Faith-Based Daily Awareness Post 4 June 2025

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. 

FBI Releases 2024 Active Shooter Incidents in the United States Report

The FBI’s 2024 report on active shooter incidents in the United States indicates a significant decrease in such events compared to the previous year. In 2024, the FBI designated 24 shootings as active shooter incidents, marking a 50% reduction from the 48 incidents recorded in 2023. These incidents occurred across 19 states and spanned five location categories: open spaces, commerce, education, government, and houses of worship. Despite the annual decline, the five-year period from 2020 to 2024 saw a total of 223 active shooter incidents, representing a 70% increase from the 131 incidents reported between 2015 and 2019. This data suggests that while there was a notable drop in 2024, the overall trend over the past five years has been an increase in such incidents. The FBI continues to emphasize the importance of preparedness and offers resources like the Active Shooter Attack Prevention and Preparedness (ASAPP) training to assist law enforcement and the public in prevention, response, and recovery efforts.

Analyst Comments: The sharp decline in active shooter incidents in 2024 is a good development, especially after several years of increasing violence. However, the broader five-year trend highlights that the underlying threat remains persistent and widespread, with a 70% rise compared to the previous five-year period. This suggests that while individual year-to-year fluctuations may occur, the long-term risk environment still warrants serious attention. The variety of targeted settings including open spaces, schools, places of worship, and commercial areas also reflects the unpredictable nature of these attacks. Continued investment in prevention training and community preparedness remains essential, even during years when the numbers drop.

Resources:

• Active Shooter Incidents in the United States in 2024
• Active Shooter Safety Resources

Improving cybersecurity: Blocking unauthorized access to your systems

The Episcopal Church has recently issued guidance to help congregations strengthen their cybersecurity and prevent unauthorized access to digital systems. This initiative responds to increasing cyber threats, including a significant incident in which over $400,000 was stolen from church investment funds managed by the Diocese of Virginia in late 2022.

The guidance emphasizes the importance of implementing robust security measures such as using strong, unique passwords, enabling multi-factor authentication, and regularly updating software to patch vulnerabilities. It also highlights the need for ongoing education and training for staff and volunteers to recognize and respond to phishing attempts and other cyber threats. By adopting these practices, churches can better protect sensitive information and maintain the integrity of their digital operations.

Analyst Comments: Faith-based organizations are increasingly becoming targets of cyberattacks, and the Episcopal Church’s proactive guidance highlights a growing awareness of this threat. The 2022 breach involving a significant financial loss underscores the real-world consequences of inadequate cybersecurity. Encouraging practical steps like multi-factor authentication, regular software updates, and training for staff and volunteers is critical in closing common security gaps. As churches increasingly rely on digital tools for communication, administration, and finance, these measures are not optional they are foundational to ensuring trust, continuity, and resilience in a risk-heavy cyber environment.

Saudi Interior Ministry issues Hajj safety and security guide

Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Interior has released a comprehensive safety and security guide to facilitate a smooth and secure Hajj pilgrimage experience. The guide offers detailed instructions for pilgrims, including directions to the Grand Mosque in Makkah and maps of pedestrian routes to key ritual sites such as the Tawaf and Sa’i zones. It highlights peak times within the mosque, provides guidance on vehicle usage during the Hajj season, and outlines crowd-management protocols. The guide emphasizes the importance of adhering to designated grouping times for rituals like Tawaf, Sa’i, and the stoning of the Jamarat. Additionally, it reiterates that all pilgrims must have official permits to perform Hajj and warns of penalties for violations. Citizens and residents are encouraged to comply with all Hajj-related regulations and report any infractions by calling 911 in the regions of Makkah, Madinah, Riyadh, and the Eastern Province, or 999 in other parts of the Kingdom. 

Analyst Comments: The release of this detailed Hajj safety guide reflects Saudi Arabia’s continued emphasis on structured crowd control and public safety during one of the world’s largest annual religious gatherings. By clearly outlining pedestrian routes, peak times, and proper procedures for rituals, authorities aim to reduce confusion and prevent accidents or overcrowding. The inclusion of emergency contact information and warnings about permit violations reinforces the seriousness of compliance and highlights the government’s commitment to both security and efficiency. These proactive steps are especially crucial given the scale and complexity of managing millions of pilgrims in a confined area.

Also see: Smart Hajj: How authorities are preparing for crowd control

Weekly Security Sprint EP 113. Hostile events and geopolitics, insider threats, and ransomware

The Gate 15 Security Sprint is a weekly rundown of the week’s notable all-hazards security news, risks and threats and some of the key focus areas for organizations to consider behind the headlines. Gate 15 team members discuss physical security, cybersecurity, natural hazards, health threats and other issues across our environment.

This week’s Weekly Security Sprint discusses:

• Boulder
• Pride Month
• Insider threat
• Ransomware

Information on other Gate 15 podcasts can be found here.