Faith-Based Security Headlines
These updates are shared to help raise the situational awareness of Faith-Based organizations to best defend against and mitigate the impacts from all-hazards threats including physical security, cybersecurity, and natural disasters.
Two Teen Girls Arrested For Plotting Mass Casualty Attack On High School: Report
Two teenage girls, aged 15 and 16, were arrested in Houston for allegedly planning a mass casualty attack at Memorial High School. The suspects, one from Willis High School and the other from Spring Branch ISD, were reported to have detailed plans to plant pipe bombs and shoot students. The plot was revealed through social media threats. Authorities acted swiftly, and the girls were arrested shortly after the threat was detected. The FBI, local police, and school officials have ensured additional security measures and are continuing their investigation.
Analyst Comments:
This case highlights a trend of increasing threats of violence in schools, particularly involving younger individuals. The detailed nature of the planned attack such as the use of pipe bombs and firearms raises concerns about the accessibility of dangerous materials and the severity of the threat posed by these teenagers. The planned attack would have represented a complex coordinated attack, which involves the use of more than one type of weapon. The Colorado Information Analysis Center (CIAC) has recently published a Situational Awareness Bulleting on complex coordinated attacks, which has been loaded to FB-ISAO Slack for members to review.
The Threat Assessment and Reporting | SchoolSafety.gov website provides resources to assist in “Identifying, reporting, and addressing safety concerns can help reduce the threat of targeted violence and enhance student safety.”
The following resources are provided:
- School Safety and Reporting
- Threat Assessment and Reporting
- School Threat Assessment Toolkit – National Center for School Safety
- Improving School Safety Through Bystander Reporting: A Toolkit for Strengthening K-12 Reporting Programs
- USSS Averting Targeted School Violence.2021.03.pdf
- USSS_NTAC_Enhancing_School_Safety_Guide.pdf
Additionally, CISA posted the Supporting Safe and Secure K-12 Schools blog, which highlights CISA’s School Safety Task Force (SSTF).
Oregon Man Pleads Guilty in Swatting and Bomb Threats Scheme That Targeted Jewish Hospitals in New York City and Long Island
Domagoj Patkovic, a 31-year-old from Portland, Oregon, pleaded guilty to conspiring to make bomb threats against Jewish hospitals and care centers in New York. His actions, starting in May 2021, involved making at least six calls to various hospitals, including false bomb threats that led to evacuations and lockdowns. His threats, live-streamed online, caused significant disruption and required law enforcement responses, though no explosives were found. Patkovic faces up to 15 years in prison when sentenced. The case highlights concerns over targeted threats and the diversion of critical law enforcement resources.
Analyst Comments:
The cased of Domagoj Patkovic highlights the escalating issue of swatting and bomb threats, especially when these threats are aimed at vulnerable groups, like Jewish organizations. The intentional disruption of services, the panic triggered by false alarms, and the pressure placed on law enforcement create far-reaching impacts on public safety and trust.
The Department of Homeland Security for resources for Swatting and Hoax threats.
FEMA’s Office of Business, Industry, and Infrastructure Integration (OB3I) announces the February Business & Industry Call
This meeting is held to update National Business Emergency Operations Center (NBEOC) members, business and industry organizations, and FEMA partners on the initiatives and tools available during all stages of the disaster lifecycle. Each month features different topics presented by experts from FEMA, other interagency partners, and business and industry organizations.
Governments cannot meet the needs of disaster survivors alone; business and industry partners are key in providing resources and support to communities through procurement opportunities. This month, we will focus on emergency procurement and contracting, federally and locally, in advance and in response to disasters. Join our expert speakers as they provide overviews of procurement and contracting resources and share insights on navigating opportunities with federal and local contract vehicles.
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