May 7, 2003

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May 7, 2003

DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
THREATS POSED BY SUICIDE/HOMICIDE BOMBERS
SECTOR NOTIFICATION 03-022

MAY 7, 2003
[ SECTOR NOTIFICATION IS NOT BASED ON NEW INFORMATION, BUT IS A REVISION ‘TO AN EARLIER D1 INFORMATION BULLETIN DISSEMINATED ON APRR 23. 2003 TO STATE HOMELAND SECURITY ADVISORS AND STATE LAW ENFORCEMENI AUTHORITIES, THE PURPOSE OF THIS SECTOR NOTIFICATION IS TO PROVIDE GUIDANCE TO ADDITIONAL AUTHORITIES THAT ARE IN A POSITION TO USE THIS INFORMATION ] SECTOR NOTIFICATIONS COMMUNICATE DEVELOPING INFORMATION RELATING TO ONE OR MORE OF THE NATION CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURES. BECAUSE THIS SECTOR NOTIFICATION DOES NOT IDENTIFY A SPECIFIC THREAT, NOR IS IT TIME CRITICAL, IT IS BEING DISSEMINATED TO A LIMITED GROUP FOR INFORMAL PUREOSES ONLY. RECIEPIENTS SHOULD EXERCISE APPROPRIATE DISCRETION WHEN FURTHER DISSEMINATING

RECENT DISCOVERIES OF EXPLOSIVE FILLED “SUICIDE” VESTS AND BELTS IN IRAQ CONTTNUE TO HIGHLIGHT THE DANGER POSED BY TERRORIST USE OF THE “SUICIDE/HOMICIDE BOMBER” TACTIC. SINCE THE SUICIDE/HOMICIDE BOMBER IS UNCONCERNED WITH CAPTURE, LAW ENFORCEMENT AND EMERGENCY RESPONSE PLANNING SHOULD CAREFULLY CONSIDER HOW TO DEAL WITH THIS TYPE OF THREAT SHOULD FUTURE REPORTING INDICATE TERRORIST INTENTIONS TO USE THIS TACTIC AGAINST TARGETS IN THE HOMELAND. ADDITIONALLY, THE POTENTIAL FOR TERRORISTS TO EMPLOY MULTIPLE SUICIDE/HOMICIDE BOMBERS IN WHICH THE FIRST ATTACK IS DESIGNED TO CAUSE CASUALTIES AND DRAW FIRST RESPONDERS TO THE SCENE SPECIFICALLY TO EXPOSE THEM TO A SECOND SUICIDE/HOMICIDE BOMBER ATTACKS CANNOT BE DISCOUNTED.
THERE IS NO SPECIFIC PROFILE FOR A SUICIDEIHOMICIDE BOMBER. THE AGE, EDUCATION. AND SOCIAL STATUS OF THE SUICIDE BOMBERS VARY HOWEVER, MALES, AGEED 16-50, SEEM TO DOMINATE. FEMALES ARE ALSO KNOWN TO CONDUCT SUICIDE/HOMICIDE BOMBINGS A FEMALE SUICIDE/HOMICIDE BOMBER MAY DISGUISE AN EXPLOSIVE DEVICE UNDER CLOTHING IN A FASHION THAT MAKES HER APPEAR PREGNANT; AN EXPLOSIVE DEVICE COULD ALSO BE CONCEALED IN AN INNOCUOUS FASHION SUCH AS IN A BABY CARRIAGE. MALE BOMBERS MAY ALSO DRESS AS FEMALES IN ORDER TO DISCOURAGE SCRUTINY.

TERRORISTS WILL EMPLOY NOVEL METHODS TO ARTFULLY CONCEAL SUICIDE DEVICES. AL QA’IDA OPERATIVE RICHARD REID EMPLOYED A NOVEL AND UNIQUE “SHOE BOMB”DEVICE IN AN ATTEMPT TO DESTROY A TRANSCONTINENTAL AIRLINER IN DECMBER 2001 HIS “SHOE BOMB” ILLUSTRATES HOW AL QA’IDA CONSTANTLY SEEKS NEW METHODS AND DEVICES TO CIRCUMVENT SECURITY.

IN GENERAL, IF AN INITIAL ATTACK OCCURS, ASSUME THAT A MORE POWERFUL FOLLOW-ON ATTACK IS POSSIBLE SHORTLY THEREAFTER, TIMED TO INFLICT THE MAXIMUM NUMBER OF CASUALTIES AGAINST THE RESPONDING POLICE, FIRE AND EMS RESPONDERS, AND GATHERING CROWDS. ALTHOUGH EMS RESPONDERS WILL LIKELY ASSUME PERSONAL RISK TO IMMEDIATELY TREAT THE INJURED, ALL OTHER RESPONDING PERSONAL AND VEHICLES SHOULD STAY CLEAR OF THE IMMEDIATE ATFACK SITE. THEY SHOULD AVOID PRESENTING THEMSELVES AS A TARGET BY CONGREGATING IN ONE LOCATION UNTIL THE SURROUNDING AREA CAN BE SWEPT FOR A SECOND BOMB, OR BOMBER.

THE FIRST RESPONSIBILITY OF RESPONDING OFFICIALS SHOULD BE TO IMMEDIATELY DISPERSE ANY CROWDS, AND SEARCH FOR A SECONDARY EXPLOSIVE DEVICE ON LOITERING INDIVIDUALS, IN SUSPICIOUS PACKAGES, TRASH RECEPTACLES, PARKED VEHICLES, ETC. IF A SUSPICIOUS PERSON OR ITEM IS IDENTIFIED DO NOT APPROACH, BACK OFF, TRY AND GET BEHIND SOLID SHIELDING, AND CALL FOR SECURITY PERSONNEL TRAINED TO DEAL WITH THE THREAT. ONLY WHEN THE SITE IS EFFECTIVELY SECURED AND CROWDS ARE DISPERSED, SHOULD ADDITIONAL RESPONSE PERSONNEL ENTER THE SECURED ATTACK SITE, WHILE CONTINUING TO AVOID ANY CONGREGATION OF PEOPLE OR VEHICLES.

WHILE IT IS CLEAR THAT SUICIDE/HOMICIDE BOMBINGS AGAINST US INTERESTS AND CITIZENS ARE MORE LIKELY TO OCCUR IN OTHER GEOGRAPHIC LOCATIONS. SUCH AS IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN, IT IS LESS CLEAR IF TERRORIST GROUPS, LIKE AL QA’IDA WILL ENGAGE IN SUICIDE/HOMICIDE BOMBINGS AGAINST DOMESTIC UNITED STATES TARGETS. IN THE CASE OF AL QA’IDA, HOWEVER, ITS DEMONSTRATED CAPABILITY AND INTENTION TO CONDUCT MASS CASUALTY ATFACKS, MAKES THIS A REAL POSSIBILITY. THE POTENTIAL FOR ANTI-US TERRORIST GROUPS TO USE SUICIDE/HOMICIDE BOMBING TACTICS AGAINST A VIP MOTORCADE, OR A CROWDED PUBLIC VENUE, CANNOT BE DISCOUNTED.

ANY QUESTIONS REGARDING PREVENTATIVE MEASURES RELATED TO THIS SECTOR NOTIFICATION SHOULD BE ADDRESSED TO STATE AND LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AUTHORITY THEY HAVE RECEIVED ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON PREVENTATIVE MEASURES.

DHS ENCOURAGES INDIVIDUALS TO REPORT INFORMATION CONCERNING SUSPICIOUS OR CRIMINAL ACTIVITY TO LAW ENFORCEMENT OR A HOMELAND SECURITY WATCH OFFICE. INDIVIDUALS MAY REPORT INCIDENTS ONLINE AT HTTP://WWW.NIPC.GOV/INCIDENT/CIRR.HTM AND FEDERAL AGENCIES. DEPARTMENTS MAY REPORT INCIDENTS ONLINE AT HTTP://WWW.FEDCIRC.GOV/REPORTFORM.HTML CONTACT NUMBERS FOR THE IAIP WATCH CENTERS ARE; FOR PRIVATE CITIZENS AND COMPANIES, (202) 323-3205 1-888-585-9078 OR NIPC.WATCH@FBI.GOV FOR THE TELECOM INDUSTRY (703) 607 4950 OR NCS@NCS.GOV AND FOR THE FEDERAL AGENCIES/DEPARTMENTS, (888) 282-0870 OR FEDCIRC@FEDCIRC.GOV
IAIP INTENDS TO UPDATE THIS SECTOR NOTIFICATION SHOULD IT RECEIVE ADDITIONAL RELEVANT INFORMATION, INCLUDING INFORMATION PROVIDED BY THE USER. COMMUNITY BASED ON THIS NOTIFICATION, NO CHANGE TO THE HOMELAND SECURITY ADVISORY LEVEL IS ANTICIPATED; THF CURRENT LEVEL PROGRAM NOTICE

THE NATIONAL LAW ENFORCEMENT TELECOMMUNICATION SYSTEM

THE UNITED STATES FIRE ADMINISTRATION (USFA) HAS COLLABORATED WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY (IAIP) FOR THE INTERIM USE OF THE NATIONAL LAW ENFORCEMENT TELECOMMUNICATION SYSTEM (NLETS) TO PROVIDE MORE TIMELY AND COMPLETE THREAT AND CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE PROTECTION (CIP) INFORMATION TO A LARGER SEGMENT OF THE FIRE AND EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES.
ACCORDING TO THIS TEMPORARY ARRANGEMENT, NLETS WILL FORWARD TO POLICE AGENCIES DHS INFORMATION THAT HAS BEEN DETERMINED BY USFA TO BE PARTICULARLY APPLICABLE TO FIREFIGHTERS AND EMERGENCY MEDICAL PERSONNEL. A SPECIAL HEADER WILL REQUEST THAT THE INFORMATION BE DISSEMINATED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE TO THE LOCAL FIRE ND EMS CHIEF OFFICERS BECAUSE OF THE NATURE 0F THE INFORMATION AND NECESSITY FOR PREPAREDNESS, THE INFORMATION WILL ALWAYS BE LIMITED TO OFFICIAL USE ONLY AND NEVER FOR GENERAL PUBLIC CONSUMPTION.

THE DHS AND THF USFA RECOMMENDS THAT CHIEF OFFICERS OF THE LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT, FIRE AND EMERGENCY MEDICAL COMMUNITY RECIEVING THIS MESSAGE TAKE THE TIME TO DISCUSS THIS MUTUAL SUPPORT SCHEME, AGREEMENTS SHOULD BE CONCLUDED REGARDING HOW THE TRANSFER OF THIS INFORMATION WILL QUICKLY AND EASILY OCCUR WITHIN THEIR LOCALITY.

THE USFA CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE PROTECTION INFORMATION CENTER (CIPJC) WILL CONTINUE TO DEVELOP CIP NEWS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY FOR THE FIRE AND EMS SECTOR DURING 2003. THERE ARE HIGH EXPECTATIONS THAT THIS SECTOR WILL HAVE ITS OWN DEDICATED ELECTRONIC MESSAGING SYSTEM IN THE NEAR FUTURE. ONCE IMPLEMENTED AND TESTED. THE NEW USFA CTPIC LIST SERVER SHOULD ELIMINATE THE DEPENDENCE ON NLETS FOR SECTOR-WIDE DISTRIBUTION OF ESSENTIAL CIP THREAT INFORMATION.

WATCH FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE USFA CIPIC LISTSERV AT THE USFA WEBSITE:

HTTP://WWW.USFA.FEMA.GOV/DHTML/FIRE-SERVICE/CIPC.CPM

PLEASE DIRECT ANY QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS REGARDING THIS INTERIM NOTICE SCHEME TO THE USFA CIPIC AT

(301) 447-1325

OR

USFACIPC@FEMA.GOV

END OF TRANSMISSION