Black helicopters over Twin Cities--don't worry, it's only a drill.

Ambrosia · Aug 20, 2014

They have very sucky timing given the unrest in Ferguson, at the very least.

Numerous residents took to Twitter on Monday, wondering if there was criminal activity in their neighborhoods. Some residents said they saw more than seven helicopters flying in formation. Others said the helicopters were weaving through downtown buildings. The helicopters were also seen in parts of south Minneapolis, downtown St. Paul and the Mac-Groveland neighborhood. But police officials quickly assured followers that it was just an exercise.

For security reasons, no prior public notice was given, a spokesman with the Florida-based U.S. Special Operations Command spokesman said, MPR reported.

Black helicopters over Twin Cities--it's only a drill

Low flying copters cause a stir in Twin Cities

And, because militarization of the police is going so well for U.S. citizens...

One city official told the Pioneer Press that there was an understanding that local law enforcement would get military equipment in exchange for use of the cities for exercises.

Noah Body · Aug 20, 2014

Has nothing to do with the police. This is the 160 SOAR conducting operations in urban terrain training. It happens routinely during peacetime in different cities across the nation, in different environments, at different times of the day and night. This is to maintain proficiency in the mission, which is usually quite dangerous. Their skills are very perishable, so training like this is the only way to preserve the edge.

I've never heard of any department getting equipment for participating. A lot of times, they're never even told a training exercise is on.

BenPanced · Aug 20, 2014

I didn't even notice. I live near downtown St. Paul, and there are two hospitals (at least one with a helipad for airlifts) and a major highway interchange nearby just ripe for TraffiCam reports.

Celia Cyanide · Aug 20, 2014

I didn't notice it, either!

blacbird · Aug 21, 2014

For us up here in Anchorage, Alaska, this is a complete non-story. We live adjacent to a huge multi-branch military base, which includes major Air Force and Army contingents along with a big National Guard post. It's also the capital of the planet in per-capita aircraft (that's not a boast; it factually is). We see and hear helicopters all the time, and often it's numerous military ones, practicing over the city at low altitude. Mostly we don't even look up.

caw

BenPanced · Aug 21, 2014

And then there's the Minnesota Air National Guard at Fort Snelling, so it could have been anything.

Noah Body · Aug 21, 2014

It was the 160th doing MOUT training. They're the only unit with AH/MH-6 Little Birds.

Black helicopters over Twin Cities--don't worry, it's only a drill.

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