NM taking part in anti-terrorism drills

ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) - New Mexico will play a key role in a nationwide terrorism prevention exercise that begins Monday.

The exercise will also take place in five other states and Washington, D.C.

The goal is to keep terrorists from coming into the country to carry out attacks planned overseas.

The exercise tests the ability of state, federal, local and tribal authorities to share information to keep America safe.

The week-long scenario is virtual, and it focuses on intelligence and information sharing.

Anti-terrorism drills are already performed around the country, and many focus on the response and recovery from a terrorist attack.

Some of next week’s exercises will take place at the New Mexico Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management near Santa Fe, where participants will focus on preventing future terrorist attacks.

The drill involves a mock terrorism event overseas.

Officials with the The New Mexico Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management said they could not give News 13 specifics on what the drill involves.

“There are no actual boots on the ground, we don't have people running around buildings and measuring things. What we have is people sharing information in real time, providing that information to people who in a real event would need to get that information and have that information to respond,” Secretary John Wheeler, for the New Mexico Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management said.

Other nations are also taking part in the exercise, including Mexico, Canada, England and Australia.

The drill runs from Monday July 27 to Friday July 31.