A week-long series of terror drills involving dozens of agencies and first responders begins today in the Big Apple. The focus will be on one of the great concerns of the post-9/11 era: nuclear terrorism.
The NYPD and 70 other law enforcement agencies across our region will test their ability to detect radiological materials and prevent an attack orchestrated by four fictional terror cells intent on targeting New York City with a “dirty bomb.”
“We’ll be manning up to 400 checkpoints throughout the Metropolitan Area to test our ability to intercept radiological material. There actually will be samples of radiological materials,” NYPD Commissioner Ray Kelly said.
This is only a drill. There is no specific threat.
Kelly said over the next five days, residents can expect to see a heightened presence near bridges, transit hubs, and on the waters around New York City.
“The goal is to exercise our capacity to intersect radiological material coming into the city,” he said.
The exercise will be supervised by an outside consultant and, with overtime pay inevitable, funded by a federal grant.
“We’ve distributed, both in the New York City Police Department and other agencies throughout the Metropolitan Area 4,200 radiation-detection devices,” said Kelly
Particular areas that will be impacted include the Macombs Dam Bridge, the 225th Street Bridge, the 138th Street Bridge, the 155th Street Bridge and the Third Avenue Bridge.
The exercise runs through Shabbos.
{CBS Broadcasting/Matzav.com Newscenter}
