Terrorism.pptx

Terrorism What is terrorism? The word ‘terrorism’ is used to describe the tactics and methods of the weak, while indiscriminate violence of the strong in portrayed or glorified under labels such as ‘patriotism’ and ‘national security’... To sponsor violence against the civilian population of foreign...

Terrorism What is terrorism? The word ‘terrorism’ is used to describe the tactics and methods of the weak, while indiscriminate violence of the strong in portrayed or glorified under labels such as ‘patriotism’ and ‘national security’... To sponsor violence against the civilian population of foreign countries is to adopt terrorism as a policy The political use of terror and intimidation Premeditated, politically motivated violence perpetrated against noncombatant targets by subnational groups or clandestine state agents, usually intended to influence an audience. Is it terrorism? l. Blowing up a government building and the civilians in it. 2. Bombing a city that has many civilians, but few, if any, soldiers or military targets. 3. Exploding a bomb in a marketplace, in a department store or on a bus. 4. Imposing an economic boycott on a country that results in a lack of food and medicine and the deaths of civilians. 5. Blowing up a barracks full of soldiers. 6. Releasing poison gas in a subway. 7. Kidnapping people and then killing them. What is the difference between domestic and international terrorism? Domestic terrorism: The committing of terrorist acts in the perpetrator’s own country against their fellow citizens ○ Ex: Oklahoma City Bombing International terrorism: Violent, criminal acts committed by individuals and/or groups who are inspired by, or associated with, designated foreign terrorist organizations or nations (statesponsored) ○ Ex: 9/11 How common is terrorism? The CIA recognizes over 60 terrorist groups designated by the US State Department as Foreign Terrorist Organizations that are currently active. The CIA recognizes 10 terrorist groups non-designated, selfproclaimed branches and affiliates of the Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS), Foreign Terrorist Organizations currently active. al-Qa’ida (AQ) AKA: the Islamic Army; The Base;the Usama Bin Ladin Network; al-Jihad; Egyptian Islamic Jihad Formed under Usama BIN LADIN (UBL) circa 1988 and now one of the largest and longest-operating jihadist organizations in the world; helped finance, recruit, transport, and train fighters for the Afghan resistance against the former Soviet Union in the 1980s; in the 1990s, was based in Sudan and then Afghanistan, where it planned and staged attacks; merged with al-Jihad (Egyptian Islamic Jihad) in June 2001; developed a reputation for carrying out large-scale, mass casualty attacks against civilians; has lost dozens of mid- and senior-level operatives to counterterrorism efforts, including UBL in May 2011, which has disrupted operations but the group continues to recruit, plan, inspire, and conduct attacks; has established affiliated organizations in the Middle East, Africa, and Asia, and its contemporary strength is primarily in these affiliates; tied to the Taliban in Afghanistan and remained active there into 2024 al-Qa’ida targets, tactics and weapons Considers its enemies to be Shia Muslims, US and Western interests, so-called "apostate" governments (such as Saudi Arabia) perceived to be supporting the US and the West, and the Islamic State; leader ZAWAHIRI has encouraged followers to attack European (particularly British and French), Israeli, NATO, Russian, and US targets, specifically military bases and forces; targets have included embassies, restaurants, hotels, airplanes, trains, and tourists sites; employs a combination of guerrilla warfare hit-and-run and terrorist tactics against security and military forces; known for use of suicide bombers, car bombs, explosive-laden boats, and airplanes; conducted the September 11, 2001 attacks on the US, which involved 19 operatives hijacking and crashing four US commercial jets—two into the World Trade Center in New York City, one into the Pentagon, and the last into a field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania—killing nearly 3,000 people al-Shabaab (AS) AKA: the Youth; al-Hijra; MYC Descended from Al-Ittihad Al-Islami, a Somali terrorist group whose leaders fought in Afghanistan in the 1990s and formed circa 2003; has operated as a core al-Qa'ida affiliate since 2012; was the militant wing of the former Somali Islamic Courts Council that took over parts of Somalia in 2006; since the end of 2006, has engaged in an insurgency against the transitional governments of Somalia and supporting foreign military forces and a campaign of violence against Somali civilians; responsible for numerous high-profile bombings and shootings throughout Somalia, and more than 3,000 civilian deaths since 2015; has influence in large areas of rural Somalia through coercion, control over local economies and commercial transit points; provides rudimentary government services in areas under its control, including rule of law through sharia courts, sharia-based institutions and schools, funding, services, security, and food; in 2019, was involved in more than 1,000 violent incidents in Somalia and eastern Kenya; in July 2022, it launched an incursion into Ethiopia with several hundred fighters; continued to conduct attacks in Somalia into 2024, particularly in the central and southern regions, as well as the capital, Mogadishu; also was engaged in heavy fighting with the Somali military, which claimed to have re-taken considerable amounts of territory from the group al-Shabaab targets, tactics and weapons Somali Government officials, military units, police, and civilians, international aid workers, journalists, foreign troops (including US, African Union), and neighboring countries contributing to military stabilization operations in Somalia, particularly Kenya and Uganda; has attacked hotels, schools, military bases, police stations, shopping areas, and telecommunications towers in Kenya; has clashed with an Islamic State faction operating in northern Somalia; methods include assassinations, drive-by shootings, guerrilla style ambushes, suicide bombings, hostage taking, indiscriminate attacks on civilians, and roadside IEDs; typical attacks consist of a single or multiple suicide bombers, followed by an assault by members carrying small arms and explosives; in 2022 and 2023, for example, it conducted two complex ground assaults involving vehicle-mounted bombs and hundreds of militants on international military peacekeeper bases that killed more than 50 troops in each incident; in March 2019, operatives attacked a hotel in Mogadishu using a suicide bomber and small arms, killing at least 20; has placed vehicle-mounted bombs in high-density urban areas, including attacks in Mogadishu in October 2022, December 2019, and October 2017 that together killed over 700 civilians; employs insurgent-type tactics against Somali and international military forces, including ambushes, hit-and-run attacks, improvised explosive device operations, land mines, mortar attacks, and targeted killings; typically armed with small arms, light and heavy machine guns (including truck-mounted machine guns), mortars, rocket-propelled grenades, improvised explosive devices, man-portable air defense systems, and unmanned aerial vehicles/drones HAMAS aka: The Islamic Resistance Movement; Izz al-Din al Qassam Battalions;Students of Ayyash Established in 1987 at the onset of the first Palestinian uprising, or Intifada, as an outgrowth of the Palestinian branch of the Muslim Brotherhood; prior to 2005 conducted numerous attacks against Israel, including more than 50 suicide bombings; in addition to its anti-Israel stance, used a network of Dawa or social services that included charities, schools, clinics, youth camps, fundraising, and political activities to help build grassroots support amongst Palestinians in Gaza; won the Palestinian Legislative Council elections in 2006, giving it control of significant Palestinian Authority (PA) ministries in Gaza; expelled the PA and its dominant political faction Fatah in a violent takeover in 2007; since 2007, it has engaged in sporadic rocket attacks, border clashes, organized protests, and periodic targeted attacks against Israeli citizens, including a suicide bombing in 2016; it fought significant conflicts with Israel in 2008-2009, 2012, 2014, and 2021, typically involving HAMAS rocket attacks against Israel and Israeli air and artillery counter-strikes on HAMAS targets in Gaza, as well as Israeli military ground incursions; remained the de facto ruler of Gaza as of 2023; in October 2023 it conducted a surprise ground attack into Israel, supported by rockets and armed drones, killing large numbers of Israelis and foreigners, mostly civilians, and sparking another war with Israel HAMAS targets, tactics and weapons Targets Israeli military forces and civilians, as well as Islamic State and other Salafist armed group members based in Gaza; has conducted suicide bombings (carried out a suicide attack on a bus in Jerusalem in 2016 that killed 20 people), improvised explosive attacks, shootings, and rocket launches; fired more than 4,000 rockets at Israel during both the 50-day conflict in 2014 and the 11-day conflict in 2021; weapons include small arms, light and heavy machine guns, rockets (some with ranges of up to 200kms), mortars, rocketpropelled grenades, man-portable air defense systems, anti-tank missiles, armed unmanned aerial vehicles, and improvised explosive devices (IEDs), including balloons armed with IEDs or designed to start fires; has also engaged in cyber espionage and computer network exploitation operations Are there terrorist groups in the US? According to the FBI, extremist groups such as Palestinian Hamas, the irish Republican Army, the Egyptian El-Gama Al-Islamiyya (IG), and Lebanese Hizballah have supporters in the United States. The activities of the U.S-based cells revolve primarily around fundraising, recruiting, and low-level intelligence gathering. American terrorist “hot spots” (at risk for attack) Out of 3,143 US counties, 65 are identified as ‘hot spots’ including: ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ Maricopa County (Phoenix, AZ) Harris County (Houston, Tx) New York County (Manhattan, NY) Los Angeles County (Los Angeles, CA) Miami-Dade County (Miami, Fl) San Francisco County (San Francisco, Ca) Washington, DC Bomb threats If you receive a telephoned bomb threat, you should do the following: Get as much information from the caller as possible. Keep the caller on the line and record everything that is said. Notify the police and the building management. Explosions If there is an explosion, you should: Get under a sturdy table or desk if things are falling around you. When they stop falling, leave quickly, watching for obviously weakened floors and stairways. As you exit from the building, be especially watchful of falling debris. Leave the building as quickly as possible. Do not stop to retrieve personal possessions or make phone calls. Do not use elevators. Once you are out: Do not stand in front of windows, glass doors, or other potentially hazardous areas. Move away from sidewalks or streets to be used by emergency offi cials or others still exiting the building If you are trapped in debris: If possible, use a flashlight to signal your location to rescuers. Avoid unnecessary movement so you don’t kick up dust. Cover your nose and mouth with anything you have on hand. (Dense-weave cotton material can act as a good filter. Try to breathe through the material.) Tap on a pipe or wall so rescuers can hear where you are. If possible, use a whistle to signal rescuers. Shout only as a last resort. Shouting can cause a person to inhale dangerous amounts of dust. National Terrorism Advisory System - Homeland Security The National Terrorism Advisory System (NTAS) is designed to communicate information about terrorist threats by providing timely, detailed information to the American public. All Americans share responsibility for the nation's security, and should always be aware of the heightened risk of terrorist attack in the United States and what they should do. Advisories Current Advisories: None Most Recent Expired Advisory 05/24/2023: The United States remains in a heightened threat environment. Lone offenders and small groups motivated by a range of ideological beliefs and personal grievances continue to pose a persistent and lethal threat to the Homeland. Both domestic violent extremists (DVEs) and those associated with foreign terrorist organizations continue to attempt to motivate supporters to conduct attacks in the Homeland, including through violent extremist messaging and online calls for violence. In the coming months, factors that could mobilize individuals to commit violence include their perceptions of the 2024 general election cycle and legislative or judicial decisions pertaining to sociopolitical issues. Likely targets of potential violence include US critical infrastructure, faith-based institutions, individuals or events associated with the LGBTQIA+ community, schools, racial and ethnic minorities, and government facilities and personnel, including law enforcement. Homeland Security 2024 Threat Assessment “Domestic and foreign adversaries will likely continue to target our critical infrastructure over the next year, in part because they perceive targeting these sectors would be detrimental to US industries and the American way of life. While cyber attacks seeking to compromise networks or disrupt services for geopolitical or financial purposes continue apace, we noted an uptick over the last year of physical attacks on critical infrastructure. We expect the 2024 election cycle will be a key event for possible violence and foreign influence targeting our election infrastructure, processes, and personnel.” Homeland Security 2024 Threat Assessment In 2024, we expect the threat of violence from violent extremists radicalized in the United States will remain high but largely unchanged from the threat as described in the May 2023 National Threat Advisory System (NTAS) bulletin. Over the past year, both domestic violent extremists (DVEs) and homegrown violent extremists (HVEs) inspired by foreign terrorist organizations have engaged in violence in reaction to sociopolitical events. These actors will continue to be inspired and motivated by a mix of conspiracy theories; personalized grievances; and enduring racial, ethnic, religious, and anti-government ideologies, often shared online. Homeland Security 2024 Threat Assessment Since January 2022, DVEs have conducted three fatal attacks in the Homeland resulting in 21 deaths and multiple non-lethal attacks. US law enforcement has disrupted over a half dozen other DVE plots. During the same period, only one attack was conducted by an individual inspired by a foreign terrorist organization. The individual —who is awaiting trial—was likely inspired by a spiritual mentor of al-Qa‘ida and Taliban narratives and allegedly wounded three New York City Police Department officers on New Year’s Eve. Homeland Security 2024 Threat Assessment Collectively, these incidents focused on a variety of targets, including law enforcement, government, faith-based organizations, retail locations, ethnic and religious minorities, healthcare infrastructure, transportation, and the energy sector. The most lethal attack this year occurred in May in Allen, Texas, where a nowdeceased attacker killed eight people at a shopping mall. The attacker was fixated on mass violence and held views consistent with racially or ethnically motivated violent extremist (RMVE) and involuntary celibate violent extremist ideologies, judging from his writings and online activities. Homeland Security 2024 Threat Assessment While violent extremists likely will continue using accessible, easyto-use weapons for attacks, they also will leverage online platforms and encrypted communications applications to share novel tactics and techniques. Collaboration among violent extremists online likely will grow as they strive to spread their views, recruit followers, and inspire attacks. Some RMVEs have improved the quality of their video and magazine publications online, which could help them inspire more like-minded individuals to commit attacks. Homeland Security 2024 Threat Assessment Foreign terrorist groups like al-Qa‘ida and ISIS are seeking to rebuild overseas, and they maintain worldwide networks of supporters that could seek to target the Homeland. Among state actors, we expect Iran to remain the primary sponsor of terrorism and continue its efforts to advance plots against individuals in the United States. Homeland Security 2024 Threat Assessment Foreign terrorists continue to engage with supporters online to solicit funds, create and share media, and encourage attacks while their affiliates in Africa, Asia, and the Middle East prioritize local goals. Since the US withdrawal from Afghanistan, ISIS’s regional branch—ISIS‑Khorasan— has garnered more prominence through a spate of high-casualty attacks overseas and English‑language media releases that aim to globalize the group’s local grievances among Western audiences. Individuals with terrorism connections are interested in using established travel routes and permissive environments to facilitate access to the United States. Homeland Security 2024 Threat Assessment Iran maintains its intent to plot attacks against current and former US government officials in retaliation for the 2020 death of Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps-Qods Force (IRGCQF) Commander and designated foreign terrorist Qassem Soleimani. Iran relies on individuals with pre-existing access to the United States for surveillance and lethal plotting—using dual nationals, members of criminal networks, and private investigators—and has attempted plots that do not require international travel for operatives. In August 2022, the DOJ indicted an IRGC-QF member for allegedly conspiring to assassinate a former US National Security Advisor between late 2021 to mid‑2022. Iran’s surrogate Lebanese Hizballah also called for revenge against the United States for Soleimani’s death.