Introduction to Security Chapter 13 Terrorism and Homeland Security Responsibilities
Security Professionals Responsibilities and Homeland Security • Knowing the enemy, who to look for and be vigilant • Taking all possible steps to prevent a terrorist attack • Preparing themselves and their agencies for an attack • Responding to an attack • Investigating the attack
Terrorism Defined • According to the Terrorism Research Center: “the use of force or violence against persons or property to intimidate or coerce a government, the civilian population, or any segment thereof, in furtherance of political or social objectives”
A Brief Chronology of Terrorism • 1789 - 1799: French Revolution revolutionaries used violence against enemies • 1930s – Terrorist acts used by Hitler, Mussolini and Stalin • Late 1880s – 1990s – KKK • 1978 – 1995 – Unabomber • Late 1980s – Animal Liberation Front
3 Elements of Terrorism • Criminal in Nature • Targets are typically symbolic • Terrorist actions are always aggressive and often violent
A Brief Chronology of Terrorism • 1995 – Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building bombed by Timothy McVeigh & Terry Nichols • 1998 – 2 U.S. embassies in East Africa bombed • 10/12/2000 – USS Cole attacked in Yemen • 9/11/2001 – World Trade Center and Pentagon attacked by terrorists using hijacked airliners
Who does what? • FBI – the lead agency for responding to acts of domestic terrorism • Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) – the lead agency for consequence management after an attack
USA PATRIOT Act • Singed into law by President Bush on October 26, 2001 • Gives police the unprecedented ability to seize, search, detain or eavesdrop in their pursuit of terrorists • Expands the FBI’s wiretapping and electronic surveillance authority • Establishes new punishments for possessing biological weapons
Asymmetric War • A war in which a much weaker opponent takes on a stronger opponent by refusing to confront the stronger opponent head on • The weaker opponent chooses battles where the stronger one does not expect to be hit. • Police and government agencies are the most common targets.
World Wide Terrorist Targets
Classification of Terrorist Acts • Domestic Terrorism • International Terrorism
Classification of Terrorist Acts • Domestic Terrorism • Based in this country • White supremacists • Black supremacists • Militia groups • Pro-life groups • Animal rights activists • Environmental extremists
Classification of Terrorist Acts • International Terrorism • Foreign based – 3 categories • Foreign state sponsored (Iraq, Libya) • Formalized terrorist groups (al Qaeda, Hamas) • Loosely affiliated radical extremists – least organized, but largely unknown, leaving them free to travel
Indicators of Terrorism • Following is a lengthy list of possible indicators of possible terrorists • It is important to note that these are only possible indicators and do not constitute proof in and of themselves. • They apply to both foreign and domestic terrorists.
Indicators of Terrorism • Possession of fake/altered IDs • Multiple identification in different names • Possession of IDs with dramatically different photos of the same person • anti-American, anti-Jewish, or anti- “anything” material • Residence in several states in the last few years
Indicators of Terrorism • Taken multiple trips out of the country or out of state in the last few years • Possession of videos/photos of public places and/or buildings • Taken flying lessons • Extreme interest in martial arts • Repeated use of public Internet access points to avoid tracing
Indicators of Terrorism • Possession of phone cards • Possession of large amounts of cash • Renting first floor apartments (easy escape) • Using inexpensive motels (less security) • Don’t allow maids to clean the room when they are not present
Indicators of Terrorism • No apparent means of legitimate income • Display of racial/terrorist symbols • Recent shaving of head and body hair
Methods Used by Terrorists • Arson • Explosives • Bombs • Suspicious packages • Suicide bombers • Weapons of Mass Destruction • Biological agents • Chemical agents • Nuclear • Technology
Likeliness of Methods Used by Terrorists
Impact of Terrorist Weapons
Preventing Terrorism • Security officers should stay alert for routine crimes/activities which may also be terrorism red flags • Watch for thefts/sales of certain chemicals: bleach, riot control sprays, chlorine, ammonium nitrate, etc.
Preventing Terrorism National Infrastructure Protection Plan (NIPP) • Provides a collaborative, coordinated approach between the private sector and all facets of government • Includes agriculture and food, banking and finance, chemical, communications, dams, drinking water and water treatment, energy and other critical areas.
Goals of the Department of Homeland Security • Increase our ability to keep bad people out of the country • Keep bad things out of the country • Protect our infrastructure better • Continue to build a response capability with modern computer tools • Promote Intelligence Gathering • Fusion centers
Fusion Centers • 42 fusion centers are located throughout the country in 37 states. • These manage the flow of information and intelligence across all levels and sectors of government and private industry.
Responding to Terrorist Attacks • First responders, most likely local police, firefighters and security officers are the first line of defense against terrorists. • These first responders must have interoperability in order to operate effectively.
Concerns related to the War on Terrorism • Civil liberties may be jeopardized • People of Middle Eastern descent may be discriminated against or become victims of hate crimes.
