Civil Air Patrol Connecticut Wing Participates in Mock Bio-Terror Attack Training

GROTON, Conn. - May 6, 2014 - PRLog -- Connecticut Wing personnel participated in a joint exercise testing law enforcement reactions to a simulated bio-terror attack at Groton-New London Airport on April 28, 2014. The U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID), the Department of Defense's lead laboratory for medical biodefense, conducted the training session.

The scenario postulated landing a small aircraft which had been seized by terrorists who planned to attack local facilities with biological agents. A Civil Air Patrol (CAP) Cessna 182 landed with three Connecticut State Police Officers (CSP) posing as terrorists. A second aircraft, a Cessna Citation, served as a training aid for teams of technicians charged with investigating the type of biological agents which might be present.

When the CAP Cessna landed, FBI and Connecticut State Police assault teams placed themselves in the best tactical positions to control the threat. While one terrorist held the pilot at bay, pistol to his head, two others moved across the ramp. Snipers fired simultaneously and “killed” the three terrorists. The assault teams then ordered the “pilot,” Lt. Colonel John de Andrade (CAP) to advance slowly with hands raised. He was handcuffed and detained until it could be proven he was not part of the terrorist organization as well as tested for exposure to the simulated biological agents.

Investigatory teams, isolated from the environment by protective suits, then entered the Citation to secure samples of the suspected biological agents which were bagged for laboratory analysis.

The military and federal agencies set up multiple decontamination stations and a range of specialized vehicles for communications and environmental analysis.

During the exercise, observer/controllers circulated to evaluate the performance and insure the safety of all participants, all whom wore protective helmets and faceplates.

Civil Air Patrol’s Incident Commander, Lt. Colonel Mike Heath (Connecticut Wing Emergency Services Officer), was pleased with CAP’s participation and the overall success of the mission. “We are glad to be part of the team and assist state and federal agencies,” said Heath.

Participant agencies included the FBI, Connecticut State Police, Connecticut National Guard, U.S. Army, Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, U.S. Department of Environmental Protection, the Connecticut Aviation and Ports Bureau, Naval Investigative Service, and Connecticut Wing Civil Air Patrol. Local fire and police departments also sent representatives as observers. Major Jack Shapiro, Connecticut Wing Liaison Officer, worked closely with participating agencies in support of this mission.