Faith-Based Daily Awareness Post 05 January 2024

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.

Islamic State claims responsibility for deadly Iran attack, Tehran vows revenge

Reuters reported:

• Islamic State claims responsibility for two blasts. In a statement posted on its affiliate Telegram channels, the militant Sunni Muslim group said two IS members had detonated explosive belts in the crowd that had gathered at the cemetery in the southeastern Iranian city of Kerman on Wednesday… White House spokesman John Kirby told reporters the United States was in no position to doubt Islamic State’s claim that it was responsible for Wednesday’s attack.
• Elite Revolutionary Guards join calls for revenge. Tehran has vowed revenge for the bloodiest such attack since the 1979 Islamic Revolution. The twin blasts also wounded 284 people, including children.
• Crowds chant slogans against U.S. and Israel. The United States denied on Wednesday any involvement in the explosions and said it also had no reason to believe Israel was involved… Tehran often accuses its arch enemies, Israel and the United States, of backing anti-Iran militant groups that have carried out attacks in the past. 
• Funerals, mass protests planned on Friday. Iranian authorities have called for mass protests on Friday, when the funerals of the victims of the twin blasts will be held, state media reported.

Related article:

• Iran arrests suspects over bomb blasts, mourners demand revenge – state TV

Analyst Comments:

While Islamic State claims responsibility for the two blasts, Tehran has vowed revenge and crowds chanted slogans against U.S. and Israel. Increased tensions may increase the desire of international terrorists and radicalized domestic actors to plan attacks in the U.S. Arrests in Argentina in connection with suspected planning of a terrorist attack shows that international terrorists are planning attacks in the Western Hemisphere. Faith-Based Organizations should remain vigilant.

The two attackers reportedly utilized “explosive belts”. The nearly 100 killed and 284 wounded shows the death and destruction that can be used by explosives small enough to be concealed on two individuals. While active shooters are a genuine threat, individuals with concealed explosives can also be a threat for FBOs to consider in the security plans. A person wearing a heavy coat in warm weather may be concealing an explosive or weapon.

Yesterday’s Faith-Based Daily Awareness Post provided a wide variety of resources for bomb threat evaluation and response. CISA’s Office for Bombing Prevention provides Bombing Prevention resources.