Portland Terror Exercise (Topoff) - Bomb in Chertoff's Hotel. No worries say police. [View All]

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People in Portland had been very worred about Operation Topoff. Their fears were validated today when bomb sniffing dogs found a bomb in the hotel where Homeland Secretary Chertoff was going to say. But don’t worry,k the police spokesman said “we’re comfortable nothing sinister is going on.” What was it, a happy bomb.

Bomb scare disrupts terrorism drill, closes MAX line

Posted by The Oregonian October 18, 2007 14:32PM
Grabbed it here


The Topoff dirty-bomb drill turned into a real-life bomb scare this afternoon after a trio of bomb-sniffing dogs alerted authorities to possible explosives on the first floor of the parking garage of the Doubletree Hotel Portland at 1000 NE Multnomah Street. Michael Chertoff, secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, was scheduled to be at the hotel for part of the Topoff counterterrorism exercise later in the day.

Portland police cordoned off several blocks around the Lloyd Center, marking off the area with hundreds of feet of yellow tape blowing in the afternoon wind. They also shut down MAX trains through the area, and alerted people inside the hotel and surrounding buildings. Some in chose buildings chose to evacuate, while others remained in place.

By 3:45 p.m., Police spokesman Brian Schmautz said officials "were comfortable" there was nothing sinister going on. Shortly after that, TriMet spokeswoman Peggy LaPoint said the red and blue MAX lines were back open in both directions through the area.

Nonetheless, Topoff activities at the hotel were quickly canceled earlier in the afternoon. Schmautz said officers had been sweeping the area in advance of visits by Chertoff and high-ranking military personnel using a pair of "explosives sensitive" police dogs. "One dog got an alert at this car. The second dog was called in and also gave an alert." A third dog later came to the parking garage, and had the same reaction as the first two.