U.S. Department of Justice

Federal Bureau of Investigation

Tampa Division

STEVEN E. IBISON
SPECIAL AGENT IN CHARGE

Contact: Special Agent Dave Couvertier ♦ Media Representative ♦ 813/253-1033
5525 West Gray Street Tampa, Florida 33609

For Immediate Release

January 9, 2009

FBI TO HOLD IMPROVISED EXPLOSIVES FAMILIARIZATION TRAINING

Tampa, Florida – The Tampa FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force will hold improvised explosives awareness training and live demonstrations for federal, state, and local bomb technicians and investigators. The training is part of the National Improvised Explosive Familiarization (NIEF) initiative. This training is being conducted with the assistance of the FBI’s Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) Directorate, the FBI Laboratory, and the Critical Incident Response Group, in close cooperation with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). These training sessions will be held on January 12 through January 14, 2009, at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, Florida. The FBI is inviting media to attend an improvised explosive demonstration to be held on Wednesday January 14, 2009 at 1:30 p.m. at MacDill Air Force Base. Mandatory pre-registration is required and details are provided below.

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. Participants will receive in-depth instruction and course materials in accordance with their respective roles, responsibilities, and technical certifications.

Due to security requirements, there will be no access to MacDill Air Force Base without pre-registration. All interested media outlets should adhere to the following protocol:

Media interested in covering the event should call the 6th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs office, 813-828-2215, by 4:00 pm on January 13, 2009.  Please provide the name and driver’s license number of your representatives so they can gain access to the base. All media will meet at the Tanker Way Gate (Located off Interbay Ave.) at 12:30 pm.