Monday, March 15, 2004 (New York):

New York staged its largest terrorism drill since September 11, 2001 on Sunday.

The exercise was staged at Shea Stadium over four chilly hours, drawing more than 1,000 police, firefighters and paramedics and an equal number of trainees playing victims.

Mayor Michael Bloomberg said last week's bombing of commuter trains in Madrid underscored the need for Sunday's exercise, designed to help city agencies improve communication and coordination in the face of a potential attack.

After the attack on the World Trade Center, outside experts criticised interagency coordination, particularly between police and firefighters, as inadequate.

"What happened in Madrid is an important reminder that it's necessary," Bloomberg said.

As police helicopters growled overhead, the parking lots around Shea filled with fire trucks, ambulances and unmarked black police cars amid mock reports that investigators had found two radiological devices in cars.

More than 60 hospitals filled with those playing the injured.

Radio reports of an incident at a minor league ballpark more than 24 kilometres away tested responders' ability to handle simultaneous incidents, a long-held fear of those charged with planning for New York's next potential attack. (AP)