TERRORISM AWARENESS

Introduction

Terrorism is a type of blackmail used to threaten or intimidate.

Terrorism might target:

	national policy
	a local community
	business
	ethnicity
	members of any specialty group

The goals of terrorism are usually political, social, or religious in nature. Terrorists truly believe they are working toward a better world. They may want:

	To influence policy decisions
	Their own homeland or some type of independence
	Special privileges
	Exemption from rules
	To overthrow an existing government believing it to be non-representative, authoritarian, corrupt, or immoral

In many cases, terrorists have tried to address their issues legally. But they become frustrated over the slowness of the legal system and the lack of change. They often feel their cause has been ignored or treated unjustly.

Terrorists believe their cause is so important that any action is justified. These people are willing to commit crimes, go to jail, and sometimes to die or take another’s life for this cause.

How do we recognize the difference between normal and abnormal behavior?

By staying alert in our travels and daily routines and getting to know:

	Who our neighbors are
	What cars are normally in our neighborhood
	Who regularly makes deliveries at work
	Who the regular maintenance and cleaning people are at work
	What is appropriate in our work area so we can identify what isn’t

Always ask for ID of people who are in a “closed” area or want access to your home!

Staying alert is NOT paranoia. Staying alert is simply being aware of one’s surroundings. Some indications of possible trouble may include:

	A local activity that could indicate problems in your community
	Previous activity or crimes
	Tension between groups
	Controversial issues being debated
	Suspicious thefts

Pay attention to:

	Issues that have been in the media
	Local/national/international news that may increase the risk for certain groups or facilities
	Government-released “threat notices” indicating a threat against a type of facility
	U.S. threat advisory systems, which help you determine how alert you should be.

Unusual requests for information can be a warning sign of terrorist activity:

	A telephone request at work asking about the security system.
	Questions about the habits of your Chief Executive Officer.
	A mail survey asking for comments on the response time and habits of emergency personnel.

Although possibly legitimate, these are also techniques used by terrorists to gather information while planning an attack. DO NOT give out sensitive information unless you know the party you’re talking to and they have a need for that information.

Report Suspicious Behavior:
In order to be as helpful as possible with terrorist investigations, it is important to give a thorough report when notifying law enforcement. Keep in mind, the responding officer may only have the information you gave at the time of your call.

Accuracy means reporting what you saw and nothing more. DO NOT add “might have happened” to make the situation sound more important. However, it is appropriate to include the reason the activity seemed suspicious, even if it’s simply, “It wasn’t normal.”

Timeliness means that after a certain period of time, the suspicious situation will change, people will leave, or possibly alter their appearance. It’s very important to report anything suspicious immediately after you observed it happening.

It is important for the responding officer to quickly spot the suspicious person or activity. You can help by providing details and creating a “word picture.” Changeable details such as activity are important, but may not be the same once the officer arrives. Permanent details are very important, because they are difficult to change quickly.

When reporting a person, include: Hair color, Facial hair, Race, Age, Sex, Size, Scars, Tattoos and Disabilities.