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.
DHS Threats to Faith-Based Communities Briefing
NCRIC partners involved in Faith-Based Communities are welcome to join a discussion covering the current threat landscape, range of homeland threat actors, tactics, mitigation resources, and collection priorities. The call will be on Tuesday, March 25th, at 1 p.m. PST. The registration is shared in FB-ISAO Slack.
Analyst Comments: We continue to observe targeted threats against faith-based communities, and we have also shared additional information regarding recent threats to church members in the San Francisco Bay Area on Slack, which were shared by Law Enforcement partners as TLP:AMBER and can’t be published via this blog.
Violent Extremist Mobilization Indicators and the Education Sector
A recent supplement to the Mobilization Indicators Booklet has been published. The National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC), FBI, and DHS’s U.S. Violent Extremist Mobilization Indicators 2021 Edition includes 42 observable behaviors that suggests a U.S.-based violent extremist may be preparing to engage in violence. This supplement specifically highlights how these indicators can be applied to detect violent extremists threats within the U.S. education sector. It may also be useful in identifying other forms of targeted violence in educational settings. The supplement is organized into three sections. More information can be found on the FB-ISAO Slack.
Analyst Comments: It is crucial to recognize behavioral indicators that could suggest mobilization to violence in school settings. Indicators may include threats directed at specific religious groups, signs of radicalization among students or stuff, or activities such as surveillance of faith-based institutions. Faith-based schools, like other educational institutions are increasingly becoming targets due to their perceived association with certain ideologies or belief systems. Disseminating materials like this to better prepare staff to proactively mitigate terrorist events is important. As noted in the First Responders’ Toolbox, “bystanders who recognize, intervene, and report concerning behaviors and indicators to authorities enhance terrorism prevention.
Threat Assessment and Reporting | SchoolSafety.gov
The CISA posted the Supporting Safe and Secure K-12 Schools blog, which highlights CISA’s School Safety Task Force (SSTF).
Russia-linked Telegram channels ‘offering to pay for attacks on UK mosques’
The article discusses how Russia-linked Telegram channels are offering payments in cryptocurrency to individuals in the UK who carry out attacks on mosques. These attacks are often accompanied by hate symbols or other forms of violence against Muslim communities. The rise of these Telegram channels and the financial incentives they provide have sparked concern about the potential for increased Islamophobic violence. The piece also emphasizes the importance of understanding the threats posed by these groups and the role of online platforms in enabling extremist actions.
Analyst Comments: There is an increased risk for potential attacks against mosques and Islamic institutions therefore it is important to monitor targeted sites like mosques and promote public awareness about the dangers being posed through digital platforms.
The following resources are available from DHS’ Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA):
- Mitigating Attacks on Houses of Worship – Security Guide
- Protecting Places of Worship: Six Steps to Enhance Security Against Targeted Violence
- Security of Soft Targets and Crowded Places-Resources Guide
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