Faith-Based Daily Awareness Post 21 May 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.

Lessons Learned from New Zealand’s Al Noor Mosque Attack

Newshub reports Christchurch mosque attack: Worshipper says they never practised emergency drills in case of attack on Al Noor. One of the worshippers and volunteers at Al Noor Mosque says that prior to the 2019 attack, they never practiced an emergency drill for an attack on the mosque. He also said he never even considered such an event.

The Press reports Burglar may have damaged mosque’s emergency exit, inquest hears. According to the article:

“The coronial inquest into the attacks has identified that 11 people may potentially have survived if the emergency door in the southeast corner of the mosque’s main prayer room – known as door D – opened as intended on March 15, 2019.

On Wednesday, the inquest is expected to hear from electricians involved with the door’s maintenance and another community member.

A newly installed electromagnetic lock on the door was disconnected from the mosque’s power the day before the attacks, which may have also contributed to the door not opening, leaving a group of people piled up in the corner as they tried to push it open, the inquest has heard.”

Analyst Comments:

The 2019 New Zealand mosque attacks resulted in 51 fatalities. Forty-three were murdered in the Al Noor Mosque. Fewer may have died if there had been preparation and adequate exits. The coronial inquest identified 11 people that may have survived if an exit door worked properly.

Faith-Based Organizations (FBO) should consider planning for all types of emergencies, including active shooters. The plans should be exercised to improve future responses and also to discover how the plans can be improved. FBOs should also consider ensuring that their facility’s emergency exits, and other equipment is working properly.

Attendees of houses of worship, or any other venue, should check and make sure there are two working exits available in case of any type of emergencies. An illuminated exit sign does not guarantee that the exit is working.

CISA’s Physical Security Performance Goals for Faith-Based Communities is a good resource for FBOs to evaluate there facility’s physical security. The document also provides guidance and tools to improve security.

CISA’s Protecting Houses of Worship website provides a wide variety of resources.

As always, Faith-Based ISAO’s website provides resources in the Resource Library, including information on Securing Facilities and People.