Faith-Based Daily Awareness Post 26 October 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. 

Maine mass shooting updates: At least 18 dead, gunman on the run

NBC News 4 reports:

Authorities confirmed on Thursday that a man shot and killed 18 people at a restaurant and a bowling alley in Lewiston, Maine, on Wednesday and then fled into the night, sparking a massive search by hundreds of officers while frightened residents stayed locked in their homes under a shelter-in-place advisory.

Analyst Comments:

Houses of worship in Maine should review their emergency operations plan while heeding local law enforcement guidance.

Learn actions to take during an Active Shooter or other Hostile Event from:

• Run. Hide. Fight. videos found in the FBI’s Active Shooter Safety Resources
• STOP THE BLEED
• FEMA’s You Are the Help Until Help Arrives
• CISA: Active Shooter Pocket Card

Other resources include:

• 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
• Information on the See Something, Say Something campaign can be found at About the Campaign | Homeland Security (dhs.gov)
• FEMA – Emergency Management Institute (EMI) Course | IS-904: Active Shooter Prevention: You Can Make a Difference
• Australia-New Zealand Counter-Terrorism Committee (ANZCTC) Active armed offender guidelines for crowded places (nationalsecurity.gov.au)

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

Resilience Where We Worship: Keeping Faith Based Communities Safe

This DHS Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agancy (CISA) blog explains how CISA is committed to supporting efforts that maintain safe and secure houses of worship and related facilities while sustaining an open and welcoming environment. They work in partnership with the Department of Homeland Security Center for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships and the Faith-Based Information Sharing and Analysis Organization (FB-ISAO) to build security and resilience for all. The blog post centers on CISA Region 8, but the activities are repeated across all CISA Regions.

Analyst Comments:

With respect to the current threat environment, we have seen individuals conduct hateful acts of violence upon individuals the attackers believed to be Jewish, Muslim and Palestinian. We assess that Faith-Based Organizations (FBO) will continue to face vandalism, property damage, theft, harassment, and communicated threats, as well as other low-level acts of violence and, in rare instances, actual physical assaults on individuals and facilities, whether motivated by hate, politics, or criminal gain.  The possibility that an active assailant may target an FBO remains an enduring threat. The blog post, noted above, outlines resources available to Houses of Worship:

• The Six Steps to Enhance Security Against Targeted Violence
• The Houses of Worship Security Assessment
• Perimeter Security Considerations Infographic
• Power of Hello Houses of Worship Guide and the accompanying De-Escalation Series tools
• Bomb Threat Management
• Mitigating Attacks on Houses of Worship Security Guide
• Paper-Based Houses of Worship Security Self-Assessment and User Guide

FBI, DHS warn of U.S. hate crimes increase amid Israel-Hamas war

Politico reports:

Federal law enforcement officials warned on Wednesday that Israel’s ongoing war with Palestinian militants could encourage more hate crimes in the U.S.

In a public service announcement released Wednesday night, the Federal Bureau of Investigation said it “has seen an increase in reports of threats against Jewish, Muslim, and Arab communities and institutions” and said that “recent events have increased the possibility of potential attacks against individuals and institutions in response to developments in the Middle East.”

Analyst Comments:

The two-page PDF of the DHS and FBI Public Service Announcement can be found here.  

The PSA also includes resources DHS and FBI resources.

Rapid Response Memo: Offline Events in the US Related to Israel-Gaza Conflict

Princeton University’s Bridging Divides Initiative website provides a PDF list that focuses on attacks, vandalism, fights, or other offline violence or direct threats related to the Israel-Gaza conflict.

Analyst Comments:

The information on the Princeton University’s Bridging Divides Initiative website is shared for member’s general situational awareness.