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Faith-Based Daily Awareness Post

Faith-Based Daily Awareness Post 24 July 2023

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.

Follow up to Friday’s DAP Headline.

Man who ambushed Fargo officers likely had bigger and bloodier attack in mind, attorney general says | AP News

Excerpts from the article:

Over the past five years, Barakat, 37, searched the internet for terms including “kill fast,” “explosive ammo,” “incendiary rounds,” and “mass shooting events,” state Attorney General Drew Wrigley said Friday during a news conference in Fargo, a city of about 125,000 people. But perhaps the most chilling search was for “area events where there are crowds,” which on July 13 brought up a news article with the headline, ”Thousands enjoy first day of Downtown Fargo Street Fair.”

Had Officer Zach Robinson not killed Barakat, authorities said they shudder to think how much worse the attack might have been. All evidence suggests that Barakat came upon the traffic crash by “happenstance” and that his ensuing ambush was a diversion from his much bigger intended target, Wrigley said.

On the day of the attack, the downtown fair was in its second day and was less than 3 miles (5 kilometers) from the crash scene. It’s unclear if it was the intended target, though, as Barakat also searched for information on the Red River Valley Fair, which was just a 6-mile (10-kilometer) drive from the scene, the attorney general said.

Analyst Comment:

As Gate 15’s White Paper: The Hostile Event Attack Cycle (HEAC) describes, attackers usually spend a great deal of time planning their attacks. The attacker can change plans when an easier target presents itself or when the original target is too well protected.

Faith-Based Organizations should not only consider increasing the security of their facilities but should consider providing increased security for their outdoor events with large crowds.

For additional information, CISA provides a 2-page bulletin – Active Shooter Attacks: Security Awareness for Soft Targets and Crowded Places (cisa.gov).

Also, the Faith-Based ISAO website provides Physical Threat Security Resources.

DHS Announces Funding Allocations for FY 2023 Preparedness Grants | Homeland Security

One of the available grant areas is:

Nonprofit Security Grant Program: provides $305 million to support target hardening and other physical security enhancements for nonprofit organizations that are at high risk of a terrorist attack. This year, $152.5 million is provided to nonprofits in Urban Area Security Initiative-designated areas, and $152.5 million is provided to nonprofits outside those designated urban areas located in any state or territory.

Analyst Comment:

FEMA security grants are available to nonprofit organizations. Faith-Based Organizations should consider researching grant opportunities at Nonprofit Security Grant Program | FEMA.gov.

More Faith-Based Stories

TX: Plano fire officials investigating blaze at entrance of church Sunday morning

CA: Investigation into mosque vandalism reopens after video is shared online

FLORIDA CHABAD JEWISH CENTER VANDALIZED

Atco, NJ pastor increasing security at church after 2 acts of vandalism

Hate motivated vandalism reported on 2 University of Michigan fraternities.

TENNESSEE BLACK CHURCHES FIND KKK FLYERS OUTSIDE OF BUILDING

ANTISEMITIC NAZI BANNERS SPOTTED ON PENNSYLVANIA FREEWAY OVERPASS

Antisemitic incident report: July 15-21 – JNS.org

Operation Save America anti-abortion event offers mixed messages of calls to violence

‘It’s open season, and we know where your operations are’ – 1 year after Roe repeal, suspected church arson tops 300+ pro-abortion crimes

Massachusetts Pregnancy Centers Form Alliance in Face of Campaign Against Them

Detroit Man Gets Probation After Scamming Black Church, Retiree

Canada: ‘I Am Disgusted’: Teacher Berates Muslim Students for Skipping Pride Events

The Proud Boys Vandalized His Church … Rev. Bill Lamar Filed a Lawsuit

Ponte Vedra teen accused in antisemitic attack could be headed back to jail

Muslim woman allegedly forced to remove hijab after arrest by Kentucky police 

The Keys to Mental Illness May Be Hiding Within Amish Genes

What happened at a church forum that focused on white Christian nationalism?

Waikiki church resuming lunch ministry after pause to appease city safety concerns

‘Judeo-Christian’ roots will ensure U.S. military AI is used ethically, general says

UK: Church in Shock After Wooden Cross Burnt in Graveyard, Threats Made

Overnight Russian strikes on Odesa caused significant structural damage, destroy church

Israel settlers storm Greek Orthodox Church in Jerusalem

MORE THAN 50 CHRISTIAN CONVERTS ARRESTED IN IRANIAN CITIES

Nigeria: Heavy security in Osun churches over threat of planned massacre 

Terrorists Kill 37 Christians in Benue State, Nigeria

Hindu temple in Bangladesh vandalised, idols desecrated

Christians in Pakistan flee homes for safety after blasphemy accusation

Viral video Christian women paraded naked, raped searing Indian conscience

Oppenheimer’s use of sacred text in sex scene angers Hindu right wing in India

Select All-Hazards Stories

The Gate 15 Interview: Dr. G. Keith Still on crowd security, drinking whisky, smashing ashtrays in Saudi Arabia, the Land of Ice and Fire, and what not to ask a Scotsman.

Man who ambushed Fargo officers searched online for ‘kill fast’ and for crowded area events, AG says

United States tops 400 mass shootings in 2023 | CNN Politics

Police fatally shoot suspect after stabbing spree leaves at least four injured in Maryland

Investigation underway after Rand Paul’s Kentucky office destroyed in fire

Are self-driving cars a national security risk?

The military ordered big steps to stop extremism. Two years later, it shows no results

Booz Allen Agrees to Pay $377.45 Million to Settle False Claims Act Allegations 

Excessive Summer Heat Likely This Week National Weather Service

ACT SHEET: White House Launches Office of Pandemic Preparedness and Response Policy

Mosquitos Are Moving to Higher Elevations—and So Is Malaria

Zoonotic Disease Creep In The United States

Listeria outbreak kills three adults in Washington state, health department confirms

8 infectious diseases that made a comeback in 2022 unexpectedly — and illnesses that could surge in 2023

Pro-PRC HaiEnergy Campaign Exploits U.S. News Outlets via Newswire Services to Target U.S. Audiences; Evidence of Commissioned Protests in Washington, D.C.

Hateful Usernames in Online Multiplayer Games

Scammers impersonate delivery service support to rip off drivers and restaurants

Walmart, American Express, Amazon Prime Day, and MORE: Top Scams of the Week

Online scammers are turning analog to steal users’ money; Tech support scammers are trying a novel offline approach

How Older People Get Scammed

Drinking borax is the latest TikTok trend medical authorities working feverishly to debunk

Twitter is now X as the little blue bird disappears

IBM Report: Half of Breached Organizations Unwilling to Increase Security Spend Despite Soaring Breach Costs

Stolen Microsoft key offered widespread access to Microsoft cloud services

DOJ merges cyber, cryptocurrency units to go after ransomware attacks

Take the First Steps Towards Better Cybersecurity With these Four Goals | CISA

Ransomware Roundup – Cl0p

QILIN Ransomware Report 

The Week in Ransomware – July 21st 2023 – Avaddon Back as NoEscape

ZDI Updates

More Security-focused Content

Read a report detailing attacks on Faith-Based organizations following the Dobbs ruling.
Access the latest FB-ISAO Newsletter for additional threat analysis and upcoming event announcements.
Access all-hazards resources from public and private sector partners, curated by the FB-ISAO team.

The FB-ISAO’s sponsor Gate 15 publishes a free daily newsletter called the SUN. Curated from their open source intelligence collection process, the SUN informs leaders and analysts with the critical news of the day and provides a holistic look at the current global, all-hazards threat environment. Ahead of the daily news cycle, the SUN allows current situational awareness into the topics that will impact your organization. To sign-up for The SUN, please sign up below.

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