SAS training helped Jamie Bell prep for Iranian Embassy siege film 6 Days

APRIL 30, 1980, is a date that remains unforgettable for many.

Six armed gunmen stormed the Iranian Embassy in London and proceeded to take 26 people inside hostage.

The gunmen were members of an Iranian Arab group campaigning for Arab national sovereignty in the southern region of Khuzestan Province.

Kate Adie was there on the scene, reporting on how events were unfolding as Special Services made their way into the building to save the hostages.

It was a terrifying ordeal for those involved and this week sees the release of a film, 6 Days, commemorating the events.

Starring Billy Elliot star Jamie Bell, Mark Strong and Martin Shaw, the movie tells the story of the men tasked with negotiating with the terrorists.

Jamie plays Rusty Firmin, leader of one of the SAS assault teams, and actually had SAS training to prepare him for the role.

“A lot of it was carrying your own kit, being in kit all day long, doing multi-room clearances, handling weapons, being in situations where you would be out of breath and they’d make you do it again,” he revealed.

“We’d do 11-minute runs of multi-room clearances which would involve capturing hostages, bringing them out, using explosives, putting them in rooms, and running into rooms that are literally exploding.

“Also people would be shooting blanks at us, we’d be firing blanks at targets, very much the training that you go through once you have kind of already got into the SAS.

“Although the truth is we missed the selection process, which is the tricky part.”

Jamie also revealed he met with Rusty to discuss his experiences, and it would seem Rusty was pleased Jamie was the one cast to portray his role in the events.

“If I had to pick anyone to play me, now I’ve met Jamie, I would pick him,” he said.

With the real-life events being traumatic for many, there won’t be much need for dramatisation in the movie.

Two women had managed to get away early on, but the rest of the hostages would find themselves in a living nightmare lasting several days.

Most but not all of them made it back home again, and the building was destroyed by fire, not reopening again until 1993.

It’s 37 years, but the bravery of the SAS troops and hostages will never be forgotten.

6 Days is in cinemas now.