Dirty Bomb Test 'Caught US Police Napping'

Ananova ^ | 1-13-2004

[blam]

Dirty bomb test 'caught US police napping'

US police officers failed to spot what could have been a dirty bomb planted in the heart of Washington, a report by government investigators has alleged.

A suspicious package was positioned at the base of the Washington Monument, near the White House, on the second anniversary of September 11.

The test was conducted at a time when the US was supposed to be on high alert against the threat of a terrorist attack.

But the report alleges that police were busy chatting rather than patrolling the area and one officer positioned in an unmarked car appeared to be asleep.

The unpublished Department of the Interior report, obtained by the Washington Post and CNN, concluded that there were "persistent and severe" security deficiencies.

A black bag was placed at the rear of the Washington Monument by investigators who expected police to quickly treat it as a suspect package. But after 20 minutes it was still there.

So the investigators decided to move the bag closer to officers, placing it next to a security point where tourists line up to view the monument. But again the bag sat unnoticed, this time for about 15 minutes.

"Throughout this time, there was no visible park police presence," the report said.

"There was, in fact, an unmarked car parked down by the street entrance of the memorial. However, the individual behind the wheel appeared to be sound asleep," it said.

Democratic Congressman Jim Turner told the Washington Post: "Without a doubt, if there had been a terrorist attack on the Washington Monument on September 11, 2003, hundreds of tourists could have been killed.

"Usually, when we say someone was asleep at the wheel it is just an expression, but this time, the Park Police were literally asleep at the wheel."

A spokesman for the National Park Service said in a statement that tighter security measures were put into effect from October 2003.

Story filed: 20:42 Tuesday 13th January 2004

[blam]

aah..."It's good enough for government work"

[Viking2002]

Oh, boy. I feel safer.

[IronJack]

What??? A public servant not fulfilling his duties??? I never thought the day would come!

Actually, I'm surprised the deadbeat was even there, and not cooping behind some donut shop miles away.

[Mr. Lucky]

But,but,but what alternative is there? Certainly we can't allow free citizens to protect themselves can we?

[railsplitter]

Making such a bomb conspicuous would defeat the purpose of the test... on the other hand, had the bomb been disguised as a box of donuts it would have surely lured an unsuspecting officer in, springing the trap or in this case setting off the simulated dirty bomb. DOH !

[railsplitter]

tick tick tick

[Steven W.]

this is not a dirty bomb test - it is a conventional bomb test. dirty bombs are detected through means other than cops on the beat.

[moonhawk]

"Park Police?"

Are these the same "Park Police" who investigated the death of Vince Foster?

I'm brimming with confidence.

[Lokibob]

This is BS. Note that the report names "INVESTIGATORS", but doesn't say who the investigators worked for. Even if the investigators worked for CNN, they would tell us.

[blam]

"This is BS. Note that the report names "INVESTIGATORS", but doesn't say who the investigators worked for. Even if the investigators worked for CNN, they would tell us."

Fox News just reported this story...they said it was federal investigators.

[Right_in_Virginia]

A spokesman for the National Park Service said in a statement that tighter security measures were put into effect from October 2003.

Does the federal health plan now cover "No-Doz"?

[Log]

Are these the same "Park Police" who investigated the death of Vince Foster?

Good one!

[railsplitter]

Members of the National Park Service begin the disassembly of a training device left at the base of the Washington Monument during a recent mock bombing exercise.

[antaresequity]

Obviously they made it too tough on them. How can we expect them to find a plain back bag at the foot of a national monument?

Maybe this might have helped?

[antaresequity]

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