U.S. Coast Guard Vice Admiral John Currier says to his knowledge, there was no need to notify specific state or local law enforcement agencies to perform the U.S. Coast Guard’s practice drill on the Potomac River. (0:32)
U.S. Coast Guard spokesperson Commander Ron LaBrec describes the events of Friday’s Potomac River training drill that had many in Washington, D.C. fearful of an attack on the anniversary of September 11th. (0:20)
By Julianne LaJeunesse, University of New Mexico-Talk Radio News Service
Reports of fired shots on the Potomac River were enough to scare civilians and news agencies in Washington, D.C. on the eighth anniversary of September 11, 2009.
Reports of the shots came just before 10 am Friday morning, and by noon, the U.S. Coast Guard released a statement explaining that the incident was actually a training exercise that did not consist of fired shots.
In the statement, U.S. Coast Guard Vice Admiral John Currier said that while the agency was sensitive to the anniversary of September 11, 2001, an apology for planned training exercises was unnecessary.
“I am not issuing an apology because, althought it is unfortunate that it escalated to this level, what you’re seeing here is the result of a normal training exercise,” Currier said.
White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said today that when it comes to keeping the nation safe, he tends not to question law enforcement- even on September 11th.
