REPORTS of a terrorist attack in Swindon involving multiple casualties are completely false, police say.

Instead, they say, the item claiming to be an online news article is in fact a trick to get people to download a virus on to their computer.

A spokesman for Wiltshire Police said: "Wiltshire Police have been made aware of a post on Facebook stating that there has been a terrorist attack in Swindon and people have died. This is not true!

"This message has a link to a website that contains a false news article. The site also contains a virus that is downloaded onto your computer.

"If you see this article please comment on it informing people this is a scam but do not open it."

  • PEOPLE in Wiltshire have been warned not to be complacent about the risk of terror attacks in the county.

    New Devizes police inspector Nick Mawson has warned that while the county might seem an unlikely target busy towns such as Swindon and iconic landmarks such as Stonehenge and Salisbury Cathedral could be at risk.

    Insp Mawson, was speaking at Devizes Area Board on Monday evening, at the start of national Counter Terrorism Awareness Week 2015. He said the awareness week had been planned well in advance but the Paris attacks had put the threat of terrorism to the forefront of everyone's minds.

    He said: "The message is to report anything that is suspicious. There is no need to panic but just to be aware."