Exercise Mall Strike 2001 was part of anti-terrorist program sponsored by the U.S. Department of Defense. Officials described the three-hour exercise as a 'no inspection, no fault learning and training tool.'
Emergency and disaster personnel responded to a 'high alert' that a small explosion had occurred at the mall, located on Route 30, west of Greensburg.
The 'mass destruction' exercise cost the federal government $22,450 to stage.
In September 2000, a similar exercise was conducted in Pittsburgh.
