“Attack in the US can’t be ruled out”, warned officials of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Washington D. C., at the same time that the “Operation Winter Sun” was occuring in New York City, on May 18th. A anti-terrorist attack simulation, supported by the Office of Emergency Management, counted with more than 500 volunters including police officers, firefighters and hospital workers, whom “saved” 150 victims of a gas assault in a cruise ship by removing their clothes, wrapping them in sheets and dousing them in water.
The drill was funded by a $300.000 grant from the U.S. Departament of Homeland Secutirty. Even New York Police Departament helicopters were used for the drill, that was considerated a successful practice. “The sarin attack was chosen because it has the hability to have multiple casualities if victims are not treated quickly”, said John Odermatt, the OEM comissioner.
After the FBI alarm, confirming that Al Qaeda is fully capable of launching complex multiple attacks inside the US, the NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg shown his desire about the “Operation Winter Sun” be continued and said “the simmulation must represent the kind of treatment that we must be able to respond to in today’s world”.
Vanessa Mael
* materia feita em aula terca dia 20/05/03
