

Blue Thunder, at the front line of the UK’s war on terror and can be deployed anywhere in the UK to respond to a critical incident.

Pictures published in the Mirror at the time showed the SAS on a Liverpool street after Al Swealmeen, 32, planted a homemade device in a taxi outside Liverpool Women’s Hospital.

The Hereford native, who is a regular visitor to the SAS headquarters, said: “So yes, they were sent to Liverpool after the hospital bombing.

“They had to go through the door of the addresses linked to the suicide attack. Obviously, this is a particularly high-risk job.

“Local forces have counter-terror units, but in these situations you need the SAS.

“I remember hearing that the conditions inside one of the properties they searched were absolutely appalling.

“They were also in the loop after the killing of MP Jo Cox. They weren’t sent on that job, but they were kept up to date with what was going on, just in case they were needed.”

They often dress in brass, but are gifted with non-police-issued firearms.

The man added: “Normally you could tell the police from the SAS because the special forces tend to use Diemaco.

Google Approach to the infamous Herefordshire base as seen on Google Street View(/caption)

Google The entrance to the base appears on Google Street View (/caption)

AFP – GettyParamedics attend to victims after the London Bridge terror attack(/caption)

EPA The dramatic moment a suspect was shot by police and detained after the Borough Market rampage (/caption)

“This is their weapon of choice.”

The father, an expert in his chosen field, said the popular image of the SAS as a man-of-action hero was a bit off.

He said: “Don’t get me wrong, they are trained killers, but they are also experts in technology, surveillance and intelligence.

“They have an amazing skill set.”

He said recruitment into the SAS had changed little because of the British Army’s exposure to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
the last decades.

He said: “Recruits used to come in a bit green from the Marines and the Paras. But now more of them are coming as the fight intensifies
the soldiers.

“They’ve seen it all in Afghanistan, and they’ve recorded dozens of kills.”

He also revealed that the SAS has a presence in central London that few knew about.

“Yes, there is a famous tourist attraction in London where the SAS have a secret presence,” the source added.

“They seem to have full security clearance and can go anywhere they want.

“They are armed and I think the view is that it’s great to have them there in the event of a major security incident in the capital. “

The shadowy unit has been seen on the streets of Britain after major terrorist incidents such as the 2017 Manchester Arena bombing.

Members of the SAS were sent to the scene to hunt down the associates of the criminal bomber Salman Abedi.

A Blue Thunder helicopter was seen landing near London Bridge after the 2017 Borough Market terror attack when eight innocent victims were killed.

Nearby offices, including The Sun, went into lockdown as the area was cordoned off.

Members of the SAS, who are said to be hunting one of the attackers, carried out a forced entry into Southwark Cathedral.

Despite the sensitivity around the base, it is still visible on Google Street View and Google Earth.

Street View provides a view of the entrance and perimeter fence, while Earth provides a panoramic view of the layout.

The famous regiment, established in 1941, was thrust into the public consciousness in 1980 when a crack unit stormed the Iranian Embassy in London, ending a hostage siege.

The footage, which showed armed figures in black climbing up the front of the building, was some of the most dramatic ever seen on British television.

The daring rescue was given the go-ahead by then-Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher after an official was killed.

AlamyA visitor to the SAS base in Hereford revealed details of the James Bond-style base(/caption)

Getty Images – Getty Police counter-terrorism officers were supported by the SAS after the London Bridge attack (/caption)