US anti-terror forces bitten by zombie bug at ‘be prepared’ summit

An untold number of “zombies” are coming to a California counter-terrorism summit attended by hundreds of US Marines, navy special operations forces, soldiers, police, firefighters and others to prepare them for their worst nightmares.

“This is a very real exercise, this is not some type of big costume party,” said Brad Barker, president of Halo Corporation, a security firm hosting the October 31 training demonstration during the summit at a 44-acre Paradise Point Resort island in San Diego bay.

“Everything that will be simulated at this event has already happened, it just hasn’t happened all at once on the same night. But the training is very real, it just happens to be the bad guys we’re having a little fun with.”

Hundreds of military, law enforcement and medical personnel will observe the Hollywood-style production of a zombie attack as part of their emergency response training.

In the scenario, a VIP and his personal detail are trapped in a village, surrounded by zombies when a bomb explodes. The VIP is wounded and his team must move through the town while dodging bullets and shooting back at the invading zombies.

Some members of the team are bitten by zombies and must be taken to a field medical centre for decontamination and treatment.

Called Zombie Apocalypse, the exercise follows the federal Centres for Disease Control and Prevention’s campaign launched last year that urged Americans to get ready for a zombie apocalypse, as part of a catchy, public health message about the importance of emergency preparedness.