VIDEO: Emergency Personnel Respond to Mock Bombing Staged in Apple Valley

More than 100 south metro emergency personnel demonstrated how they’d respond to a domestic terror attack, during an exercise staged in Apple Valley on Saturday.

Dakota County stages an emergency preparedness drill every few years, to make sure responders are ready for large-scale disasters, said Apple Valley Fire Chief Nealon Thompson. Personnel from the county, Apple Valley, Burnsville, Eagan, Farmington, Lakeville and Rosemount were involved.

The incident involved a bus bombing—the Bloomington Bomb Squad actually blew out the bus in Rosemount on Friday, said Apple Valley Police Capt. Jon Rechtzigel—and other explosive devices in the area of the transit station at 157th Street West and Pilot Knob Road in Apple Valley.

Organizers set up several mannequins who were dead or injured, but also had real people made up to play the part of victims.