ACROSS Our PRESS DESK......

Sam Cahan, PE

 

Threats Against 'Soft Targets' Urge Vigilance

 

The following was published in a recent newsletter by the International Association of
Fire Chiefs: 

April 15, 2005

Time magazine recently reported plans by known terrorist Abu Musab al-Zarqawi to attack "soft targets" in the United States , attributing the information to his former top aide.

Stephen Hadley, White House National Security Advisor, said it is likely good information. "We know that al-Qaeda has not given up aspirations to attack targets in the homeland," he said, adding that "soft targets are the kinds of targets we know al-Qaeda has traditionally been concerned about."

The Emergency Management and Response-Information Sharing and Analysis Center (EMR-ISAC) encourages emergency services mem-bers to report suspicious incidents or activities to the National Infrastructure Coordinating Center (NICC) by voice at 202/282-9201, e-mail at nicc@dhs.gov, or fax at 703/607-4998.

Given the prevailing threats, homeland security officials explained- the importance of submitting a report to the NICC in addition to local authorities.

The decision to report unexplainable behavior, strange objects and unusual circumstances is an individual and local matter, where common sense must prevail. To assist the decision process, the EMR-ISAC offers the following abbreviated listing as an example of what to look for and consider:

·                     Unexplainable behaviors:

o                                excessive nervousness

o                                inappropriate clothing

o                                uniforms inconsistent with activity

o                                use of binoculars, cameras, night vision devices

o                                making notes or sketches

o                                loitering in sensitive areas

o                                sitting in parked vehicle for no apparent reason

·                     Strange objects:

o                                bottle or pipe with attached wire or battery

o                                briefcase, package or bag in a questionable location

o                                common objects of value left unattended

·                     Unusual circumstances:

o                                two or more people experiencing unidentified odor, coughing, nausea or blurred vision

o                                agitated person entering a sensitive area, looking around and quickly departing

o                                non-traditional use of specialty vehicles such as an emergency vehicle or delivery truck

o                                specialty vehicles parked in uncharacteristic places such as a gas truck at a school

o                                unidentified vehicles parked in sensitive areas.