1 Fuel Tank Explosion, Bridge Collapse, and Anthrax in Washington D.C.

2 Homeland Security Exercise Scenario (Cont) Phase I Thursday May 22, – Airport authorities report a suspected fire in the airport’s full storage area – Follow-up reports indicate several storage tanks on fire, and emergency vehicles and services are rushing to the area.

3 Homeland Security Exercise Scenario (Cont) 0742 – The airport is closed, no takeoffs or landings until further notice – Preliminary reports from the fire area appear to indicate a sabotage attack. Security personnel on patrol in the area encountered five individuals (apparently unauthorized) fleeing the tank area on foot. One of the attackers was shot dead. On his person was a bag with one C4 explosive device. Two guards were shot and the other four attackers fled in a black van parked just outside the airport perimeter.

4 Homeland Security Exercise Scenario (Cont) 0745 – The Pentagon goes on a code red alert. All entrances and exits to the building are closed – Radio and TV have picked up part of the story, noting that the fires or the smoke from them are visible five to six miles away – Traffic on the 395 corridor is at a standstill with some vehicles attempting to move toward D.C., with others trying to turn around and flee.

5 Homeland Security Exercise Scenario (Cont) 0748 – The 14 th Street bridge is rocked by an explosion with two pillars and one span collapsing into the view. At least 50 vehicles have fallen into the river – Eyewitness accounts describe a 30-foot motorized pleasure boat with a suicide captain ramming the bridge at 25 mph – followed by a huge explosion.

6 Homeland Security Exercise Scenario (Cont) 0800 – Police investigators accompanied by airport security officials uncover the following information while investigating the fuel tank explosions: –A private plane registered to a leasing firm in Orlando Florida took off from the airport at 0727 am with a declared destination of Altoona, Pa. It veered from its declared flight path proceeding directly over Georgetown. The tower reported that the aircraft appeared to have trouble gaining altitude and flight speed.

7 Homeland Security Exercise Scenario (Cont) –There was initial concern of a probably crash. However, the plane after “nearly skimming the trees” in Georgetown accelerated and from air traffic control appeared headed in a westerly direction. An eyewitness on the ground in Georgetown reported that the plane had one “side door” open as it flew over the city. A coverall left behind by one of the two passengers / pilots, who both appeared to have a “near Eastern appearance.” When tested by portable equipment by ground personnel at the civil aviation terminal at Regan Airport they showed positive exposure to Anthrax spores. The leases on the plane according to the Orlando leasers Were “Lundton Cattle Ranchos” Apopka, Florida.

8 Homeland Security Exercise Scenario (Cont) 0805 – Reporters from eyewitness news are on the air with interviews of the incident with individuals in the area – with one account more alarming than the next. Several interviewers noted smelling something noxious in the air, which was affecting their breathing – Sketchy reports from “News Radio” indicate some type of weapons fire from the roof of a high rise at Rosslyn aimed at the Key and Roosevelt Bridges.

9 Homeland Security Exercise Scenario (Cont) 0815 – Traffic central reports total chaos and gridlock in the area from downtown Alexandria to Rosslyn and from the 14 th Street Bridge to Franconia. All traffic in the entire metro is at a standstill – Police investigation in the Rosslyn area determines that there is no foundation to report of sniper fire in the Rosslyn area.

10 Homeland Security Exercise Scenario (Cont) 0830 – Fire and emergency services report that they are unable to respond to many calls due to the general gridlock – Preliminary reports from the Georgetown area selectively report positive anthrax readings.