Chapter 7

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

situations7.2

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Figure 7-2 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

7.4

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

7.5

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

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Figure 7-3 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.

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Figure 7-4 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

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7.10

Figure 7-5 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

7.11

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

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Figure 7-7 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 needed7.14

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

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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

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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

7.17

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

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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

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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

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Biological Agents and Toxins

• Some of the materials:– Anthrax– Mycotoxins– Smallpox– Plague– Tularemia– Ricin

• Easiest for terrorists to make

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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

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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

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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

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Figure 7-10 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

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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

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