Newsroom
For Immediate Release
Friday, December 28, 2007
Contact: Diana Sun 703-228-3247 (voice) 703-228-4611(TTY)
Arlington Responds Quickly to Telephone Bomb Threat at Government Center
Preparation, regional cooperation pay off
NOTE: To view a brief video of an Arlington County Police K-9 team checking vehicles, click here.
Arlington County Police, Fire and Office of Emergency Management today managed an immediate response to a bomb threat that was called into the County government at 8:55 a.m. The response teams began an immediate search of the government center at 2100 Clarendon Boulevard, conducting an extensive floor-to-floor investigation.
Response to this morning’s incident included:
- Arlington County Police Department, including bomb-detection dogs
Arlington County Police Officer Tom Binkley and his K-9 partner Lobo check vehicles in the parking garage. - Arlington County Fire Department’s Explosive Ordinance Disposal unit
- Arlington County Office of Emergency Management
- Federal Bureau of Investigation’s (FBI) Joint Terrorism Task Force
- Pentagon Force Protection Agency, including bomb-detection dogs
- Ft. Myer Military Police, including bomb-detection dogs
- Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) Security Protective Service, including bomb-detection dogs
- Vornado (Charles E. Smith) building management
To view a brief video of one of the bomb-detection dogs at work, click here.
“Today’s incident is a great example of how preparation can make all the difference,” commented Robert Griffin, Director of Emergency Management. “And we are grateful for the support we receive from all our regional partners.”
Arlington Police kept the building open for business during the extensive floor-to-floor search. The building has been given the “all clear” and the criminal investigation is ongoing.
Arlington, Va., is a world-class residential, business and tourist location that was originally part of the "10 miles square" parcel of land surveyed in 1791 to be the Nation's Capital. It is the geographically smallest self-governing county in the United States, occupying slightly less than 26 square miles. Arlington maintains a rich variety of stable neighborhoods, quality schools and enlightened land use, and received the Environmental Protection Agency's highest award for "Smart Growth" in 2002. Home to some of the most influential organizations in the world - including the Pentagon - Arlington stands out as one of America's preeminent places to live, visit and do business.