| Top News Airports |
Date posted: May 06, 2003 |
Logan ATU Gets Automatic Weapons
Massachusetts Port Authority issues submachine guns for premier anti-terrorist units
by LISA MATTE THE MASSACHUSETTS PORT AUTHORITY (MASSPORT) IS EQUIPPING MEMBERS OF ITS ANTI-TERRORISM UNIT (ATU) WITH 30 HECKLER & KOCH MP-5 SUBMACHINE GUNS, making Logan International Airport the first airport in the country to have a specialized police unit fully trained to use automatic weapons. The MP-5, designed for close-quarters use, is the standard issue weapon for premier anti-terrorist units worldwide and offers Logan troopers improved accuracy, control and firepower.
The specially-trained Massachusetts State Police unit established by Massport in April, 2002 is responsible for conducting security sweeps, roadblocks, surveillance, counter surveillance, covert security testing, intelligence gathering and sharing and passenger behavior pattern recognition (BPR). ATU members undergo an intensive training course to become certified on the MP-5 submachine gun.
The training includes live-fire drills, night firing and special tactics. The initial courses will be augmented with additional training scheduled to take place throughout the year. The new weapons are issued with a 30-round clip and have a two-round burst capacity (allowing two shots to be fired automatically with one trigger depression). Firearms like the MP-5 have been in place in many foreign airports for more than a decade. The weapons will be deployed at Logan in June, 2003.
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