The Latest from National Terror Alert Response Center

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• N.J. Law Would Require Monthly School Homeland
  Security Drills
  
  
• Lone Wolf Initiative – Feds Look To Detect Lone
  Attackers
  
  
• Volunteers Needed For Airborne Video Working
  Group
  
  
• Dept. of Homeland Security Launches Border Social
  Network
  
  
• FBI Seeks Publics Help In Locating Terror
  Suspect
  
  
• National Guard Drills For Worse Case H1N1
  Scenario
  
  
• Man Accused of Making Threats Against White
  House
  
  
• Serial Blow Dart Attacker Sought in Delaware
  

N.J. Law Would Require Monthly School Homeland Security Drills Posted: 14 Aug 2009 12:31 AM PDT Editor’s note - Excellent piece of legislation coming out of New Jersey House & Senate mandating monthly security drills. I encourage you to pass this article along to the legislators in your state. As Assemblyman Frederick Scalera points out, it makes little sense to have a plan and seldom if ever practice it. A bill that is expected to enter the New Jersey Senate, would mandate that all public and nonpublic schools in the state of New Jersey to conduct monthly school security drills. If passed by the Senate, students and faculty would be required to practice emergency response procedures such as non-fire evacuation, lockdown and active shooter response drills. Assemblyman Frederick Scalera, a primary sponsor of the bill, said that all schools in the state are currently required to have an emergency security plan in place, but many school staff do not feel comfortable with the procedures. “The problem brought up to me by teachers was that they knew they had a plan, but they don’t have a drill [to practice it], or they only have a drill one time a year,” he said. This bill would require all schools to conduct one school security drill per month along with one fire drill per month, he said. Currently, all schools are required to conduct two fire drills each month. Scalera said the primary goal of this bill is to familiarize school staff and students with non-fire evacuation procedures so students and staff would know what to do in case of an emergency. “Kids don’t panic for fire drills. I want to make Homeland Security drills the same thing so kids won’t panic,” he said. “This way everybody knows what they’re supposed to be doing at all times.” Ken Trump, president of consulting firm National School Safety and Security Services, said that more and more states are adopting similar legislation to require lockdown and other school security drills. “Practicing security drills, like fire drills, saves lives and there’s no reason why we shouldn’t be preparing students for that potential threatening situation, just as we do for weather and other natural disasters that can potentially occur,” Trump said. Trump encourages schools to not only run these drills, but to diversify the time of the day to make it more challenging and complicated for students. “Schools should make students think on their feet and seek alternative routes and strategies,” he said. “An evacuation drill during lunchtime is more challenging and disruptive, but school administrators tend to avoid practicing during that time, but that’s when students are more vulnerable and an incident is more likely to occur.” House Bill A3002 unanimously passed the Senate Education Committee on May 4 and Scalera said he expects it will pass the Senate. via Law would require monthly school security drills – Security Director News The Business Newspaper for Security Practitioners. This story comes to us via Homeland Security - National Terror Alert. National Terror Alert is America's trusted source for homeland security news and information. N.J. Law Would Require Monthly School Homeland Security Drills

Lone Wolf Initiative – Feds Look To Detect Lone Attackers Posted: 13 Aug 2009 08:47 PM PDT Federal authorities have launched an effort to detect lone attackers who may be contemplating politically charged assaults similar to the recent murders of a Kansas abortion doctor and a Holocaust museum security guard. The effort, known as the “Lone Wolf Initiative,” was started shortly after President Obama’s inauguration, in part because of a rising level of hate speech and surging gun sales. “Finding those who might plan and act alone, the so-called lone offenders … will only be prevented by good intelligence, the seamless exchange of information among law enforcement at every level, and vigilant citizens reporting suspicious activity,” said Michael Heimbach, the FBI’s assistant director for counterterrorism. Secret Service spokesman Malcolm Wiley said the FBI is sharing information with his agency. Read Full Article This story comes to us via Homeland Security - National Terror Alert. National Terror Alert is America's trusted source for homeland security news and information. Lone Wolf Initiative – Feds Look To Detect Lone Attackers

Volunteers Needed For Airborne Video Working Group Posted: 13 Aug 2009 08:24 PM PDT The Spectrum Management Committee is in need of volunteers to participate with the Airborne Video Working Group, which was formed to address strategies and spectrum for public safety airborne-to-ground video operations. Within this Committee, the Airborne Video Working Group has surveyed five agencies using airborne video and plans to survey three or four others, but the Working Group still needs input on other agencies using airborne video or would want to implement. The agencies surveyed were using TV news-gathering frequencies, 4.9 GHz, or federal spectrum under local agreements with the FBI or National Guard. At the June 2009 NPSTC Meetings, it was proposed that the Airborne Video Working Group develop a best practices white paper for agencies to reference. The Working Group requests volunteers to assist in this project, along with its other goals and objectives. If you’d like to participate in the Airborne Video Working Group and provide input which will benefit the public safety community, please use the form below to volunteer. You will be contacted with the information for the next meeting and additional information regarding the Airborne Video Working Group. Please visit the Spectrum Management Committee web page on the NPSTC website (www.npstc.org/committeeSM.jsp). There you will find more information on the Committee, as well as the Volunteer Form. If you have any questions, please call Toll Free (866) 807-4755 or email NPSTC at info@npstc.org. via Welcome to NPSTC. This story comes to us via Homeland Security - National Terror Alert. National Terror Alert is America's trusted source for homeland security news and information. Volunteers Needed For Airborne Video Working Group

Dept. of Homeland Security Launches Border Social Network Posted: 13 Aug 2009 08:07 PM PDT The Homeland Security Department has created a moderated social network designed to spur informed debate and discussion about topics related to the United States’ Southwestern border. The network named Our Border is hosted on the site Ning.com and is open to everyone. But although posted content is visible to anyone who visits, people need to have an account with the Ning network to participate, DHS said. However, the network is administered and moderated by DHS and all content is reviewed by the department before it’s posted, according to the network’s content policy. DHS will use the network to communicate the department’s policy, post photos and videos, and engage in dialogue, according to the policies detailed on Our Border. The department administers the network and plans to eventually use Ning’s live chat feature on Our Border, according to DHS’ privacy impact assessment. Four discussion groups are currently available on the site: Customs and Border Protection, Comprehensive Immigration Reform, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and Citizenship and Immigration Services. According to DHS’ policy, although the Ning company requires users to submit personally identifiable information (PII) such as e-mail addresses and dates of birth when registering, the department won’t actively collect or gather that information or put it into DHS’ systems of records. DHS also said that although Ning’s privacy policy indicates that Ning uses persistent cookies and other Web tracking technologies on Our Border, the department won’t have access to the PII contained in the persistent cookies. Users also won’t be allowed to add third-party applications to Our Border to help protect privacy, DHS said. To mitigate risk associated with persistent cookies, the department is also providing clear notice about the type of information being collected, how it’s used, the purpose of collection, and the privacy safeguards that are applied to it, according to DHS’ recent privacy impact assessment. Source This story comes to us via Homeland Security - National Terror Alert. National Terror Alert is America's trusted source for homeland security news and information. Dept. of Homeland Security Launches Border Social Network

FBI Seeks Publics Help In Locating Terror Suspect Posted: 13 Aug 2009 07:56 PM PDT The FBI is asking for the public’s help in finding the eighth person in a suspected terrorism ring working out of the Raleigh area. The feds say Jude Kenan Mohammad has been indicted on charges of conspiracy to provide material support to terrorists. The 20-year-old Mohammad, and seven other men were indicted on July 22nd. Documents say Mohammad is a U.S. citizen and North Carolina resident who went to Pakistan in October 2008 “to engage in violent jihad”. Mohammad’s name had been redacted from court papers when the documents were released earlier this month. Prosecutors have said they hope to have Mohammad in custody soon. The indictment says eight North Carolina men plotted terrorism and traveled over the past three years to Jordan, Kosovo, Pakistan and Israel “to engage in violent jihad.” If you have any information please call 704-377-9200 This story comes to us via Homeland Security - National Terror Alert. National Terror Alert is America's trusted source for homeland security news and information. FBI Seeks Publics Help In Locating Terror Suspect

National Guard Drills For Worse Case H1N1 Scenario Posted: 13 Aug 2009 06:55 PM PDT Oxford Hills Comprehensive High School will be the site of a National Guard riot control drill Thursday morning to prepare in the event of a panic over distribution of serum to treat the swine flu. The school on Route 26 at the Paris-Norway town line has been designated by state officials as a distribution site for the H1N1 flu vaccine. The drill is to prepare for a worst-case scenario should the serum have to be transported from Augusta and people rush to get it. On Thursday morning, four or five National Guard Humvees will travel from Augusta to Paris with vials of fake serum. The National Guardsmen will take on the roles of panicked citizens and military police and practice what they would do, such as using tear gas, in the case of a riot. “This is just a component of moving the stuff from point A to B,” said Oxford County Emergency Management Agency Director Scott Parker. The plan will be put into place only if needed, he said. Plans were developed in April to have vials of serum sent from the federal government to Augusta, Parker said. From Augusta, the supplies will be transported to designated distribution centers. During the April conference, concerns were raised about a possible out-of-control rush on the serum, Parker said. Because of that concern, Gov. John Baldacci and Gen. John Libby, adjutant general of the Maine National Guard, agreed that a plan should be devised to quell such a disturbance. Local police chiefs have also been involved in the planning, Parker said. In a real event, local police would be in charge of security once the serum arrives in Paris. “We own it. We’re in charge of providing security,” he said. via National Guard drill at high school to prepare for possible H1N1 riot Sun Journal. This story comes to us via Homeland Security - National Terror Alert. National Terror Alert is America's trusted source for homeland security news and information. National Guard Drills For Worse Case H1N1 Scenario

Man Accused of Making Threats Against White House Posted: 13 Aug 2009 06:26 PM PDT UPDATE: Suspect in custody A man accused of making threats against the White House led officers on a wild freeway chase that ended in a standoff outside the Federal Building.The man was wanted on various local warrants, says police Sgt. Kevin Lowe. His is also wanted for questioning by the Secret Service as part of a federal inquiry into threats against the White House, says Lowe. U.S. Secret Service spokesman Ed Donovan says the suspect made a threat but would not give details. Police have not publicly identified him. But the Daily Breeze is reporting that the red Volkswagon Beetle is registered to Joe Moshe, a resident in the 8300 block of Creighton Avenue. Neighbors who did not want to be identified said Moshe “sounds like he could be dangerous,” but he has never caused any significant trouble for them. “He’s got issues. He doesn’t take his medication, he doesn’t do that well,” a neighbor told the newspaper. Neighbors told the newspaper that said Secret Service agents in suits and driving government cars appeared on the street Wednesday night. They tried to speak with Moshe, but he did not answer the door, neighbors said. Watch Live: This story comes to us via Homeland Security - National Terror Alert. National Terror Alert is America's trusted source for homeland security news and information. Man Accused of Making Threats Against White House

Serial Blow Dart Attacker Sought in Delaware Posted: 13 Aug 2009 07:11 AM PDT Delaware State Police are investigating four attacks in which bicyclists or joggers have been wounded by blow-darts in Wilmington this week.One victim will need surgery for damage to his hand.Cpl. Jeff Whitmarsh, a state police spokeman, said the victims were hit by identical 4-inch-long darts. The series of attacks began about 7:15 p.m. Monday when a 27-year-old woman riding her bicycle on Route 71 in the area of the Red Lion Christian Academy was hit in the lower part of her back with a blow dart, police said. The woman sought treatement from her primary care doctor. A little over two hours later, a 17-year-old boy was struck by a blow dart in his left hand while riding his bicycle on Route 40 at Wrangle Hill Road. He was treated at Christiana Hospital and will require surgery to repair the damage to his hand, police said. At 10:40 the next morning, a 36-year-old man was riding his bicycle on Route 7 at Ocheltree Lane when a blow dart pierced his leg. He was treated by his primary care doctor. Later Tuesday, a 29-year-old woman jogging on Route 7, just north of Route 72, was struck in the calf by a blow dart at about 5 p.m. She, too, sought treatment at her primary care physician. State police said possible suspect vehicles include a full-size Ford pickup truck, a small white pick up truck, a dark colored pickup truck with two male occupants and a black Mazda 4-door sedan. Anyone with information should call Crime Stoppers at 800-847-3333. Source This story comes to us via Homeland Security - National Terror Alert. National Terror Alert is America's trusted source for homeland security news and information. Serial Blow Dart Attacker Sought in Delaware

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