Armored vehicles spotted in Ártúnsbrekka
The explosive ordnance disposal exercise officially began on September 8. The photo, taken in the secure area at Keflavík, shows the same type of vehicle that has been seen traveling to and from Reykjanes, Hvalfjörður, and Helguvík. mbl.is/Eggert Jóhannesson
Armored vehicles have been seen driving on Icelandic roads as part of the annual explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) exercise organized by the Icelandic Coast Guard.
The exercise, Northern Challenge, officially began on September 8.
“These are vehicles operated by the teams participating in this year’s exercise,” says Ásgeir Erlendsson, communications officer for the Icelandic Coast Guard.
A video posted on TikTok shows four armored vehicles driving down Ártúnsbrekka in Reykjavík.
In a statement last week, the Coast Guard advised the public that they might see vehicles and equipment used by bomb disposal teams traveling between Þorlákshöfn and Reykjanes, as well as between Reykjanes and Hvalfjörður.
Erlendsson explains that the purpose of the exercise is to coordinate teams that share the same basic training.
“This is an opportunity for them to come together, and the exercise has never been as large as it is this year. They are working together on various tasks, both in the secure area at Keflavík Airport, in Hvalfjörður, and in Helguvík.”
This year’s exercise is the largest to date, with about 400 participants from Iceland, Belgium, Canada, the Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, Lithuania, New Zealand, Sweden, Norway, Austria, Poland, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom.
