Denver terrorism exhibit reopens as Gov. Polis says it provides “a reminder to all of us”

From the surface, the Counterterrorism Training Studying Lab’s exhibit house in downtown Denver has sat quiet for greater than 4 years.

However behind the scenes, the nonprofit institute, often known as The CELL, has been at work updating its choices to supply an interactive expertise geared towards present safety threats. The exhibit is targeted on the components that drive home and worldwide terrorism and the affect of these threats on world safety — together with educating guests on what on a regular basis individuals can do to stop terrorist acts of their communities.

This week, the outcomes of these efforts can be unveiled when The CELL, 99 W. twelfth Ave., opens to the general public for the primary time because the waning days of 2019.

“We now have legitimately modified each piece of content material inside this new house to incorporate a bunch of immersive experiences the place guests can find out about essentially the most difficult points to world safety and nationwide safety right this moment,” Melanie Pearlman, The CELL’s president and CEO, stated Tuesday throughout a media preview.

There was one component saved from the unique CELL exhibit, Pearlman stated. The primary room of the exhibit homes a chunk of mangled steel.

It’s wreckage from the south tower of the World Commerce Middle.

The Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist assaults, which killed almost 3,000 individuals in three places, have been the impetus for the formation of the institute greater than 15 years in the past. Officers with the institute are fast to notice, nonetheless, that their exhibit covers all varieties of terrorist exercise happening in areas throughout the globe, together with right-wing extremism throughout the U.S.

Tuesday’s unveiling drew top-ranking public security officers, together with Colorado Lawyer Basic Phil Weiser, representatives from the Colorado State Patrol and Denver leaders together with Police Chief Ron Thomas and Armando Saldate, the chief director of town’s Division of Public Security.

Earlier than Gov. Jared Polis helped reduce the ribbon on the exhibit, he targeted in his remarks on the significance of public training round figuring out potential threats.

“On this highly effective interactive exhibit can be a key a part of a reminder to all of us that we have to work collectively to maintain households, people and communities secure from a various vary of threats,” Polis stated.

In a single section of the exhibit, friends can choose a setting, similar to a recreation at Coors Subject or a go to to Denver’s Union Station. They’re then requested to determine suspicious habits that is perhaps noticed at numerous phases.

A few of the behaviors highlighted within the eventualities embody individuals filming safety checkpoints or working away from baggage after dropping them close to entrances.

That video train goes hand-in-hand with a number of the institute’s different packages. The CELL gives a speaker sequence and coaching that helps volunteers and civilian employees at giant public occasions turn out to be extra attentive observers looking out for suspicious habits.

Final yr, the group offered coaching to 16,000 volunteers and stadium employees members forward of Tremendous Bowl LVII in Glendale, Arizona, Pearlman stated.

The CELL exhibit first opened in 2008 on the bottom ground of the Museum Residences constructing. Its entrance is situated throughout from the plaza from the Denver Artwork Museum’s jagged, trendy Frederic C. Hamilton Constructing. The CELL’s sponsors and supporters embody The Denver Put up and the Scientific and Cultural Services District.