Faith-Based Daily Awareness Post 28 October 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.

Rash of Fire as a Weapon, Arson, and Suspicious Fires Against Communities of Faith

Kenya: Pastor, family burned alive in Islamist attack after leading Muslims to Christ

The Christian Post reports:

Islamist villagers in eastern Uganda burned a pastor and his family to death after he led three Muslims to faith in Christ, the pastor’s brother said.

Pastor Weere Mukisa, his 25-year-old wife, Annet Namugaya, and their two daughters, 7-year-old Judith Banirye and 4-year-old Sylvia Bamukisa, died when the assailants set fire to their home shortly before 3 a.m. on Oct. 13, said the church leader’s brother, James Tusubira. Pastor Mukisa was 30.

AZ: NEW DETAILS: Witness, pastor describe impact of Marana church fire

13 News reports:

The Northwest Fire District confirmed it happened at Living Word Baptist Church, which is near Grier and Sandario roads. The fire was under control prior to midnight, but not before the church suffered extensive damage.

…

Holman lamented the damage done not just to the church, but to its community.

“It was devastating ‘cause it was just… I can understand the people that go to this church, and know they’re pretty heartbroken.”

Franklin Interfaith Council to host event after church arson 

ABC 6 reports:

St. Mary’s Parish said that the Franklin Interfaith Council will host an event on Oct. 27 after a suspected arson at the church.

The Franklin Celebration of Love and Diversity will be held at 4 p.m. at the Franklin Common.

Organizers said the purpose of the event is to “respond to violence with compassion and unity.”

The church said the fire caused “heavy smoke damage” to both floors and the church would not be useable while repairs were made.

UK: Fire in Breightmet church garage labelled ‘mindless vandalism 

Bolton News reports:

Emergency services attended the fire at St James Church on Roscow Avenue in Breightmet on Wednesday at around 5.20pm.  

…

It is understood that the fire was set in the church’s garage and that it was an act of “damage and anti-social behaviour” (ASB).

MN: Guilty Plea For $4 Million Arson Fire at Rochester Church

KROC-AM News reports:

The woman blamed for starting a fire that caused millions of dollars in damage to a Rochester church is now awaiting sentencing.

23-year-old (name omitted) was arrested several months after the fire at Peace United Church of Christ in the early morning hours of April 18, 2022. According to court documents, a final damage estimate for the church in northeast Rochester was more than $4.4 million.

In the last month, the following arson or suspicious fires were reported in FB-ISAO Daily Awareness Post Blogs:

• Man faces felony charge after ‘attack’ on Moorhead mosque during ‘crisis’(possible fire as a weapon attempt)
• GA: Arson investigation begins after Brooks County church fire, $10K reward offered
• Services on hold after arson at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Franklin, Massachusetts
• Blaze erupts at Buddhist temple near Mission and 22nd
• Arson investigation underway after fire outside Center City synagogue
• AZ: Fire at St. Anthony of Padua Church shocks Casa Grande, investigation underwayand A church in Casa Grande was significantly damaged in a fire on Friday. But that didn’t stop parishioners from gathering on Sunday.
• FL: Fire damages Miami Gardens church in suspected arson
• NC: 1 injured in fire at Calvary Church in south Charlotte: Officials
• Fire damages several floors of former church building on Staten Island
• India Slams ‘Systematic Desecration’ After Firebomb Thrown At Hindu Temple In Bangladesh
• FL: Pastor speaks on damage caused to Miami Gardens church after it erupts in flames
• Downtown Bakersfield synagogue catches fire twice in one night, sparking worry

Analyst Comments:

As the examples above show, fire is a serious threat to the faith community. Arson fires may also increase if there is civil unrest around the election and inauguration. In 2017, a limousine was torched amid Trump Inauguration Day protests. In 2020, a Vietnamese Baptist Church burned amid Philadelphia protests. The church was a total loss, except for some hard drives with 15 years of vital church data. That same year, historic St. John’s Church near the White House was burned by protestors.

Fires can cause catastrophic damage to Faith-Based Organizations (FBO). In May of this year, six lives were lost in the fire as a weapon attack on a mosque in Nigeria. In addition to losing religious objects, monetary losses can be huge, like the $4 million lost in the above Rochester church fire.

On 9 October, FB-ISAO members received a Weekly Advisory on FIRE AS A WEAPON CONTINUES TO BE AN ATTACK VECTOR.

The FB-ISAO 17 May 2024 Daily Awareness Post highlighted Fire as a Weapon Attacks Continue Against Houses of Worship. The post provided the following resources:

• US. Fire Administration’s Protecting Houses of Worship Against Arson website.
• CISA provides a two-page Fire As A Weapon Action Guide.

Additional recommendations:

• Security begins in the parking lot.
• Install fencing and bollards.
• Keep doors and windows locked, but ensure that all emergency exits are well marked and functioning.
• Install break resistant windows or protective covers over stained-glass windows.
• Illuminate exterior and entrances.
• Clear things like shrubbery that block the view of the building (also mitigates spread of fire).
• Secure flammable liquids and chemicals.
• Clean up – Remove anything that could fuel a fire.
• Keep dumpsters and recycling bins away from buildings.
• Protect the underside of buildings. Do not provide an edge that facilitates easy ignition.
• Bathrooms are leading area of origin for arson fires in occupied stores and offices.
• Report odd or suspicious activities to your local law enforcement.
• Communicate with local law enforcement about prevention methods.
• Follow all local building and fire codes and regulations.
• Install smoke alarms and a fire sprinkler system.
• Buildings should have fire resistant exteriors.
• Maintain fire extinguishers and train staff to use them. Consider having larger extinguishers than those required by code.
• Clean up – Remove anything (including shrubbery) that could fuel a fire.
• Invite Fire Department to evaluate and pre-plan your facilities.

The Gate 15 Interview – Rob Sherman on CISOs: “Focus on risk, focus on resilience.” Plus: A Salt and Pepper America, burnout, beta, and more!

The Gate 15 Interview is a monthly interview between Gate 15’s Founder and Managing Director, Andy Jabbour and guests from throughout the homeland security risk management community addressing a wide range of all-hazards topics and issues.

Andy Jabbour speaks with Rob Sherman, Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) for American Tower Corporation.

Rob and Andy discuss:

• Rob’s Background.
• Organizational Culture
• Leaning into resilience
• Ransomware
• What worries Rob Sherman
• Burnout in cybersecurity
• Three Questions, beta tapes, Top Gun, a Salt and Pepper America and more!

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