(The following story by Erik German appeared on the Newsday website on March 25.)
NEW YORK — New York City emergency crews Sunday staged a simulation of the 2004 Madrid train bombings — complete with smoke, injured victims and multiple mock-explosions.
Fire officials said the exercise, which took place between 1:00 and 3:00 a.m. Sunday at Jamaica Train Station, was intended to strengthen and test the unified command under which fire and transit personnel must work after terrorist attacks.
Fire officials said that 100 fire fighters, 50 emergency medical personnel, 50 Metropolitan Transportation Authority representatives and 60 simulated victims participated in the exercise.