Military Forces 'Rescue' Tampa Chief Of Staff John Bennett Wednesday

TAMPA, FL — Downtown Tampa visitors who hadn't read about the demonstration in advance might have assumed the city was under attack Wednesday.

But, it was only a U.S. Special Operations Command capabilities demonstration.

The hour-long battle simulation at the Tampa Convention Center was part of the Special Operations Forces Industry Conference. It included more than 175 SOCOM and international service members from 11 nations.

The demonstration included simulated explosions, simulated gunfire and low-flying aircraft. Helicopters, boats, all-terrain vehicles, scuba divers and ground forces were used to "rescue" a city of Tampa Chief of Staff John Bennett from "hostile" forces.

SOCOM is based at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa.