This document outlines objectives for understanding terrorism threats. It discusses types of terrorist targets including infrastructure, symbolic sites, and civilian areas. Various terrorist tactics are described such as using explosives, secondary devices, and weapons of mass destruction involving chemical, biological or radiological agents. Response procedures are covered including considering secondary devices and coordinating with other agencies. Personal protective equipment requirements are outlined for different hazardous materials.

1. 6
Terrorism

2. 6
Objectives (1 of 4)
• Describe the threat posed by terrorism
• Understand the definition of terrorism from
a broad perspective
• Describe various types of potential
terrorist targets

3. 6
Objectives (2 of 4)
• Understand the dangers posed by
explosive devices and secondary
explosive devices
• Define weapons of mass destruction

4. 6
Objectives (3 of 4)
• Understand the basic differences and
indicators of chemical, biological, and
radiological threats
• Describe operations considerations at a
terrorism event, including initial actions,
interagency coordination,
decontamination, mass casualties, and
triage

5. 6
Objectives (4 of 4)
• Identify the different levels distinguished in
the Homeland Security Threat Level chart

6. 6
Terrorism Basics
• Response based on hazardous materials
response
• Terrorism’s goal: Produce feelings of fear
• Domestic terrorism
• International terrorism

7. 6
Responding to Terrorist Incidents
• Same procedure as in other emergencies
• Differences
– Landscape where incident is handled
– Numerous agencies are involved
– Training and working together are important

8. 6
Targets and Tactics
• Symbolic targets often chosen
• Often possible to predict likely targets
• Methods of attack vary

9. 6
Types of Targets (1 of 6)
• Infrastructure targets, including:
– Bridges
– Tunnels
– Subways
– Hospitals

10. 6
Types of Targets (2 of 6)
Subways, airports, bridges, and hospitals are all vulnerable to
attack by terrorists who seek to interrupt a country’s infrastructure.

11. 6
Types of Targets (3 of 6)
• Symbolic targets
– Symbols of national pride
– Military bases
– Embassies
– Religious institutions

12. 6
Types of Targets (4 of 6)
Terrorists might attempt to destroy visible national icons.

13. 6
Types of Targets (5 of 6)
• Civilian targets
– Shopping malls
– Airports
– Schools
– Sports stadiums

14. 6
Types of Targets (6 of 6)
By attacking civilian targets such as a crowded stadium, terrorists
might make citizens feel vulnerable in their everyday lives.

15. 6
Ecoterrorism
• Committed by groups supporting
environmental causes
• Examples:
– Spiking trees to disrupt logging
– Vandalizing animal research laboratories
– Firebombing store that sells fur coats

16. 6
Agroterrorism (1 of 2)
• Uses chemical or biological agents
• Attacks agricultural industry or food supply

17. 6
Agroterrorism (2 of 2)
Agroterrorism affects food supply or the agricultural industry.

18. 6
Cyberterrorism
• Electronically disrupting computer systems
– Government computer systems
– Private computer systems
– The Internet

19. 6
Types of Devices (1 of 2)
• Ordinary objects can become powerful
weapons
– Gasoline tankers
– Commercial airliners
• Bombs are most frequent

20. 6
Types of Devices (2 of 2)
• Shooting into a crowd
• Release of biological agent
• Computer virus

21. 6
Explosives
• Thousands of pounds stolen each year
• Can also be created with commonly
available materials:
– Improvised explosive device (IED)
– Ammonium nitrate fertilizer and fuel oil
(ANFO)

22. 6
Pipe Bombs (1 of 2)
• Pipe bombs are most common IED
• Length of pipe filled with explosive
substance
• Chemical/biological agents can be added
• Nails can be added
• Detonator like a hobby fuse

23. 6
Pipe Bombs (2 of 2)
Pipe bombs come in many shapes and sizes.

24. 6
Secondary Devices
• Placed in area where initial event occurred
• Intended to kill:
– Emergency responders
– Law enforcement personnel
– Spectators
– News reporters

25. 6
Potentially Explosive Device
• A device that has not yet exploded
• Remove civilians from area
• Establish perimeter at safe distance
• Explosive ordnance disposal (EOD)
personnel handle

26. 6
Actions Following an Explosion
• Ensure your own safety
• Ensure safety of scene
• Follow departmental procedures
• Consider possibility of secondary device
• Qualified personnel should check for other
contaminants (biological, radiological)

27. 6
Work with Other Agencies
Following Explosion
• Local, state, and federal agencies
• FBI
• Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and
Explosives
• Military EOD units

28. 6
Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)
• Chemical agents
• Biological agents
• Radiological agents
• NFPA 472 annex provides specific
information about terrorist attack agents

29. 6
Chemical Agents (1 of 3)
• Kill or injure large numbers of people
• Readily available
• Can be distributed in different ways:
– Releasing gas from storage tank
– Adding to explosive device
– Crop-dusting aircraft

30. 6
Chemical Agents (2 of 3)
Crop-dusting equipment could be used to distribute chemical
agents.

31. 6
Chemical Agents (3 of 3)
• Include:
– Nerve agents
– Blistering agents
– Pulmonary agents
– Blood agents

32. 6
Nerve Agents (1 of 2)
• Toxic chemical agents
• Attack nervous system
• Examples: Sarin, V-agent (VX)
• Antidotes exist

33. 6
Nerve Agents (2 of 2)
When a person is exposed to a nerve agent, the symptoms of
exposure will become evident within minutes.

34. 6
Blistering Agents (1 of 2)
• Contact causes skin to blister
• Examples:
– Sulfur mustard
– Lewisite

35. 6
Blistering Agents (2 of 2)
Typical effects of blistering agents.

36. 6
Pulmonary Agents
• Choking agents
• Examples:
– Phosgene
– Chlorine

37. 6
Blood Agents
• Interfere with use of oxygen by cells
• Example: Cyanide
• Can be inhaled or ingested

38. 6
Protection from Chemical Agents
(1 of 2)
• Use PPE
• Use self-contained breathing apparatus
(SCBA)

39. 6
Protection from Chemical Agents
(2 of 2)
If an unusual odor is reported at the scene, responders must don
full PPE including SCBA.

40. 6
Biological Agents
• Organisms that cause disease
• Examples
– Anthrax
– Plague
– Smallpox

41. 6
Protection from Biological Agents
(1 of 2)
• Responders unlikely to recognize signs
– Due to incubation period
• Recognition likely to come from
– Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
(CDC)
– Area hospitals

42. 6
Protection from Biological Agents
(2 of 2)
• Once threat recognized, wear appropriate:
– Gloves
– Masks with HEPA filters
– Eye protection
– Surgical gowns when treating patients
• Seek medical care for flu-like symptoms

43. 6
Radiological Agents
• Different threat from nuclear detonation
• Energy released in form of waves or
particles:
– Alpha particles
– Beta particles
– Gamma radiation

44. 6
Protection from Radiological
Agents
• Limit exposure time
• Stay as far away as possible
• Personal dosimeter
• Appropriate PPE
• Shielding

45. 6
Dirty Bomb
• Radiation dispersal device (RDD)
• Dissemination of radioactive material
• No nuclear detonation

46. 6
Operations
• Initial actions
– Approach like hazardous materials incident
• Interagency coordination
• Decontamination
• Mass casualties

47. 6
Mass Decontamination
• Master stream devices from engine
companies
• Aerial apparatus to create showers
• Allows rapid decontamination

48. 6
Mass Casualties
• Special mass-casualty plan essential
• Decontamination must be addressed
• Triage

49. 6
Additional Resources
• FBI
• FEMA
• Department of Homeland Security

50. 6
Department of Homeland Security
(1 of 2)
• Homeland Security Threat Advisories
• Homeland Security Information Bulletins
• Color-coded threat-level system

51. 6
Department of Homeland Security
(2 of 2)
Color-coded threat-level system.

52. 6
Summary (1 of 3)
• Goal of terrorism is to produce fear
• Terrorism can occur in any community
• Ordinary objects can be turned into
weapons
• Secondary devices explode after initial
device

53. 6
Summary (2 of 3)
• Weapons of mass destruction include:
– Chemical agents
– Biological agents
– Radiological agents
– Conventional weapons and explosives

54. 6
Summary (3 of 3)
• Important to identify type of agent
• Establish staging area at safe distance
• Interagency coordination important part of
response