A Terrorist Abduction of Tampa’s Mayor? That’s What Special Ops Practiced in FL This Week
- Posted on May 24, 2012 at 7:03am by
Liz Klimas
- Print »
- Email »
Teams at a special ops conference in Tampa, Fla., participate in a couple mock response drills Tuesday and Wednesday. (Photo: Chris Urso/Tampa Tribune via Tampa Bay Online)
For two afternoons now, those in the City of Tampa are hearing explosions. They’re seeing military aircraft case the area around downtown buildings. But they shouldn’t be alarmed. These events are part of a drill to enact how special operations teams would perform in the event of terrorists abducting the city’s mayor.
Tampa Bay Online reported yesterday that this drill was one of two to test the response to special ops teams. Here is some of what occurred Tuesday afternoon:
The operation began Tuesday afternoon in the harbor outside Tampa General Hospital, as the forces practiced taking out a mock enemy outpost. The assault by land, sea and air included a CV-22 Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft, a Chinook helicopter, Zodiac boats, ground-mobility vehicles and rigid-hull inflatable boats like those used by Navy SEALs.
Watch Tuesday’s news report:
The fake scenario in which terrorists kidnapped Mayor Bob Buckhorn continued Wednesday with what Tampa Bay Online describes as “full-throttle with pyrotechnics and blank ammo.” It reported that crowds were gathering this afternoon to watch the display.
(Photo: Chris Urso/Tampa Tribune via Tampa Bay Online)
(Photo: Courtney Tara Spikes via Tampa Bay Online)
The scene as a whole is part of the Special Operations Forces Industry Conference occurring in the Florida city. The teams included nine countries — Australia, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Jordan, Norway, Poland, Thailand and United Arab Emirates.
(Photo: Todd L. Chappel via Tampa Bay Online)
(Photo: Paul Lamison via Tampa Bay Online)
The other drill taking place was to test responders in a mock hurricane situation during a time when a large volume of visitors are in the city. It uses the upcoming Republican National Convention as an example.
Check out more photos from the drill here.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
[H/T Blaze reader Susan H.]
Comments (17)
Sign In To Post Comments! Sign In
Popular Stories
MSNBC Host Snaps in Heated Segment: ‘What in the World Is Riskier Than Being a Poor Person in America?’ 679 Comments
Does Misstated Marathon Claim Prove Paul Ryan Is Dishonest? (POLL) 637 Comments
‘Jumah at the DNC’ Speaker: ‘Muslims Visited America Prior to Columbus’ & ‘It Was a Muslim’ Who Guided Him to the ‘New World’ 523 Comments
Obama: RNC Like Watching ‘Black-and-White TV’ Because Romney ‘Did Not Offer a Single New Idea’ 360 Comments
Have You Seen the Giant ‘Sand Obama’ Sculpture in Charlotte? 312 Comments
Faith
This Is the Creationists‘ Response to Scientist Bill Nye’s Viral Pro-Evolution Video Claiming They Harm Children 141 Comments- Pakistani Muslim Cleric Accused of Framing Disabled Christian Girl in Koran-Burning Case Read More
- ‘Made Up Religion’: TV Historian Enrages Muslims, Receives Threats After Producing UK Documentary Questioning Islam’s Beginnings 184 Comments
Meet the Controversial German Imam Accused of Brutally Beating His Wife & Pushing Sharia Law Read More
‘Self-Proclaimed Messiah’ & Unification Church Leader the Rev. Sun Myung Moon Has Died — Here’s His Life Story Read More
Business
- Germany’s Upcoming Court Ruling Will be Huge for the EU Read More
Ford Looks to Beat Toyota for Best-Selling Car in 2012 With This Model 146 Comments
Bernanke & QE3: Here’s What You Need to Know Read More- ‘Extortion’: Why Did the Labor Department ‘Drop the Hammer’ on Oregon Farmers? 300 Comments
Scathing New Ad Capitalizes on Rep. Ryan‘s ’Fading Obama Posters’ Remark 124 Comments
Technology
- This Is the Creationists‘ Response to Scientist Bill Nye’s Viral Pro-Evolution Video Claiming They Harm Children 141 Comments
‘TaserDrone’: Hackers Weaponize Quadcopter With Actual ‘Shocking’ Technology Read More
Ever Heard of the Wild ‘Burning Man’ Festival in the Middle of the Nev. Desert? Here’s Your Primer Read More
Stanford Develops Technology ‘Better Than Steroids’ for Athlete Recovery Read More
Have You Pretended to Know What ‘the Cloud’ Is? You’re Not Alone Read More
Submitting your tip... please wait!
Inlandmar2
Posted on May 24, 2012 at 11:58amLike anyone would care if the Mayor of Tampa was abducted?
Report Post »InversionTheory
Posted on May 24, 2012 at 6:39pmBuckhorn never struck me as a bad guy…but if the terrorists ran off with Representative Kathy Castor, I’d probably root for the terrorists for once. Anything to get her out of office.
Report Post »JEANNIEMAC
Posted on May 24, 2012 at 11:15amIf they can kidnap a mayor, who is safe?
Report Post »Rick Steele
Posted on May 24, 2012 at 11:51amThe mayor of Tampa, Florida is used to being assulted…every year pirates take over Tampa…but those guys don’t have Blackhawks and Ospreys!
Report Post »Uncurable wound
Posted on May 24, 2012 at 10:30amIsnt the russian airborne invading Denver this week to?
Something wicked this way comes!
Report Post »Rick Steele
Posted on May 24, 2012 at 11:52amWolverines!!!!
Report Post »Sara72
Posted on May 24, 2012 at 1:44pm… we all sit by and watch these “ MOCK” attacks …and for some reason … it doesnt look right! With the world the way it is ….. I must say I agree …something wicked alright…. Go Back and watch RED DAWN………
Report Post »RJJinGadsden
Posted on May 24, 2012 at 9:34amSounds to me like they are getting ready for one heck of a Gasparilla Day that occurs only 7 days after the next president is sworn in.
Report Post »biohazard23
Posted on May 24, 2012 at 9:49amSurrender the booty, matey!
Report Post »EqualJustice
Posted on May 24, 2012 at 9:13am“The scene as a whole is part of the Special Operations Forces Industry Conference occurring in the Florida city. The teams included nine countries — Australia, Brazil, Canada, ‘Colombia,‘ ’Jordan,’ Norway, Poland, ‘Thailand’ and ‘United Arab Emirates.’ WHAT??? That is just crazy….
Report Post »Stoic one
Posted on May 24, 2012 at 10:33amThe administration is conditioning the populace for the presence of our military so that ‘we’ take martial law easily.
Report Post »biohazard23
Posted on May 24, 2012 at 8:05amA mock rescue of Bob Buckhorn? Can’t we just let the terrorists keep him??
Report Post »yathink
Posted on May 24, 2012 at 7:45amJust getting you ready for the commie takeover. Military everywhere! Bend over and cough please.
Report Post »SONofLIBERTY
Posted on May 24, 2012 at 7:38amAdd your comments
Report Post »SONofLIBERTY
Posted on May 24, 2012 at 7:38amAlright…help me out here…Special Ops Industry Conference…with a full scale terrorist kidnapping scenario and we have the likes of UAE, Jordon, Columbia and others on hand. I’m all for capitalism..but sharing tactics and selling equipment to very potential if not current enemies is insane.
Report Post »Rashomon
Posted on May 24, 2012 at 7:35amkidnapped Mayor? really? what? has he got the secret formula to Jello? I thought getting rid of politicians (and lawyers) was a good thing.
Report Post »All American American
Posted on May 24, 2012 at 8:02amNaaah I think he has the secret Krabby Patty recipe.
Report Post »