Bioterrorism drills suspended at Chilocco

Chilocco Indian School located near Ponca City, Oklahoma.

NEWKIRK, Okla. (AP) – The Department of Homeland Security is suspending plans to conduct bioterrorism drills near the Kansas-Oklahoma border over concerns about their impact on grounds Native American tribes consider sacred.

Homeland Security spokesman John Verrico said in an email Thursday the tests were suspended over objections to them taking place at the Chilocco Indian Agricultural School near Newkirk, Oklahoma.

Verrico says the work remains important and the agency is looking for another location.