U.S. officials are planning to conduct a “dirty bomb” simulation in Seattle next month as part of Topoff 2, a national counterterrorism exercise, according to the Tacoma, Wash., News Tribune (see GSN, April 2).

The $2.5 million exercise is scheduled for May 12-16 and will involve Cabinet-level officials, as well as state and local officials, according to the News Tribune.  Local media have also been invited to participate to add to the realism.  The purpose of the exercise is to demonstrate whether officials can meet a number of objectives in the event of a WMD-related terrorist attack, including minimizing fatalities while managing a crime scene, quickly restoring essential services and maintaining state and local government.

The Topoff 2 exercise is also set to include a simulated biological terrorism attack in Chicago, the News Tribune reported.  The exercise is the second such counterterrorism training exercise ever conducted in the United States, and the first conducted since the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

“It’s the largest counterterrorism event ever held in the nation,” said Eric Holdeman, director of the King County Office of Emergency Management.  “Or the world, for that matter,” Holdeman said (Jason Hagey, News Tribune, April 22).

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