Faith-Based Daily Awareness Post 10 June 2024

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.

FOREIGN AFFAIRS The Terrorism Warning Lights Are Blinking Red Again

Foreign Affairs reports:

“Only with complete access to intelligence information could one form a fully independent view of the threat. But the FBI director’s and the CENTCOM commander’s statements almost certainly reflect the classified intelligence they are reading and the law enforcement and military operations in which their organizations are involved. Their words should be taken seriously. In the years since 9/11, other officials have warned about terrorist threats that, fortunately, did not materialize, but that does not mean Wray’s and Kurilla’s comments today should be discounted. The wax and wane of terrorism warnings over the years has generally corresponded with the level of actual risk. In many cases, too, those warnings triggered government responses that thwarted terrorists’ plans. Given the stakes, complacency is a greater risk than alarmism.”

Analyst Comments:

FB-ISAO’s 6 June 2024 Daily Awareness Post (DAP) highlighted FBI Director Christopher Wray’s terrorist threat warning during Senate testimony.

The DAP also provided links to resources to defend against the increased threat environment.

Also, FB-ISAO members are sharing information about threats, domestic protests, and security coordination activities in FB-ISAO Slack. Join here.

UK NPSA: Mitigation of Terrorist Threats at Venues during Ingress and Egress Guidance

The UK’s National Protective Security Authority | NPSA has produced new guidance that helps to highlight the main security concerns and provides various strategies to reduce the risks.

Crowds can become targets of terrorist attacks, especially during events at popular venues. This can include stadiums, concert venues, exhibition centres, theatres, nightclubs, shopping malls, theme parks and temporary sites or single events such as festivals. The entry and exit points are particularly vulnerable because the start and finish times of events are usually predictable, as are the locations in the vicinity of the venue where there will be increased crowds due to people entering and leaving. In the case of both ingress and egress from a venue, the problem centres around the congregation of people who are vulnerable to attack in areas where there are limited safety and security measures in place. This is particularly relevant in areas that may be outside the direct control of the venue. Keeping people safe during the ingress and egress phase of a venue’s operation is a security challenge.

Hostile actors may identify the entry and exit points at a venue as ‘soft targets’ if security is poorly developed.

The guidance covers:

• Crowding during ingress and egress.
• Key components of reducing risk.
• Understanding potential threats.
• Identifying vulnerabilities during ingress and egress.
• Control measures to be considered when looking to reduce risk.
• The importance of recording security processes, testing, reviewing and revising.
• Through an example, shows how control measures may be applied at a venue.

Analyst Comments:

While the Mitigation of Terrorist Threats at Venues during Ingress and Egress Guidance does not specifically list houses of worship, or their facilities, as popular venues, many faith-based activities meet the definition. Also, while the guidance was developed by and for the UK, the protective measures can be used in the US. It can also be useful to view protective measures from a different perspective than that put out by the US government and other US organizations. Sady, attack methods initially used in foreign countries can be copied in the US.

Donations & Payments & Compliance, Oh My!

The Church Executive posting discusses the compliance requirements of Faith-Based Organizations (FBO). The distinction between donations and payments is explained. Without citing specific brands, the article recommends using software to maintain compliance and protect donor information.

Analyst Comments:

FBOs should consider being aware of compliance requirements and possibly using software designed to ensure compliance.

Venue Security, The IAVM Podcast Series: Eric Neill talks about security! Saying “hello,” the importance of communications, de-escalation and how to get better every day

Venue Security, The IAVM Podcast Series; Gate 15’s founder and Managing Director, Andy Jabbour, hosts short interviews with venue safety and security experts from the International Association of Venue Managers’ (IAVM) Venue Safety and Security Committee (VSSC) and other special guests from the IAVM community.

In this episode Andy Jabbour talks with Eric Neill, Director of Theatre Operations at the Boch Center in Boston. Eric has worked in Performing Arts Venues for the past 25 years in Boston and NYC. He has over 25 years of security management experience specializing in event security and executive protection.

Andy and Eric discuss:

• Eric’s background.
• Security Protocols.
• Screening and search procedures.
• Managing VIP areas.
• Handling disruptive attendees.
• More!

Information on other Gate 15 podcasts can be found at Podcasts (gate15.global).