Faith-Based Daily Awareness Post 15 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. 

Denmark, Germany, Netherlands arrest 7 terror suspects, including alleged Hamas members, authorities say

• Denmark and Germany announced Thursday the arrests of seven terror suspects, including several alleged Hamas members suspected of plotting attacks on Jews and Jewish institutions in Europe amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas war. The announcements were issued separately and it was unclear how the arrests were connected or if they were the result of coordinated actions, or even possibly one operation spanning the continent.
• Danish police said three people were arrested across Denmark while a fourth person was detained in the Netherlands on suspicion of plotting to carry out “an act of terror.”
• In Germany, authorities said three suspected members of the Palestinian militant Hamas group who were allegedly planning attacks on Jewish institutions in Europe were arrested on Thursday. Two men were arrested in Berlin and one in the Dutch city of Rotterdam, while a fourth suspect was temporarily detained in Berlin, Germany’s federal prosecutor said. Authorities only identified the men by their first names and the first initial of their last name, in line with German privacy rules.
• Officials in Copenhagen did not provide any details beyond saying the arrests had “threads abroad” and were “related to criminal gangs,” singling out the banned, predominantly immigrant gang Loyal to Familia that had long been behind feuds, violence, robberies, extortion and drug sales in the Danish capital.
• Germany, Netherlands arrest 4 over Hamas plot

Analyst Comments:

Terrorists typically do not stop when an attack fails. On 2 November, The Times Of Israel reported that terror suspects were arrested in at least three European countries. Even with prior and current arrests, Faith-Based Organizations (FBO) in all countries should remain vigilant.

A DHS website is available to assist FBOs: Resources and Information for Faith and Community Leaders Regarding the Israel – Hamas Conflict

Multiple Bomb Threats

There have been multiple bomb threats across the country.

• PA: Bomb threats made against Jewish centers in Philadelphia, Bucks County and Bucks County synagogue evacuates children from preschool after bomb threat
• MS: Bomb threats reported at Mississippi airports, synagogue and Bomb threat at Jewish Temple in Columbus, MS and No explosive found at Columbus synagogue after bomb threat
• FL: All-clear given after bomb threat made to synagogue near Boynton Beach
• PA: Newtown Township Synagogue Evacuated Following Bomb Scare: Police

Analyst Comments:

FBOs should consider reviewing the following guidance prior to receiving a bomb threat or suspicious package.

• A 28-page Bomb Threat Guide is provided by CISA and the FBI.
• The US Postal Service Inspectors provide Poster 84 – Suspicious Mail or Packages to help identify suspicious packages.

Also, on Thursday, DHS’ Science and Technology Directorate published a feature article: Leveraging Artificial Intelligence Is Smart for Explosive Detection