Chapter 24 Terrorism Awareness

Introduction There is a potential for terrorism in this country Must remain in the thoughts of firefighters Other incidents are occurring on a regular basis This chapter looks at: Terrorism Hazardous materials crimes Other potentially dangerous criminal situations

Figure 24-2 A truck bomb caused the devastation in the Oklahoma City bombing in which 167 people were killed and 759 injured. The damage extended several blocks in each direction, and 300 buildings were damaged. Fatalities occurred in 14 separate buildings. (Courtesy of John O’Connell)

Types of Terrorism Divided into two distinct areas: Foreign based Domestic FBI defines terrorism as: Violent act or an act dangerous to human life in violation of the criminal laws of the United States or any segment to intimidate or coerce a government, the civilian population, or any segment thereof, in furtherance of political or social objectives

Determining if a Threat is Credible The thought process for determining if a threat is credible or not has five elements: Terrorist’s educational ability Ability to obtain the raw materials Ability to manufacture the devices Ability to disseminate the agents Motivation If a person has several of these capabilities, the credibility factor is increased

Potential Targets Exist throughout every community Commercial buildings High-rise buildings Residential homes Some buildings that could be targeted: FBI buildings Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms Internal Revenue Service Military installations Social Security buildings

Figure 24-3 Any location is a potential target for a terrorist Figure 24-3 Any location is a potential target for a terrorist. Any location where large numbers of people are present, such as a mall or sports event, is a prime target.

Figure 24-4 Other than special events, the most common location where large numbers of people are together is at sporting events. At this stadium, if an incident were to occur, more than 50,000 people could become part of the incident.

Indicators of Terrorism Most common device is the pipe bomb Any suspicious package should be suspected Presence of chemicals or lab equipment in an unusual location Intentional release of chemicals into a building or environment Smelling unusual odors or seeing vapor cloud

Figure 24-5 The most common explosive device is a pipe bomb, and it is very effective. It is a very dangerous device, not only for responders but for the builder as well.

Hazardous Materials Crimes Clandestine labs for illicit production is on the rise One big exposure issue for emergency responders is drug related Chemicals are toxic and flammable Most common situation where responders are directly affected by drug use is when a person is huffing After inhaling the gas from a paper bag, the vapors remain in the room

Clandestine Labs Biological weapons labs can run unattended without any major concern Can be shut down without major consequences Drug, explosives, or chemical labs should only be shut down by someone qualified to do so Drug labs moving eastward Drug labs found in homes, barns, hotels, storage units Shutting down a drug lab is complicated and dangerous Explosives and terrorism agent labs are less common

Figure 24-7 Methamphetamine lab seizures across the United States Figure 24-7 Methamphetamine lab seizures across the United States. Note the high number of labs in the Midwest. In years past, the largest numbers of lab seizures occurred in the West. The prevalence of methamphetamine labs is moving eastward at a fast pace.

Incident Actions A terrorist incident combines four types of emergency response into a large incident IC will have enormous responsibilities: Mass casualties Crime, terrorism, or just an emergency? Massive response from federal government Who is in charge? Evidence preservation Cooperative effort is needed

General Groupings of Warfare Agents Terrorists could use a number of possible warfare agents: Weapons of mass destruction Nuclear, biological, and chemical (NBC) Chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and explosive (CBRNE) Military has devised a naming system for many of these agents

Nerve Agents Related to organophosphorus pesticides: Tabun Sarin Soman V agent In order to kill large numbers of people, dissemination device must function properly All military warfare agents have vapor pressure less than water Not a large hazard unless touched

Incendiary Agents Most commonly used chemicals are flammables and combustible liquids Most common is the Molotov cocktail Arsonists use a mixture of chemicals to create fast, high-temperature fires Usually oxidizers

Blister (Vesicants) Commonly called blister agents Includes chemical compounds called: Mustard Distilled mustard Nitrogen mustard Lewisite Used to incapacitate enemy Biggest threat from skin contact

Blood and Choking Agents Blood agents include: Hydrogen cyanide Cyanogen chloride Choking agents include: Chlorine Phosgene Release of chlorine from a 90-ton railcar would result in several hundred thousand deaths Small amounts of chlorine can be deadly or cause panic

Irritants (Riot Control) Most commonly used: Mace Pepper spray Tear gas Often impacts a large number of people Not extremely toxic Symptoms disappear after 15 – 20 minutes of exposure to fresh air

Biological Agents and Toxins Some of the materials: Anthrax Mycotoxins Smallpox Plague Tularemia Ricin Easiest for terrorists to make

Radioactive Agents Two types of radiation events: Nuclear detonation Radiological dispersion devices (RDDs) Nuclear detonation is unlikely RDD threat is more probable Radiological materials attached to conventional bomb Pharmaceutical grade radioactive material attached to pipe bomb Strength of radiation source dictates how harmful RDD would be

Other Terrorism Agents Many common industrial or household materials can be just as deadly Pipe bomb with ricin Moving truck filled with ammonium nitrate and fuel oil About 3,000 small bombings occur each year Kill an average of 32 people Injure 277 people each year

Detection of Terrorism Agents Confirmation that terrorist agents have been used is difficult Detection of terrorism agents addresses three major categories of hazards: Chemical agents Radiological materials Biological agents Many devices detect chemical warfare agents

Figure 24-10 This detection device has the capability to detect chemical warfare agents such as sarin nerve agent and several toxic industrial chemicals.

Federal Assistance Federal government has established roles and responsibilities in the event of terrorism PDD 39 FBI is lead agency during emergency FEMA leads when incident is no longer an emergency FBI Hazardous Materials Response Unit (HMRU) Terrorist incidents Incidents involving explosives Drug labs Environmental crimes

Lessons Learned Within a community, there are multiple agencies that respond to a terrorist attack Coordination is difficult Responders should wear all PPE Be aware of potential secondary devices Scenarios involve tremendous loss of life Evidence collection is challenging