Jul 29, 2009 5:51 pm US/Eastern
Anti-Terrorism Drills Tests Local Response
Operation Cassandra Begins Tested Terrorism Response
MIAMI (CBS4) ―
-
-
The FBI and security officials from 28 countries met in Miami on June 13, 2007, to take part in an anti-terrorism drill. Similiar anti-terrorism drills will take place across S. Fla. on Wednesday, July 28, 2009.
CBS News
Law enforcement officers across South Florida spent Wednesday morning chasing down "terrorists" in a large scale anti-terrorism drill. The scenario began at 7:00 a.m. and featured the Region 7 Southeast Regional Domestic Security Task Force (SERDSTF) comprised of Palm Beach, Broward, Miami-Dade and Monroe County agencies participated in the training exercise called "Operation Cassandra."
The objective of "Operation Cassandra" is to test the regions resources, response and capabilities during a simulated threat by a fictitious terrorist group directed at multiple locations simultaneously throughout South Florida.
"So far they've had situations of shots being fired in a school. Several students running out. They've had to make a decision about who's a victim, who's a subject. They've had simulated shots fired throughout, had simulated officers shot. They've had simulated subjects shot as well," said Detective Juan Sanchez of the Miami Beach Police Department.
Dozens of law enforcement agencies and medical facilities will team up for the operation.
One particular exercise took place in the area of Pine Tree Drive and 24th Place in Miami Beach. This exercise, called "The Odessa Mission" featured a mock terrorist attack with fake gunshots and a simulated victim triage.
As part of the drill, Fire-Rescue personnel, a SWAT team and hostage negotiators will respond. It's also being done in conjunction with Mt. Sinai Medical Center on Miami Beach.
There were similar controlled exercises at Bicentennial Park in downtown Miami, at Cypress Bay High School in Weston, and at Palm Beach Central High School in Wellington.
CBS4's Gwen Belton contributed to this report.
(© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
Deerfield Bch Residents On Teen Violence
Click to enlarge
Stocks Fluctuate On Greece Debt; Health Shares Up 33 mins ago
Stumble It!
Reporting
Comments