UK in US exercise for terrorist dirty bomb attacks
UK agencies are reported to be taking part in the first national US response exercise to a radiological dirty bomb attack
The TOPOFF 4 exercise, taking place between 15 and 20 October, will set off fake radiological dispersal devices (RDD) or "dirty bombs" in Oregon and Arizona as well as Guam.
The Vigilant Shield exercise, conducted by the Northern American Aerospace Defense Command, will test its ability to mobilize resources for aerospace defense and control, maritime warning and coordination of air operations in a disaster area over North America.
TOPOFF 4, involving 15,000 participants from various US federal agencies as well as Australia, Canada and the UK, will combine with Vigilant Shield 2008, for a simulated war scenario with major domestic anti-terror drills.
According to Israeli DEBKAfile, military sources report that Vigilant Shield will deploy a record number of US Air Force warplanes and spread over Canada and the Pacific island of Guam. It is described as resembling a wartime scenario more than an anti-terrorist drill.
US Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff has described the exercises as a realistic response to simulated attacks in a "period of increased risk."
