Faith-Based Daily Awareness Post 3 December 2025

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. 

Behind the scenes, security protocols at synagogues have expanded dramatically

In response to recent deadly attacks, congregations in Britain have significantly stepped-up security across the board. At the Manchester synagogue, a car-ramming and stabbing attack occurred during services on October 2, 2025, leaving two people dead and the community responding with deep fear and trauma. Now, many synagogues that reopened their sanctuaries have layered on far more intensive protection: private guards, volunteer patrols, gates, metal detectors, and stricter vetting of visitors.

In the United States, following a 2025 deadly attack outside the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, D.C. on May 21, 2025, where two people were killed, Jewish institutions and communities have pressed for stronger, formalized security plans often directed by former law-enforcement officers in nearly every major synagogue or Jewish institution. 

These events suggest a clear pattern: the 2025 Manchester attack is not an isolated incident. Rather, the escalation of threats from museum shootings to synagogue killings has prompted a widespread strategic security response across Jewish communities internationally.

Analyst Comments: Jewish communities have long invested in synagogue security, but the current threat environment is driving a significant escalation in protective measures. Instead of simply maintaining existing protocols, many synagogues are now rapidly increasing security presence, upgrading physical defenses, and formalizing emergency response procedures. This shift reflects a strategic, community-wide effort to proactively safeguard congregants amid heightened risks.

Resources:

• Secure Community Network
• Community Security Service
• Security Resources for Jewish Institutions and Places of Worship

Federal agents begin immigration operations in New Orleans and Minneapolis

Federal agents have launched new immigration enforcement operations in both New Orleans, Louisiana and Minneapolis, Minnesota. In New Orleans, the operations are described by federal officials as part of a broader crackdown that seeks to apprehend undocumented immigrats with serious criminal histories, including charges such as home invasion, armed robbery, and rape. At the same time, agents have begun enforcement activity in Minneapolis in part of an expansion of operations into cities with large immigrant and refugee populations. Local leaders in Minneapolis have pushed back, asserting local law enforcement will not cooperate with immigration enforcement and emphasizing constitutional rights for immigrants facing detention or arrest.

Analyst Comments: Simply from an operational and safety standpoint, houses of worship (HOWs) may consider being more alert during periods of increased federal immigration enforcement activity. A HOW’s public stances on immigration or its community support services could draw attention, creating situations where unfamiliar individuals, law enforcement personnel, or media appear on site. Regardless of beliefs or policies, congregations can benefit from having basic preparedness measures in place: knowing who is authorized to speak to officials, keeping clear access and visitor procedures, and having a plan if any community members, staff, or clergy are unexpectedly approached or detained.

Weekly Security Spring EP 137. Holiday backups and scams, plus identifying concerning behavior

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 week’s Weekly Security Spring Dave and Andy covered the following topics:

• Semperis Warns That Holiday & Weekend Gaps Leave Critical Infrastructure Open to Ransomware Attacks
• FBI San Diego Warns Shoppers to Be Aware of Scams During the 2025 Holiday Season
• FBI PSA: Account Takeover Fraud via Impersonation of Financial Institution Support
• Take9: Cyber threats are everywhere. And getting sneakier. What can you do to protect yourself, your community and our nation? Take a 9-second pause and think before you click, download, share. A short pause goes a long way.
• JCAT First Responder’s Toolbox: Tech Sector Outreach: Identifying Violent Extremist Indicators and Reporting Mechanisms for Online Service Providers

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