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.
Police: ‘Firework-type’ device explodes, injures four inside Henderson church
From Fox 5 KVVU:
According to the Henderson Police Department, the device ignited within “resulting in minor injuries to four subjects.” A letter to Palm Canyon Ward of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints stated, “Apparently, some outside person threw a device that caused an explosion in the gymnasium of the Arrowhead building.” A juvenile who was present at the time of the incident provided a photo to FOX5, showing the damage on the gym floor. El Dorado Stake President Steven Morris told FOX5 that this is the third explosive device thrown into the building within the last month.
Analyst Comments:
Faith-Based Organizations should consider being aware of the entire threat environment, including explosive devices.
DHS provides the Explosives Attack | Homeland Security website with Preparedness, Response, Recovery, and “All” resources.
FB-ISAO’s 04 January 2024 Daily Awareness Post lists extensive resources concerning bomb threats.
Grand jury indicts Rui Jiang for attempted church shooting
From WUSA9:
“FALLS CHURCH, Va. — A federal grand jury has returned an indictment charging 35-year-old Rui Jiang for plotting to shoot up a church in Prince William County last year. If a judge convicts him on all counts, he could face life in prison.
The indictment charges Jiang with attempting to obstruct congregants of the Park Valley Church in Haymarket in the free exercise of their religious beliefs. The indictment charged that his attempted act involved a dangerous weapon and included both a threats count and a firearms violation.
During a search of Jiang’s apartment, police discovered five copies of a letter, each signed, which read in part, “To the families of those men about to be slain …”
Related DOJ Press Release:
Related Articles Published at Time of Incident:
- Man brought gun, knives to Virginia church service after making online threats: police
- Man brought weapons to Va. church after online threats, police said
- Armed suspect arrested at a Haymarket church, while service in progress Sept. 24 – Bull Run, VA
- Rui Jiang Arrested in Haymarket Church with Loaded Weapon
- Man arrested ‘minutes’ before mass shooting at Virginia church
- Church shooting foiled in Virginia
Analyst Comments:
The FB-ISAO 26 September 2023 Daily Awareness Post (DAP) highlighted this story when it occurred. This was a case of someone seeing something online and saying something, several law enforcement jurisdictions working together, and finally, a house of worship security team thwarting the attack.
At the time, FB-ISAO members made good observations in FB-ISAO Slack.
The DAP also provided the following resources:
Information on the See Something, Say Something campaign can be found here.
Citizens and Faith-Based Organizations should know their local, regional, and state tip lines and suspicious activity reporting (SAR) processes.
The FBI also has an online tip form at Electronic Tip Form.
The following resources are available from DHS’ Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) and other federal partners:
- Mitigating Attacks on Houses of Worship – Security Guide (cisa.gov)
- Protecting Places of Worship: Six Steps to Enhance Security Against Targeted Violence (cisa.gov)
- Security of Soft Targets and Crowded Places-Resources Guide.
- First Responder Toolbox: Reporting Suspicious Activity – Critical for Terrorism Prevention
Get the Daily Awareness Post Delivered to your Email!
More Faith-Based Stories
ISIS issues horrifying warning as ‘lone wolves’ ordered to target Christians and Jews and ISIS calls for Ramadan massacre of Christians and Jews by lone wolves across US, Europe and Israel
TX: Police looking for man suspected of robbing traffic guard at gunpoint outside church
San Antonio’s St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church Faces Second Vandalism Incident During Holy Week
PA: Hateful messages spray painted in front of Temple Beth Zion-Beth Israel synagogue in Center City
PA: Vandals topple church statue
MI: Suspect charged in November vandalism of Michigan Chabad
PA: Squirrel Hill vandalism illustrates spike in antisemitic acts in Pittsburgh, nation
Wyoming Episcopal bishop deposed over ‘indiscretion’ with Church member
More US missionaries rescued from Haiti as UN report calls situation ‘cataclysmic’
French security forces to guard every church over Easter
Netherlands Antisemites Berate Woman on Private Property Over Daughter’s Israeli Military Duty
Nicaragua convicts 11 pastors linked to US ministry on ‘sham charges’ of money laundering
WHO: Faith-based partners voice support for pandemic accord
Ukraine Is Now ‘Holy War,’ Russian Church Declares
Select All-Hazards Stories
Video: Islamic State expanding in size, ambition, experts warn
Four Vanderbilt students arrested, charged with assault, vandalism over anti-Israel activity
Netherlands issues travel warning for France amid highest terror threat level
Russia’s security services knew of ISIS threat before concert attack, new evidence from investigative body suggests and Why Russia’s Vast Security Services Fell Short on Deadly Attack
Russian veto brings an end to the UN panel that monitors North Korea nuclear sanctions
Elevated to Critical Fire Weather Concerns Across the Southern Plains; Atmospheric River Impacting California National Weather Service
Strong Solar Flare Erupts from Sun
IRS kicks off annual Dirty Dozen with warning about phishing and smishing scams and The Dirty Dozen represents the worst of the worst tax scams
Is it a caregiving job or a scam?
Wagner-linked influence operations remain active after leader’s death
NewsGuard and SafetyKit Launch Automated Misinformation Detection Tool
French cyberdefence chief warns Paris Olympics a ‘target’
More Security-focused Content
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.
