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.
Volunteers help stop attack at Georgetown synagogue using security training skills
ABC 7 News reports:
A group of volunteers at a Georgetown synagogue helped stop an attack on worshipers over the weekend.
…
Volunteers, who are members of the congregation, and trained by Community Security Services, a private security firm based out of New York, helped identify the threat and stepped in to stop the attack
.…
The Kesher Isreal Synagogue told 7News:
“Every American should feel safe in their place of worship, and I am deeply disturbed by increased frequency and intensity of anti-Semitic incidents targeting our congregation. We thank God no one was seriously hurt, but this event further demonstrates why Jewish people are feeling unsafe in their institutions.
All too often, the burden of protecting ourselves falls to our congregants. We need government and law enforcement to further strengthen their partnerships with Jewish communities, including by providing additional funding for security personnel and infrastructure. And we urge the wider community in joining us in speaking out against these hateful attacks.
Rabbi Hyim Shafner
Kesher Israel Synagogue”
7News is not identifying the volunteers at the synagogue who stopped the threat because they will be back to continue to protect the building and everyone who comes to the synagogue peacefully to worship.
Related Items:
- Arrest made in assault near Georgetown synagogue, police say
- ‘I was afraid’: DC rabbi talks about antisemitic attack outside Georgetown synagogue
- Man arrested in antisemitic attack outside Georgetown synagogue
- DC police arrest attacker outside Georgetown shul
Analyst Comments:
The above incident occurred at an FB-ISAO member organization. The member promptly shared information with the FB-ISAO team and on FB-ISAO Slack. The member has also shared incident reports with the Metropolitan Police Department, the DC Fusion Center, the Secure Community Network, and other partners with an interest in incidents occurring at Jewish facilities.
Working with the member organization, FB-ISAO will publish a report which will include a description of the incident, actions taken, and lessons learned.
Also working with the member and featuring the member’s own description and assessment of the response to the incident, the FB-ISAO will host an incident review on 04 January at 3pm ET. The session is open to members of FB-ISAO. To sign-up for FB-ISAO membership and to participate in the incident review, please visit our membership page. https://faithbased-isao.org/membership FB-ISAO members also have access to up-to-the-minute threat and security information on FB-ISAO Slack
Bomb Threat Update
Bomb threats continue against house of worship, almost exclusively against synagogues and other Jewish facilities. Yesterday’s DAP provided some resources for dealing with bomb threats, suspicious packages, and swatting incidents.
- More than 400 Jewish facilities received false bomb threats this weekend, non-profit says
- Boynton Beach temple one of more than 30 institutions in Florida targeted with written bomb threat
- KY: Police respond to bomb threat at Temple Adath Israel in Lexington
- ME: Jewish temple was searched by police after a bomb threat was called in, Rabbi says
- NEW VIDEO: False bomb threat reported at Temple Israel Tallahassee; FBI warns of increased threats
- Hoax bomb threat reported at northwest Oklahoma City synagogue
Weekly Security Sprint 47. New SEC rules, AI, embezzlement, ransomware and more.
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.
In this year-end Security Sprint, Dave and Andy discuss:
- Happy Holidays and Happy New Cyber Incident Reporting Requirements!
- Seasonal Security Reminders
- UK NPSA: Social Media Auditors
- Cardinal found guilty of embezzlement in Vatican ‘trial of the century’
- Ransomware & Cyber Threat Updates
The above Gate 15 Weekly Security Sprint website also provides links to many security-related items of interest.
Information on other Gate 15 blogs can be found at Podcasts (gate15.global).
Reminder of Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP) Webinars Today and Tomorrow
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Date |
Time (ET) |
Registration Link |
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Tuesday, December 19 |
2:00 PM |
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Wednesday, December 20 |
3:00 PM |
Get the Daily Awareness Post Delivered to your Email!
More Faith-Based Stories
MD: Hate crime investigation sparked by arson at Anne Arundel County church cemetery
CA: 8-foot-tall menorah vandalized in Santa Monica
FL: Polk Sheriff: ‘Lactose intolerant’ thieves steal ice cream, other items from church
Pa. names 9 Allentown nonprofits in $19M hate crime prevention, security grant program
Scotland: Nativity scene at Cumbrae Parish Church vandalised
International schools in Spain cancel Monday classes after bomb threats
Christian groups demand Nigeria be placed on list of religious freedom violators
Select All-Hazards Stories
New bulletin warns threat of violence by lone offenders “likely heightened” through New Year’s Eve
CAIR-SFBA: More than 80 Movement, Organizational Leaders Announce Protest on Capitol Hill Today, 19 December
Pentagon Announces Mission to Counter Attacks on Commercial Vessels in Red Sea
Security Alert: Denmark, Increased Police Presence After Terrorism-Linked Arrests
Maine’s laws make it easier for neo-Nazis to exist in the state
Anti-Israel protestors vandalize dozens of Seattle-area businesses
Last-minute shopping? Three ways to spot rip-offs
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.
