Multiple government agencies gathered at Pinal Airpark in Marana to practice how to handle homemade explosive devices Wednesday.
Raven's Challenge is an exercise creating multiple scenarios with emerging threat, and this is the first time it is held in Arizona.
"Ravens Challenge is designed to bring public safety bomb threat technicians and in line with military trained bomb technicians from all four services and to learn how to the end of the day exchange each other's tactics procedures and that is a huge benefit to public safety," said John Simpson, Raven's Challenge Program Manager.
Attending Raven's Challenge to learn about explosives @kgun9 pic.twitter.com/yomMT1Wyh3
— Priscilla KGUN9 (@PriscillaCasper) March 22, 2017
Some agencies participating are state and local public safety bomb squads, Military Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Units, and federal agencies including ATF, FBI, DHS TSA, and USSS.
Fourteen teams of about six people each from agencies around the world apply their skills to practice handling homemade explosives in different scenarios.
A homemade explosive with a 1/2 pound of TNT blew up this car @kgun9 pic.twitter.com/d9KeQxJ9qC
— Priscilla KGUN9 (@PriscillaCasper) March 22, 2017
Some of the scenarios include a TSA security checkpoint, cargo plane, and hostage situation.
For a list of dates, locations and a link to register for a Raven's Challenge event, click here.
