In a suspected terrorist incident, evidence collection is primarily the responsibility of:

In a suspected terrorist incident, evidence collection is primarily the responsibility of:

• A. Law enforcement
• B. The HazMat group
• C. Whoever located the evidence
• D. Central Intelligence Agency

Answer: (A)

Preserving evidence at a suspected terrorist incident is the job of law enforcement because they are responsible for the criminal investigation, securing the scene, and maintaining a documented chain of custody from collection to presentation in court. They coordinate how, when, and by whom items are gathered, and ensure the scene is protected from contamination so evidence remains admissible. The HazMat team focuses on safety and hazard control—identifying the material, stabilizing the scene, decontaminating affected areas, and protecting responders. They may assist with sampling under law enforcement direction, but they are not the primary evidentiary collectors. The CIA does not handle on-scene evidence collection, and whoever happens to locate evidence isn’t automatically responsible for its collection without proper training and authorization.

Preserving evidence at a suspected terrorist incident is the job of law enforcement because they are responsible for the criminal investigation, securing the scene, and maintaining a documented chain of custody from collection to presentation in court. They coordinate how, when, and by whom items are gathered, and ensure the scene is protected from contamination so evidence remains admissible. The HazMat team focuses on safety and hazard control—identifying the material, stabilizing the scene, decontaminating affected areas, and protecting responders. They may assist with sampling under law enforcement direction, but they are not the primary evidentiary collectors. The CIA does not handle on-scene evidence collection, and whoever happens to locate evidence isn’t automatically responsible for its collection without proper training and authorization.