TINTON FALLS — The activity around the Jersey Shore Premium Outlets before business hours on Saturday morning was nothing to worry about. It was only a drill.

More specifically, a "dynamic threat drill" to prepare for a nightmare scenario involving firearms and explosives, according to Police Sgt. Doug McEntegart, who was one of the organizers of the event involving 200 law enforcement officials and emergency responders from the borough, the Monmouth County Sherif's Office and OEM, Neptune Township Police & Rescue Task Force, Wall Township Police Department, Howell Police Department, as well as employees of the mall and its security firm, Universal Protection.

The drill also involved about a dozen volunteer student athletes from Monmouth Regional High School, who acted as bystanders and casualties.

"We were testing the response and rescue capabilities of all the emergency services to face the new threat we have these days from not only an active shooter but [improvised explosive devices] and how to deal with that type of threat," he said.

The drill went over the initial response by police to such an event, followed by search and rescue of victims.

The drill underscores an unfortunate reality of life in America, which experiences more mass shootings than any other country in the world.

While the Monmouth County drill came almost a week after gunman Omar Mateen opened fire in an Orlando gay nightclub, killing 49 and injuring dozens more, the drill had been planned since before January.

"This isn't a response to the Orlando shooting," McEntegart said. "For the last three months solid we've been planning and have scheduled this date. It just shows how timely this type of preparation is."

The scenario for the Saturday morning drill was a report of multiple shooters around the outdoor mall along Route 66 near the Garden State Parkway.

"As it develops, there will be reports of an IED on premises and the responders will have to act accordingly," McEntegart said.

Mall employees put their stores on lockdown and followed instructions on how to secure their own location.

"These kids came in at 6 in the morning to devote their time to this whole effort and I have to commend them for their dedication," McEntegart said.

"Even though the general public was not invited to the drill, it was done to better protect them. Whether we're police, fire or EMS services ... the more we educate them on these types of incidents and how to respond to them, they just become extra eyes and ears to help us do our job better. It's a good partnership between everyone involved,"  McEntegart said.

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