New York City Officials Hold Mock Terrorist Attacks
The city of New York conducted two counter-terrorism drills at a subway station early Sunday – the first cooperative agency test since Paris’ deadly attacks last week.
The Office of Emergency Management, the New York Police Department and the Fire Department of New York worked in conjunction with training sessions that included a scenario where suicide bombers had gotten into the former J and Z lines at Kenmare Street as well as Manhattan’s Bowery.
The event took place just days before one of the city’s largest public events – The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade – an event that draws in millions of people around the world.
After the exercise, the officials praised the teamwork and said training exercises like these were necessary to keep responders’ skills sharp. Officials had already planned for the drill, but the Paris attacks boosted the plan. They added an attacker who wore a suicide vest.
William Bratton, police commissioner, said the police department and other agencies are constantly finding ways to prepare themselves for an attack.
The active-shooter exercise lasted three hours and was carried out in the lavish Soho neighborhood, which is loaded with boutiques and art galleries.
Law enforcement had roughly 30 simulated passengers at the station when the “suicide bomber” attacked; a dozen of which had critical injuries. Firefighters used thick yellow plastic sheets to remove the injured – some of them were covered in fake blood. Law enforcement personnel went after the source of the threat.
The goal was to get the departments to work together – to coordinate and communicate with each other.
Bratton said since 9/11, there has been major improvements in this area.
Homeland Security used New York City’s exercise to test various technologies such as the acoustic gunshot detection systems and GoPro-like camera. These systems are being created to keep an eye on the subway system.
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio called the drill, which he watch be carried out, an outstanding display of how the city will respond to actual threats.
ISIS, the Islamic State group, has claimed responsibilities for the attacks in Paris, and said it would target areas in the United States including New York and Washington.
Bratton said even though no certain threat was made on the city, security at many prominent locations has been increased. During the Thanksgiving parade, there will be around 1,300 counter-terrorism officers patrolling the area and watching the millions of spectators.
De Blasio said preparation is the key way to defeat terrorism.
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