Suffolk holding counterterrorism drill  advertisement |
advertise on newsday  Suffolk County police and federal
officials will fan out across the county Thursday in one of two
major counterterrorism drills testing their ability to find a
nuclear device destined for New York City and determine where it
originated.  Police will set up checkpoints using radiation
monitors to find low-level samples of radioactive bomb material
on the move. The material is likely either plutonium or
uranium-235, both of which are used in nuclear bombs. Until
detonated, those materials don't produce high amounts of
radiation.  At the same time, a special federal nuclear forensic
task force relying on theoretical readings of fallout will try
to find out the likely source of fissionable material used in an
imaginary bomb that would have detonated in the city.  New York
City is viewed by law enforcement officials as a major target
for nuclear terrorism, which is why the federal Securing the
Cities initiative is funding the two exercis