If your travels take you in and around Harbor Island in Tampa, FL, today you can expect to encounter road closures and loud noise from explosions and gunfire. No worries, though. It's all part of a military mock battle demonstration organized by U.S. Special Operations Forces, according to an ABC Action News report.
Franklin Street from Channelside to Harbor Island and Old Waters between Florida and Channelside will be closed from 12 noon until 3:00 p.m.
If you are near downtown, you are invited to watch the mock battle, which will take place from about 1 to 1:30p.m. The best place for viewing, the report said, will be the areas near the water close to the Tampa Convention Center and Harbor Island Bridge.
The mock battle will be based on a hostage-rescue scenario and will include a ground assault with Ground Mobility Vehicles and All-Terrain Vehicles, a maritime assault with Rigid Hull Inflatable, an MH-60 Blackhawk fastrope insertion, a CV-22 Osprey tilt-rotor demonstration, a helocast infiltration from an MH-47 Chinook as well as Boats and a Military Free Fall water jump, according to military officials.
Special Operations Forces from the United States, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Jordan, Norway, Poland, Thailand and the United Arab Emirates are participating in the demonstration.
According to officials, the public is in no danger as long as they stay outside of the area cordoned off by police.
