CBRN and Hazmat Incidents at Major Public Events: Planning and Response

SCENARIO D

Unattended and/or Suspicious Packages

BACKGROUND

Baggage and personal items, such as purses, suitcases, backpacks, or shopping bags, can contain dangerous devices or materials. A common terrorist tactic is to leave a dangerous item in a location where it can do damage, concealed in some kind of container, usually one that appears ordinary for the setting, such as a suitcase in and around hotels, train platforms, and airports.

The use of CBRN materials means that the potential harm from a small package can be more widespread than with a similar quantity of explosives. Determining if and when a suspicious item, normally an EOD problem, is also a CBRN problem can be problematic, depending on local policies.

THE SCENARIO

A major sporting event is being held in your city; 65,000 people are expected to attend the event at a major stadium. The match has been declared a “major event” due to threats of terrorism. The venues for this event include the stadium and its environs, two different hotels for the opposing teams, and practice grounds at schools in different parts of the city.

Your team is the hazard-assessment team for the event, and you have people from various response disciplines, including a veteran EOD specialist. One of your jobs during the event is to serve as the “eyes and ears” of the overall security-command structure. You are called to the following situations. Discuss and make recommendations as to a course of action for each of the following. In particular, ...