Only a drill: Police to simulate attack on Natick Mall on Sunday

Natick Police say people shouldn't be alarmed by a heavy police and fire presence at the Natick Mall between 6:30 and 8:30 p.m. on Sunday: It'll only be a large training exercise.

The simulation will involve multiple assailants (actors) who enter the Natick Mall after wounding a security officer. The assailants will then move through the mall inflicting harm on patrons and employees while law enforcement and public safety entities respond.

Police and firefighters from Natick and surrounding towns will take part, police say. They add the training will take place in a part of the mall where stores are normally closed at that time on a Sunday:

All businesses at the mall that will be open after 6:30 p.m. will not be affected by the training exercise and they will remain fully accessible by the public. In addition, the residents at the Nouvelle at The Natick Collection condominiums will not be impacted.

After the event, Natick's police and fire chiefs will hold two press conferences - a real one to discuss how the training went with actual local reporters and then a simulated press conference to discuss the outcome of the mass-shooting incident.