Faith-Based Daily Awareness Post 18 December 2023

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. 

Bomb Threats and Swatting Incidents Continue

The Friday, 15 December, DAP highlighted multiple bomb threat incidents across the United States. The DAP had a report of bomb threat incidents in Pennsylvania. Since that report, a new report states Bomb threats reported at 13 synagogues across Philadelphia and suburban counties.

Bomb threats against Faith-Based Organization (FBO) continue across the United States.

• Hundreds of US synagogues receive bomb threats as spree continues despite arrests
• Dozens of synagogues in Massachusetts received a threatening email bomb threat this Sunday morning, December 17
• Alabama synagogues receive bomb threats believed to be part of nationwide hoax and Six Jewish sites across Alabama receive bomb threats Saturday
• Bomb threats made to multiple synagogues in Roswell, police say (GA)
• Nashville Jewish organization reports email threat
• Synagogues receive bomb threat; police confirm no bombs found (MO)
• Fake bomb threats sent to Jewish places of worship in Maine
• Services canceled after bomb threat at Jewish synagogue
• South Portland, ME: A Jewish temple was searched by police after a bomb threat was called in says Rabbi
• Daphne synagogue bomb threat may be linked to nationwide hoax and Service not canceled following threat at Baldwin County house of worship
• Bomb threat targets East Lansing congregation Sunday morning

Also, swatting incidents have increased.

• ‘Exponential increase’ in antisemitic swatting threats in US this weekend
• US Jews suffer nearly 200 swatting, false bomb threats throughout weekend

Analyst Comments:

FBOs should remain vigilant and prepare for bomb threats, suspicious packages, and swatting incidents. The following resources are available.

• A 28-page Bomb Threat Guide is provided by CISA and the FBI.
• CISA Bombing Prevention webpage, which includes a Bomb Threat Checklist and videos on how to respond to bomb threats and suspicious or unattended items.
• The US Postal Service Inspectors provide Poster 84 – Suspicious Mail or Packages to help identify suspicious packages.
• DHS’ Science and Technology Directorate feature article on Leveraging Artificial Intelligence Is Smart for Explosive Detection

The are also resources for dealing with swatting incidents.

In September the Forward published an article on How to protect your congregation from swatting and bomb threats during High Holiday services.

The articles provides steps from security professionals on:

• Before a potential swatting or bomb threat incident occurs,
• What to do during a swatting incident,
• What to do after receiving a bomb threat,
• And how to keep your synagogue livestream safe.

The live stream information is included because – “One thing this summer’s swatting incidents and bomb threats targeting Jewish institutions had in common was that the perpetrators appeared to be selecting synagogues that were live streaming their services.”

They also provide the following tip – “Some cities allow individuals to place their address in a police database of locations that may be targeted by swatting. The list is intended to help officers know they should proceed with caution. However, synagogues might be reluctant to use these tools because they also may face real threats requiring a quick police response.”

A Campus Safety article is aimed at schools, but the information could apply to all FBO facilities. The Swatting Incidents: 4 Ways to Reduce Widespread Panic, Improve Response article provides details for the following four steps:

• Collaborate and Communicate with Local Law Enforcement
• Use Technology to Locate the Source, Communicate Emergencies, and Detect Unusual Behavior
• Collect Data on All Incidents
• Educate Students and Staff

The Maine School Safety Center provides information on  Anonymous Threats, Swatting, and more.

As always, the Faith-Based ISAO’s website provides resources in the Resource Library.

DHS Center for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships Invitation: Non-Profit Security Grant Program FY2024 Winter Webinar Series + Other DHS Resources

The Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Grant Programs Directorate (GPD) invites interested organizations to attend upcoming webinars regarding the Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP). The NSGP is a competitive grant awarded to nonprofit organizations at high risk of a terrorist or other extremist attack for the purposes of facility hardening and other security enhancements.

Please note that depending on the timing of a Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 appropriations bill, final FY 2024 information on the NSGP may not be available at the time of the webinars. Interested nonprofits should maintain communication with their State Administrative Agency (SAA) for all deadlines and application requirements.

Analyst Comments:

Grants are available to help non-profit organizations, such as Faith-Based Organizations. Grants can be difficult to obtain. the information provided by webinars, such as those above, will greatly increase an FBOs chances of winning a grant.

Related articles:

• CT earmarks $5M for places of worship, nonprofits with heightened risk of hate attacks
• Governor Glenn Youngkin Introduces New Effort to Combat Antisemitism in Upcoming Budget
• Face the Facts: Securing funds for houses of worship for security upgrades

The Gate 15 Interview: Cyware’s Tom Stockmeyer on info sharing, threat intel, collective defense, popcorn and The Big House

The Gate 15 Interview is a monthly interview between Gate 15’s Founder and Managing Director, Andy Jabbour and guests from throughout the homeland security risk management community addressing a wide range of all-hazards topics and issues.

In this episode of The Gate 15 Interview, Andy Jabbour welcomes Tom Stockmeyer, Cyware’s Director, Enterprise East, ISAC’s and Federal. Tom is a cybersecurity leader with experience in helping threat sharing communities such as ISACs and ISAOs and their Member companies improve the fidelity of their intel and accelerate threat intel sharing amongst Members.

In the discussion they address:

• Tom’s background from the Marine Corps to technology, entrepreneurship, to Cyware.
• Information Sharing successes and challenges, ISACs, ISAOs and Cyware helping to secure organizations across the Fortune 1000 and more.
• Challenges to effective info sharing.
• A shoutout to the good work being done at Aviation ISAC.
• Cyware, continuous innovation and automated collective defense.
• Long weekends and holiday threats.
• We play Three Questions and talk microwave food, the Marines, classic rock, classic movies and more!

In a related article in HS Today, Cyware CEO Anuj Gul addresses Intelligence Sharing is Caring: Collective Defense for a Safer Nation

Information on other Gate 15 blogs can be found at Podcasts (gate15.global).