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DAISH (IS) The Islamic State:

From the Levant to Paris and California

Presented by: David Harel

Orlando Florida 14th September, 2016

What we’ll cover in this session

The current threat from DAISH and the extreme

Islamist Ideology

Recent case studies of IS attacks in western countries

and lessons to be learned

Insights for security

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The US Threat Landscape

“ISIS "will probably attempt to conduct additional attacks in Europe,

and attempt to direct attacks on the U.S. homeland in 2016,"

Lt. Gen. Vincent Stewart, director of the Defense Intelligence

Agency, testified on Capitol Hill February 9 2016.

“ ISIS was likely to attempt direct attacks on the U.S. in the coming

year and that the group was infiltrating refugees escaping from Iraq

and Syria to move across borders.

violent extremists were active in about 40 countries and that there

currently exist more terrorist safe havens "than at any time in

history.”

Director James Clapper February 2016

“The smallest action you do in their heartland is better and more

enduring to us than what you would if you were with us. If one of

you hoped to reach the Islamic State, we wish we were in your place

to punish the Crusaders day and night.” Abu Muhammed Al-Adani

(ISIS Audio Recording May 2016)

Global Terror (Since 2011)

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Islamist Terror Threat to the U.S.

Source: Homeland Security Committee: Terror Threat Snapshot July 2016

The Islamic State

2003- formation and initial allegiance to AQ

2007- 2010 – period of decline

2010- Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi appointed as leader

2011-2013- resurgence, official expansion to Syria (ISIS)

and a rift with AQ

June 2014- establishment of a Caliphate, significant

territorial expansion, Governance, atrocities against

minorities

Levels of barbarity proudly publicized as part of a policy of

creating fear and deterrence

More than 20,000 foreign fighters have traveled to the

Islamic State and more than 3400 from Western countries

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Foreign Fighters Comparison by

Regions

Foreign Fighters From North America

Canada

U.S.A

250 foreign fighters (at

least 40 have returned

home)

130 foreign fighters

*It is not known how

many of those have

returned

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Foreign Fighters From Europe 85 foreign fighters (at least 25

have returned)

300 foreign fighters (at least 115

have returned)

Finland

Sweden

81 foreign fighters

Norway 760 foreign fighters (at least 350

have returned)

UK

125 foreign fighters (at least 62

have returned)

Denmark

760 foreign fighters (at least 200

have returned)

220 foreign fighters (at least 40

have returned)

Netherlands

470 foreign fighters (at least 118

have returned)

Belgium

87 foreign fighters (at

least 10 have returned)

1700 foreign fighters (at least 250

have returned)

2100 foreign fighters (at least 600

have returned)

250 foreign

fighters

The Islamic State controls an area larger

than Great Britain (but shrinking)

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Execution Videos and the Fear Factor

IS Media Releases by Type*

* Aaron Zelin, “Perspectives on Terror” Washington Institute August 2015

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The motivators & motivations

Correct discrimination

Identity and belonging

Glorification of Islamic History

Clear cut solutions

Creating a common enemy

Religious duty

The need to save Islam

Call for revenge

Adventure “Jihadi Tours”

A avenue for “losers”

Charismatic leadership

DAISH: Current trends

Increased activity to inspire lone wolves

Increased recruitment of minors

Suicide operations

Active shooters/armed assaults

DAISH targeting aviation

Insider threat

Targeting law enforcement

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Case studies

Jewish Museum Shooting Brussels 24th May 2014

4 killed in the attack

Mehdi Nemmouche arrested in Marseille

Left for Syria in 2012 after release from prison

Had “tortured” French journalist Nicolas Hénin and others

First terror attack in Europe by returning Jihadi

Demonstrated high level of operational performance

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Charlie Hebdo Armed Assault

Attack:

Description of Events

On January 7th, 2015, two

gunmen entered the offices of

the French satirical magazine

Charlie Hebdo.

12 people including staff and

police officers were killed.

The gunmen first went to the

Charlie Hebdo archives next

door before correcting their

mistake.

The gunmen forced an

employee, Corine Rey, to let

them into the entrance to the

magazine’s HQ (note – the

building was secured with a key

code and a sturdy door).

Main entrance, Charlie Hebdo

headquarters

Charlie Hebdo Armed Assault

Attack:

Description of Events cont.

At the reception area, the gunmen encountered two “maintenance

workers” and opened fire, killing one man.

The gunmen proceeded directly to the editorial room where

employees were in the middle of an editorial staff meeting.

Editorial Director Stephane Charbonnier was accompanied by a

personal armed guard (police officer).

The gunmen shot and killed 10 people in the conference room,

including the police officer.

The men drove off, shooting at police officers responding to the

attack.

Not far from the Charlie Hebdo offices, the gunmen shot and killed

another police officer.

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Thwarted Attack at the Culwell Center

Garland, Texas 3/5/15

Description of events

18:50hrs, two gunmen, armed with assault rifles and driving

a dark sedan began firing on a police vehicle that at the

entrance to the parking lot western entrance of the center.

The armed officer inside the vehicle immediately got out and

returned fire with a pistol, killing one of the shooters and

wounding the other effectively neutralizing the attack.

Building was immediately put on lockdown and the attendees

inside were moved to a more secure area of the building.

A SWAT team that was positioned on the other side of the

building, as part of pre-planned security measures, was able

to respond to the gunfire within seconds, killing the second

gunman and helping to secure the scene.

Scene was swept by bomb techs detonated several

suspicious items found in the car,

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Insights

Correct risk assessment (without intelligence warning).

Pro-active deployment of police:

SWAT team

Deployment on the outer ring

Bomb squad

Professionalism trumped larger numbers and superior

weapons

Social media, with an emphasis on Twitter, continues

to be an important media channel for disseminating

information by IS and its followers

Law enforcement success and Daish failure create

deterrence

Brussels Airport and Metro Station 12/1/2016

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Brussels Airport Suicide Bombers

The Paris Attacks 13 November 2015

The coordinated attacks were carried out by three teams on six locations in Paris and nearby areas.

In total, 130 people were killed and over 350 wounded.

ISIS claimed responsibility for the simultaneous terror attacks which the French President has called an ‘act of war.’

A statement claiming to be from the Islamic State identified France as a ‘key target’ in retaliation for France’s bombing in Syria.

Image from the Bataclan

concert hall

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The Targets

•Soccer match at the National Stadium

•Bataclan, a concert hall in which fans

were

listening to American rock

band Eagles of Death Metal.

•Several crowded bars and

restaurants in Paris.

Stade de France

One of the suicide bombers had

a ticket to the France-Germany

soccer game, but his explosive

vest was found during a security

check at the gate.

Tried to enter 15 minutes after

the start of the came

The terrorist moved away from

the guard after he was frisked

and detonated his vest moments

later.

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Istanbul’s Atatürk Airport bombing

June 28, 2016

Three terrorists armed with Kalashnikov

assault rifles and suicide vests stormed

the entrance to Atatürk Airport

international terminal.

Two of the bombers were trying to pass

through X-ray machines at the entrance

of the arrivals hall in the international

terminal before being stopped by Turkish

security officials and engaging in a

shootout and then setting off their

explosive vests.

The third bomber set off his explosive

vest on the second floor departures hall.

44 people were killed and more than 230

were injured.

Entrance to the arrivals hall in the international

terminal

Spot the difference

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Conclusions

The threat from ISIS to the Free World is significant

and not going away in the near future

The dangerous combination of disillusioned young

people and Jihadist ideology needs to be dealt with at

multiple levels

Learn from case studies of attacks

The importance of threat assessment and risk

management.

The need for professionalism, preparedness and

mindset. “The devil is in the details”

The importance of deterrence

The importance of behavioral detection skills

Thank You

Dharel@asero.com

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2014- Record Breaking Year

2014 saw a 94% increase in suicide attacks over

2013, with 592 attacks resulting in the deaths of

4,400 people

Num

be

r o

f S

uic

ide

Att

acks

Targeting law enforcement & military