Home Oklahoma City Press Releases 2009 Media Invitation to an Improvised Explosives Demonstration
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Media Invitation to an Improvised Explosives Demonstration

FBI Oklahoma City December 09, 2009
  • Special Agent Terry B. Weber (405) 290-3614

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK—On Thursday, December 10, 2009, the Oklahoma City Division of the FBI will present an improvised explosives demonstration at the Edmond Police Academy. Members of the local media are invited to attend. This demonstration is part of the three-day National Improvised Explosives Familiarization (NIEF) training course presented by the FBI and hosted by the Edmond Police Department.

The NIEF initiative supports the FBI’s top priority to protect the United States from terrorist attacks by training our investigators and law enforcement partners in regard to the emerging improvised explosive threat. The NIEF initiative is a partnership between the FBI Weapons of Mass Destruction Directorate, FBI Laboratory, and FBI Critical Incident Response Group, along with the 56 FBI field offices and the more than 100 Joint Terrorism Task Forces based out of those FBI field offices. 

“The FBI remains fully committed to sharing knowledge with our partners about the threat of improvised explosives in the fight against potential terror attacks,” said Dr. Vahid Majidi, Assistant Director of the FBI’s Weapons of Mass Destruction Directorate. “The opportunity to exchange information and raise awareness among the general public is also a key goal as we continue this vital outreach effort.”

Participants in the three-day NIEF training receive in-depth instruction and course materials in accordance with their respective roles, responsibilities and technical certifications. The goal of this training is to enhance awareness and outreach programs to first responders, and to inform private sector wholesalers, distributors and retailers of precursor chemicals that can be used by terrorists or experimenters to make improvised explosives.

“This is invaluable training we are pleased to bring to Oklahoma for our state and local partners,” said James E. Finch, FBI Special Agent in Charge of the Oklahoma City Division. “It has proven to be a valuable tool for bomb technicians, first responders, and a variety of other stakeholders, as well as an effective public awareness mechanism for the emerging threat of improvised explosives.”     

Attendees to the explosives demonstration will witness over a dozen examples of improvised explosive and incendiary mixtures that have been used by terrorists around the world. There will also be subject matter experts on hand to discuss the threat posed by the readily available chemical precursors for these mixtures. The demonstration will begin promptly at 1:30 pm and will last approximately one hour.

(Media members interested in attending the demonstration should call John McLemore at (405) 290-3606 or (405) 596-9285. The Edmond Police Academy is located at 7707 East Danforth in Edmond, which is approximately 2.2 miles east of I-35 on the north side of Danforth.)