Port Of Baltimore Hosts Terrorism Drill Exercise Involves Simulated Attack On Large Vessel (August 5th) POSTED: 8:14 am EDT August 5, 2004 UPDATED: 1:01 pm EDT August 5, 2004 BALTIMORE -- The Port of Baltimore hosted a terrorism exercise Thursday morning involving the Coast Guard and all levels of government.
The Maryland Emergency Management Agency said the exercise will include a simulated attack on a large vessel in the Port of Baltimore at the Tyco Telecommunications Fleet Operations Center.
Organizers said the exercise is training for a major incident in the port.
Baltimore City police and fire crews, state officials, the FBI and the U.S. Coast Guard participated in the exercise to determine the preparedness of the nation's ports. The exercise involved an explosion on a ship where first responders found two other devices.
"Given the fact that there are secondary devices ... obviously, it creates a whole new sensitivity and level of training and awareness that first responders have to be aware of," Baltimore Mayor Martin O'Malley, who attended the exercise, said.
The exercise is part of a nationwide terrorism exercise directed by U.S. North Command. Similar exercises will take place in Virginia, California and Texas.
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