“We calculated in advance
the number of casualties from the enemy who would be killed based on the
position of the tower. We calculated that the floors that would be hit
would be three or four floors. I was the most optimistic of them all…
due to my experience in this field, I was thinking that the fire from
the gas in the plane would melt the iron structure of the building and
collapse the area where the plane hit and all the floors above it only.
This is all that we had hoped for.
-Osama bin Laden, December 2001
The
United States led War on Terror will be a long and demanding fight. A
critical resource in this fight is an educated and alert citizenry.
Maryland officials ask for your assistance by remaining alert and
attentive to your surroundings as you continue to work and live your
daily lives. Oftentimes, it is the private citizen that reports
suspicious activity and provides law enforcement the first clue to
potential threat. You could be that person.
Maryland's homeland
security community is working to protect our citizens, facilities, and
resources. Since September 11, 2001, federal, state, and local officials
have developed a thorough and coordinated response to terrorist or
other security related attacks. The threat of terrorism demands
education and coordination at every level of government and society. If
you witness any of these indicators, report your observations to your
local law enforcement agency or the MCAC. Remain vigilant. The
importance of this fight is best captured in the words of Martin
Treptow, a U.S. soldier killed in action during World War I, who wrote, "America
must win this war. Therefore, I will work, I will sacrifice, I will
endure, I will fight cheerfully and do my utmost, as if the issue of the
whole struggle depended on me alone."
Terrorism is the use of force or violence against persons or property
in violation of the criminal laws of the United States for purposes of
intimidation, coercion or ransom, or to influence government policy.
Terrorists often use threats to create fear among the public, to try to
convince citizens that their government is powerless to prevent
terrorism, and to get immediate publicity for their causes.
Most
terrorist incidents involve small compartmented extremists. Terrorist
cells can meld into a community and remain dormant for extended periods
of time. Local, state and federal law enforcement officials work
together to prevent or protect against potential attacks but face the
difficult challenge of identifying these small radical cells.
A
terrorist attack can take several forms, depending on the resources
available to the cell, the nature of the political issue motivating the
attack, and the points of weakness of the terrorist's target. In the
following paragraphs, you will find pre-incident indicators that can
alert law enforcement to a potential terrorist attack, if properly
reported. Understand, the presence of one or two indicators does not
presume terrorist activity, but the presence of several indicators
should be reported immediately to your local law enforcement agency or
the Maryland Coordination and Analysis Center (MCAC). Do not conduct
your own investigation or dismiss indicators as unimportant. Allow law
enforcement to do their job.
Pre-operational Planning
Pre-operational planning always takes place prior to an attack. A few indicators of pre-operational planning include:
- Surveillance activity, e.g. note-taking, use of binoculars, cameras or maps that appear out of context.
- Theft of uniforms, official vehicles, access badges, or other resources that can be used to gain entry to restricted or protected areas.
- Stockpiling/storage of weapons or explosives or explosive making materials, e.g. volatile chemicals, fertilizer, propane tanks.
- Attempts to test physical security.
- Presence of individuals who loiter or do not appear to belong in an area for an extended time and/or change or hide their behavior in the presence of law enforcement/security personnel.
Vehicle-borne Improvised Explosive Devices (VBIED)
- Vehicle bombs are a common terrorist method of attack. A few potential indicators of VBIEDs include:
- Rental, delivery, utility, limos, and other vehicles parked in unusual locations.
- Drivers who operate the vehicle in an overly cautious manner, attempt to abandon the vehicle or act nervously.
- Vehicle drivers who display noncompliant behavior, such as insisting on parking close to a building or crowded area.
- Excessive vehicle weight or unusually uneven weight distribution; e.g. the vehicle appears overloaded.
- Smoke, strong chemical, or fuel odors emanating from a vehicle.
Suicide Bombers
Individual suicide bombing attacks are a
common tactic used in other parts of the world. Although the US has not
experienced this type of threat, we must consider suicide bombing as a
possible future tactic. Some suicide bomber indicators include
individuals:
- Wearing inappropriate attire such as heavy or bulky clothing inconsistent with weather conditions.
- Protruding bulges or exposed wires under clothing.
- Strange chemical odors associated with the individual.
- Individuals display excessive sweating, mumbling to oneself, or displaying an unusually calm or detached demeanor.
Threat of Secondary Explosive Devices
In the event of a
successful terrorist attack, anyone assisting the injured should be
aware terrorists have used secondary explosives to target first
responders. So, first responders will search the response area for any
suspicious items, such as unclaimed bags or abandoned vehicles, that
could be used to hide a secondary explosive device. If you discover any
suspicious items, leave the area and notify the onsite law enforcement
personnel immediately
http://www.mcac.maryland.gov/how_to_help/TerrorismIndicators.html
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