paib september 2010

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Pursuant to the USA PATRIOT Act of 2001, Homeland Security Act of 2002, Implementing Recommendations of

the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007 and the National Infrastructure Protection Plan of 2009, critical infrastructure is

defined as systems and assets, whether physical or virtual, so vital to the United States that the incapacity or

destruction of such systems and assets would have a debilitating impact on security, national economic security,

national public health or safety, or any combination of those matters. Pennsylvania applies the same logic and

intent to define Commonwealth, county & municipality critical infrastructures and key resources.

PPPEEENNNNNNSSSYYYLLLVVVAAANNNIIIAAAIIINNNTTTEEELLLLLLIIIGGGEEENNNCCCEEEBBBUUULLLLLLEEETTTIIINNNNNNOOO...111333222

1SEPTEMBER2010

POTENTIALLY-IMPACTED AREAS &SECTORS

Area

Allegheny CountyBeaver County

Berks CountyBlair County

Bucks CountyChester County

Cumberland CountyErie County

Franklin CountyJuniata County

Lancaster CountyLebanon County

Lehigh CountyLuzerne CountyMifflin County

Montgomery CountyNorthampton County

The Pennsylvania Office of Homeland Security produces this informational/intelligence bulletin specifically for all

potentially-affected stakeholderswhether public or private sector, federal or Commonwealth of Pennsylvania-

based Critical Infrastructures, Key Resources and Significant Special Events. Consider the information &

intelligence contained herein in context with other known information, indicators, threats and warnings.

Successful intelligence analysis and sharing programs are not the result of top-down processes but rather the

collective efforts of all stakeholders concerned. The Pennsylvania Office of Homeland Security urges all recipients

whether public or private sector - to provide information that might assist in the process [email protected].
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]


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Pennsylvania Intelligence Bulletin No. 132, 1 September 2010

Pennsylvania Office of Homeland Security | 2605 Interstate Drive | Harrisburg, PA 17110 | 717.651.2715 2 of12

Perry CountyPhiladelphia

Pittsburgh

Sector

Agriculture and FoodBanking and FinanceCommercial FacilitiesCritical ManufacturingEducation Facilities

Government Facilities1

ONGOING RESEARCH1. RAN: Pittsburgh Bank is a 'Black Eye' for Banking SectorThe Rainforest Action Network (RAN) (http://ran.org/) has focused on thePittsburgh-based PNC banking corporation as a financier of mountaintop removalmining in West Virginia. This follows on the heels of a campaign to target the Swissbanking corporation UBS for the same reason. Facilities targeted by RAN in previouscampaigns have been the scene of illegal actions including trespassing, lock-downsand vandalism.

Protests or other actions may target UBS offices in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, BethelPark (Allegheny County), Conshohocken (Montgomery County), Erie (Erie County),Newtown (Bucks County) and Plains (Luzerne County). Any one of the dozens ofPNC branches in Pennsylvania (an extensive list can be found here:http://www.usabanklocations.com/Pnc-Bank-Locations#Pennsylvania ) may also be

targeted. Major PNC regional headquarters and processing facilities include the PNCBank Center in Philadelphia, the PNC Bank Eastwick Center near the PhiladelphiaInternational Airport, and PNC's corporate headquarters at PNC Plaza inPittsburgh.(PIB nos. 124 and 131)

1 Educational Facilities Sub-Sector: Security directors, students and faculty of all Pennsylvania-based colleges and

universities participating in educational exchange programs abroad need to remain cognizant of emerging, country-

specific threats, indicators and warnings.
http://ran.org/http://ran.org/http://ran.org/http://www.usabanklocations.com/Pnc-Bank-Locations#Pennsylvaniahttp://www.usabanklocations.com/Pnc-Bank-Locations#Pennsylvaniahttp://www.usabanklocations.com/Pnc-Bank-Locations#Pennsylvaniahttp://ran.org/


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2. Imminent Targeting of Christians in EgyptIn an ongoing series of inciting communications intercepted by ITRR researchers,

jihadists accuse Christians in Egypt of coercive conversions and threaten imminentterror attacks against them. Two cities singled out in the jihadist communications astargets for possible church attacks are Alexandria, where Indiana University ofPennsylvania has an exchange program, and Cairo, where University of Pittsburghhas a program through the American University there. (PIB nos. 120, 128, 129 andherein below)

3. 'Radical' Cop-Watch Group Established in PhiladelphiaUp Against the Law, self-defined as "a new radical police monitoring group," held itsfirst public event on 26 August 2010 at the anarchist-affiliated Wooden Shoe Books"infoshop" in Philadelphia (704 South St.). The "discussion" - entitled, "The StreetsAre Watching: How To Monitor Police In Your Community" - was intended "toencourage people to monitor the police in their neighborhoods while providing aradical analysis of crime reduction.... There was a group discussion about the police

and their methods of enforcement, both in Philadelphia and nationwide. U.A.L.explained how to conduct copwatch patrols, while examining our general strategyand the specific tactics we use." ITRR is monitoring anarchist and relatedcommunications for further indications of targeting, strategies and methods to beadopted by Up Against the Law.

4. Computer Virus Targeting Critical Infrastructure AssetsITRR researchers are tracking the sophisticated new Stuxnet virus, which targetssupervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) systems, specifically those ofcritical infrastructure facilities. Of regional note is that Siemens Water TechnologiesCorporation (SWTC), targeted by the Stuxnet worm, is headquartered in

Warrendale (Allegheny County). The company has facilities in Darlington (BeaverCounty) and Chalfont (Bucks County), as well. See PIB no. 128 for a list of SWTCcustomers in Pennsylvania. (PIB no. 128)

5. Plowshares Eight Anniversary Event in King of PrussiaAnti-war and anti-nuclear activists will be marking the thirtieth anniversary of thefirst direct action of the Plowshares Movement. The Brandywine Peace Communityand the Atlantic Life Community, along with others, will hold protest actions atLockheed Martin facilities in King of Prussia (Montgomery County) on 5 September2010.

As the anniversary of the Plowshares Eight "direct disarmament action" in King ofPrussia approaches, there is an increased risk of escalation in anti-nuclear and anti-war activism by other militant groups in Pennsylvania. Such individuals or smallcells may decide to take "direct action," such as civil disobedience, againstLockheed Martin, nuclear facilities or military assets.

Other private organizations or companies in Pennsylvania dubbed "war profiteers"by anti-war activists include: Bechtel Corporation in Bethlehem (Lehigh andNorthampton Counties) and Pittsburgh; the Washington Group International in


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Mechanicsburg (Cumberland County) and Philadelphia; the Nuclear Utility ServicesLaboratory in Pittsburgh; and Fluor Daniel GTI in West Chester (Chester County).(PIB no. 127)

6. Direct Action Focusing on 'Factory Farms'Several anti-authoritarian, anti-globalization and environmental groups have takenpart in "direct action and civil disobedience training" in Brooklyn, New York. Thetraining apparently focused on "industrial agriculture" and "multi-nationalagribusiness." Pennsylvania is home to many such "factory farms." Counties with ahigh concentration of these farms include Lancaster, Chester, Lebanon, Blair, Mifflin,Juniata, Perry, Franklin and Berks counties (a 2003 breakdown of such farms:http://www.pennfuture.org/UserFiles/PDFs/factoryfarmreport_101003.pdf). (PIB no. 126)

SECTOR-SPECIFIC THREATS,INDICATORS AND/ORWARNINGS

Sectors:GOVERNMENT FACILITIES

7. Potential Protest Action Targeting Gov. Rendell's HomeRecent statements by Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell have indicated his supportfor the imposition of a severance tax on drilling companies in the state. Anti-drillingactivists expressed frustration that such a tax, without a moratorium on newdrilling, was merely a way for the state to benefit from what they see as highly

destructive exploitation.

In communication forums used by anti-drilling activists, one person commented(spelling and grammar as in the original - ITRR), "Rendell decided sacrificingindiviudal PA citizens water and health is absolutely worth the economic

boom(whose profit?how many of his inner circle work for Oil and Gas now, wonderif he will once his term is up)................... I think we should line his Germantown[Philadelphia County] PA home street with jugs of well water contaminated bynatural gas drilling........ He lives in the Delaware Watershed mind you NOT theSusquehanna....."

Responses included comments that "it's a great idea," and offers to help carry outthe project.

In the same venue, reporting on an encounter with the governor at a meeting ongas drilling in Wellsboro (Tioga County) on 27 August 2010, one anti-drilling activist

commented, "[Gov. Rendell] said a moratorium wasn't going to happen."

******ANALYSIS****** T/l/W Rating: LOW

The above-mentioned protest action is in line with a relative escalation in rhetoricamong anti-drilling activists previously noted by ITRR analysts. Recentcommunications have included a discussion of the advisability of "civil disobedience"and similar direct action to stop the drilling companies, as well as the request for
http://www.pennfuture.org/UserFiles/PDFs/factoryfarmreport_101003.pdfhttp://www.pennfuture.org/UserFiles/PDFs/factoryfarmreport_101003.pdfhttp://www.pennfuture.org/UserFiles/PDFs/factoryfarmreport_101003.pdf


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information useful for "the activists." (See PIB nos. 125, 126 and 127 for more onthis issue.)

ITRR analysts note the additional significance of directing action at a public official'spersonal residence. It indicates a new level of aggressiveness in terms of targeting,if not yet in terms of tactics. Along with the wider publication of Governor Rendell'shome address among anti-drilling activists, according to ITRR analysts, comes anincreased risk of ideologically motivated vandalism at the residence, as well.

In the event that the protest action is taken, it may involve activists remaining onhand to deliver speeches drawing attention to their cause, or possible acts of civildisobedience. Law enforcement personnel should be advised of the crowd controlissues associated with the various possible scenarios associated with the above-mentioned protest action.


8. Greek Anarchists Planning a 'Festival', March and RallyAnarchists in Greece are planning what they are calling a "Festival of DirectDemocracy" on 8-10 September 2010. The three-day event is to take place inThessaloniki.

The festival, which appears to be primarily a series of lectures (concluding with thetopic, "Direct Democracy and Social Overthrow"), is to be followed by a march andrally. Anarchists and other anti-authoritarians will be converging on SintrivaniSquare on 11 September 2010.

******ANALYSIS****** T/l/W Rating: MODERATE

In PIB nos. 59 and 62, ITRR analysts identified the likelihood of escalating action byanarchist elements in Greece. In the past several months, attacks by what appears

to be anarchist and anti-authoritarian elements have increased and escalated toinclude vandalism, arson and bombings (see PIB nos. 62 and 86, for example).While Greek anarchist violence has focused primarily, although not exclusively, onlaw enforcement and multinational business interests, bystander civilians have alsobeen harmed and killed in past attacks.

ITRR analysts have identified the organizers of the Direct Democracy Festival andthe subsequent march as ideologically committed to violence as a means to unravel

existing societies. Due to the nature of the Greek anarchist and anti-authoritarianmovements, as well as recent events, TAMC analysts believe there is a significantlikelihood of violent unrest during the above-mentioned march and rally.

Students and faculty participating in programs in Greece from institutions such asPennsylvania State University, Arcadia University, Haverford and Bryn MawrColleges, Carnegie Mellon University, and others, should be made aware of theincreased risk of anarchist violence in the country. Business travelers are advised to


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maintain situational awareness regarding local developments, including threats tolocal banking and state institutions.

As noted in previous PIB editions, widespread Greek anarchist rioting and attackshave gained admiration among anarchists worldwide. The Boston Anti-AuthoritarianMovement, for example (see PIB no. 73), held events this year in support of whathas become known as "the Greek Insurrection."

Any disorders in support of Greek anarchists will not be limited to cities havingGreek consulates and embassies; however, protests in cities in which Greekrepresentative offices are located will most likely focus on those offices. ITRRresearchers are currently monitoring the anarchist networks for more localizedPennsylvania targeting indicators.


9. Jihadist Call for Attacks on Tourists in SinaiIn continuation of jihadist communications threatening imminent attacks onChristian targets in Egypt, a new "emergency call" has been issued for attacks ontourists in the Sinai Peninsula.

ITRR researchers have intercepted a new jihadist communication in which the "lionsof Islam, the home defenders" in the Sinai region are called upon to "kidnaptourists and to kidnap Christians, to kill them or [hold them hostage]. Set fire tothe ground beneath them. Destroy their clerics and break the cross."

The residents of Sinai, according to the communication, "will not let us down.

...There is no solution for the Islamic nation in Egypt except you. You know what ishappening to our sisters in Egypt at the hands of the Christians, who kidnap,torture and capture them...."

******ANALYSIS****** T/l/W Rating: MODERATE-to-SEVERE

ITRR analysts note that, historically, Israelis have vacationed at Sinai resorts duringthe Jewish holiday season (which this year begins next week and runs throughOctober). This vacation pattern may encourage an act of terrorism in the Sinaiagainst a historically target-rich environment in the coming weeks. Past terroristattacks targeting civilians in Egypt have included strikes against hotels and othervenues frequented by Westerners, in the Sinai Peninsula and elsewhere.

The above communication, coupled with previous incitement-filled communications(see PIB no. 128 for a recent example), is a continuing indicator of a clear jihadistintent to conduct operations in Egypt. Jihadists have frequently sought toembarrass the Egyptian government through terror activity. In the Islamist view,the targeting of tourists would succeed in accomplishing that goal.


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ITRR analysts recommend that Pennsylvania students, researchers and faculty atthe many overseas programs in Israel (such as those of Temple University, DrexelUniversity, University of Pennsylvania, and various Jewish and Christian religiousseminaries), as well as business travelers, avoid trips to the Sinai at the currenttime. ITRR further recommends adhering carefully to any travel advisories issuedby Israeli officials.

Regarding Egypt, ITRR reiterates that two cities singled out in previous jihadistcommunications as targets for possible attack are Alexandria, where IndianaUniversity of Pennsylvania has an exchange program, and Cairo, where Universityof Pittsburgh has a program through the American University there. Pennsylvaniastudents, business travelers and tourists should be advised of the current increaseddanger of terrorist activity at religious sites, as well as in the Sinai Peninsula, asnoted above.

Sectors:COMMERCIAL FACILITIES;GOVERNMENT FACILITIES

10. Preparing for Quds Day 2010Quds Day, marked by some Muslims and others, is the last Friday of the Muslimmonth of Ramadan, which falls this year on 3 September 2010. Initiated in theearly days of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Quds Day was designed to focus anti-Israel sentiment into rallies, lectures and other public events.

The influence of Quds Day has since spread beyond Iran to the rest of the Muslimworld and beyond, transforming into International Quds Day. Self-declared anti-Zionists, anarchists and other extremist groups in the East and the West haveperiodically marked Quds Day, alongside Muslims, in some fashion. Primarily, it has

been characterized by large anti-Israel rallies and protests on or around thedesignated date.

******ANALYSIS****** T/l/W Rating: LOW-to-MODERATE

Members of Islamic, anarchist and other anti-Zionist groups in Pennsylvania maytake some action in solidarity with International Quds Day. Vigorous protests -possibly including some form of direct action-type illegality - may focus on theIsraeli consulate in Philadelphia. Other potential targets for protests, vandalism orlone-wolf terrorism in the region include any high-profile Jewish institution,synagogue or Jewish communal event. In addition, pro-Israeli gatherings orcounter-demonstrations may be seen as population targets for attacks by extremist

activists or full-fledged terrorist cells.

As of this writing, ITRR researchers have not identified planned protests or otherpublic events specifically related to International Quds Day. However, in the eventthat such rallies do take place, law enforcement personnel will be called upon tocarry out duties of crowd control at the targeted assets, as well as monitoring andisolating individuals intent on perpetrating more militant protest actions. Personnel


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with assets in proximity to Israeli or Jewish assets should be prepared to respond tocollateral damage as a result of acts of violence aimed at Israeli assets.


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END-CLASSIFIED-TAM-C-

For additional information, please contact the TAM-C of the Institute

of Terrorism Research and Response at: +1.215.922.1080 or

[email protected].

Working with organizations that refuse to surrender their

domestic or international operations to terrorism

Ensure that you always receive the latest information from The Institute of Terrorism

Research and Response. Add the e-mail address, "[email protected]" to your personal

address book.

This Intelligence report includes information from open and closed intelligence sources. Not

all information is able to be verified; however, the TAM-C is actively evaluating the reporting

to establish its accuracy and to determine if it represents a possible link to terrorism. If

recipients have any additional or clarifying information, please contact the Targeted

Actionable Monitoring Center (TAM-C) at +1.215.922.1080.

Actionable Intelligence Weekly Briefing A general overview of actionable intelligence

(upcoming events) used by directors of security and law enforcement managers to pre-plan

their future operations. The Briefing is dispatched on Monday of each week by 1100 GMT to

enable early planning of the upcoming weeks.

Threat and Hazard Monitoring (THM) A custom service meeting the needs for each client.

With the assistance of our international analysts, this service identifies specific threats,

hazards, vulnerabilities, and assets our team of native language speakers researchers and

ground resources, are to monitor and forward on to the client.

For additional information regarding the Center's services or specialized customized

research and analysis programs, feel free to contact us at: [email protected]

There are no emerging Indicators, Threats and/or Warnings at this time

for the following sectors:

CHEMICAL INDUSTRIES

COMMERCIAL NUCLEAR REACTORS,MATERIALS &WASTECOMMUNICATIONS

DAMSDEFENSE INDUSTRIAL BASE

EMERGENCY SERVICESENERGY

HEALTHCARE AND PUBLIC HEALTHHOTEL AND LODGING
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]


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INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

NATIONAL MONUMENTS AND ICONS

POSTAL AND SHIPPINGSOCIAL SERVICES

TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS

WATER

Associated Federal & State

Law Enforcement Agencies

Goal: Situational Awareness Among All

Stakeholders- The Information-Sharing Community -

CIKR

Site

Owner/Operator

Security Mgr

Firefighters

EMS County Officials

Surrounding County EMC

US DHS

Public Works/Utilities Public Health Officials

Municipality Officials

PA National GuardPEMA Area Office

Emergency Preparedness Liaison Officers

Adjacent State Intelligence

Centers


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THREAT /INDICATOR/WARNINGRATING

DESCRIPTION

LOW (Level 4)

Available intelligence and recent eventsindicate that hostile elements currentlyhave little intent or capability to takeaction against the target. Although itcannot be ruled out, an attack is unlikelybased on currently available intelligence.

MODERATE (Level 3)

Available intelligence and recent eventsindicate that hostile elements currentlyhave the intent and capability to takeaction against the target. An attack islikely to be a priority and might well beexecuted.

SEVERE (Level 2)

Available intelligence and recent eventsindicate that hostile elements currentlyhave the intent and capability to takeaction against the target. Additionalinformation is also available on thenature of the threat. An attack on thetarget is a priority and is likely.

CRITICAL (Level 1)

Available intelligence and recent eventsindicate that hostile elements not onlyhave the intent and capability, but alsoare actively planning to take action

against the target within a matter of days(up to two weeks). An attack or action isimminent.


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Source Summary Statement

The Institute of Terrorism Research and Response (ITRR)

produces this document specifically for the Pennsylvania Officeof Homeland Security in support of National Priority #3:

Implement the National Infrastructure Protection Plan (NIPP)

and all public and private sector, critical infrastructure

protection-related initiatives and strategies.

The ITRR, a commercial information research and analysis organization, uses open-source, human and closed-

source intelligence resources to derive patterns, trends, indicators, assessments and time-sensitive products. The

ITRR used only native-tongue researchers (English, Hebrew, French, Arabic and Spanish) in the collection,

interpretation, translation, analysis and production of this product. The analysis is performed by former law

enforcement officials, counter-terrorism experts and military intelligence personnel.

This document is provided to organizations/stakeholders associated with the security of Pennsylvania critical

infrastructures, key resources and significant special events. It is not to be distributed beyond those Pennsylvania

stakeholders without the express permission of the Pennsylvania Office of Homeland Security.
http://www.terrorresponse.org/http://www.terrorresponse.org/http://www.dhs.gov/xlibrary/assets/NIPP_Plan.pdfhttp://www.dhs.gov/xlibrary/assets/NIPP_Plan.pdfhttp://www.dhs.gov/xlibrary/assets/NIPP_Plan.pdfhttp://www.terrorresponse.org/


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US DHS






Centers


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DESCRIPTION

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US DHS






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DESCRIPTION

LOW (Level 4)


MODERATE (Level 3)


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PPPEEENNNNNNSSSYYYLLLVVVAAANNNIIIAAAIIINNNTTTEEELLLLLLIIIGGGEEENNNCCCEEEBBBUUULLLLLLEEETTTIIINNNNNNOOO...1113333333 September 2010

POTENTIALLY-IMPACTED MUNICIPALITIES &SECTORS

MunicipalityDamascus Township (Wayne County)

PhiladelphiaPittsburgh

State College (Centre County)Upper St. Clair Township (Allegheny County)

Williamsport (Lycoming County)

SectorBanking and FinanceChemical IndustriesCommercial FacilitiesEmergency Services

EnergyGovernment Facilities1

Transportation Systems












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CONTINUING STRATEGIC ANALYSIS

1. The Dutch Detainees: A Test Run?Two men with Yemeni passports were detained at Amsterdam's Schiphol

International Airport on Monday (30 August 2010) on suspicion of possibleinvolvement in terrorism; they are currently in Dutch custody. The pair, arrivingfrom Chicago aboard a United Airlines flight, were apparently on their way toYemen, by way of the Netherlands and Jordan.

Suspicions were raised among airport security personnel due to the odd contents ofthe suspects' luggage. In addition, one of the men made a sudden change in flightplans, which meant that he and some of his luggage went in two differentdirections.

Among the items that raised concerns among security personnel were:

thousands of dollars in cashlarge knives and a box cutterseveral cell phones taped togethera cell phone taped to a Pepto-Bismol bottlewatches taped togetherseveral loose cell phonesseveral bottles of liquidone of the men underwent additional screening in Alabama due to whatsecurity personnel called "bulky clothing"

None of the items were deemed dangerous or illegal in and of themselves.

Despite the suspicions raised and what appeared to be mock explosive devices, thetwo men were allowed to board their flight to Amsterdam. They arranged to beseated next to one another on the flight out of Chicago, despite arriving fromdifferent cities of origin within the US and making last-minute changes to theiritinerary.

While the two men are not known to have been previously involved in terroristactivities, three indicators quickly emerged as suspicious: mock devices, the lastminute separation from their luggage and the Yemen destination. These are strongindicators that the event was an effort to probe US aviation security

systems/protocols.

Analysts offer the following observations regarding the above events (assuming thesuspects were indeed involved in adversarial probing and reconnaissance):

The suspects are originally from Yemen.


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The suspects were on their way to that hotbed of jihadist activity when theywere detained.

It is reasonable to assume that the suspects have been, or were intending to be, incontact with representatives of the Yemen-basedAL-QAIDA IN THE ARABIANPENINSULA (AQAP). AQAP, especially through its US-born religious cleric Anwar Al-Awlaki, has been focusing on training and inciting for attacks against Americanswithin CONUS. Recent incidents involving Awlaki or AQAP acolytes include the Ft.Hood shooting, the failed Christmas Day bombing and the failed Times Squarebombing.

The deployment of probing cells indicates a relatively well-organizedoperation. At the very least, it is indicative of planning, pre-operationaltesting and reconnaissance. This raises the possibility that a third party wasassigned the task of objective, distance surveillance of security reactions andprotocols.

In addition to probing for reactions to suspicious luggage contents, the twomen also apparently attempted to determine if they could successfully getaboard one flight while their bags were checked on another. This may beindicative of intent to test the efforts necessary to manipulate existingsecurity protocols to their advantage or to cause a measure of confusion.

It is of particular interest that jihadists continue to see attacks on civilianaviation as dramatic, effective and powerful tools in their arsenal. Thiscorresponds to ongoing jihadist communications throughout the last severalyears.

Jihadist tactics, techniques and procedures continue to focus on the use ofexplosives. This, too, is consistent with on-going jihadist communicationsthroughout the last several years. Most recently, but not for the first time,

jihadist communications have included very detailed information regardingthe creation, use and deployment of explosives.

2. Children as Active JihadistsResearchers have observed jihadist communications sharing information supposedlypublicized in unidentified, open-source newspapers regarding the training of smallchildren for attacks on Western forces in Afghanistan.

According to the communication, citing newspaper sources,AL-QAIDA has beentraining children as young as 5 years old to carry out suicide bombings and to plantroadside improvised, explosive devices (IED). The training, said to includehundreds of children, is alleged to take place in secret camps in North Waziristan,Pakistan. In some cases, the training camps are disguised as regular schools.

The communication claims that the primary source of child recruits is from amongMuslim Chinese refugees from the majority-Muslim, ethnically-Uighur Xinjiang


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region. These Uighur have settled in Pakistan, Afghanistan and Kazakhstan. Thetraining itself is purported to be given by a jihadist movement from the Xinjiangregion (also known as East Turkestan).Analysts note that while the likelihood of such an attack using small children is nothigh, the option should not be dismissed. Although there have not been manyterrorist attacks perpetrated by children, they have occurred. For example, on 23April 2002, in Israel, three children (ages 12, 13 and 14) from the PalestinianAuthority in Gaza attempted to infiltrate a Jewish town in order to perpetrate asuicidal shooting attack. Terrorists in the KURDISH WORKERS PARTY (PKK) havealso been known to train young children as gunmen. In 2008 the US militaryreleased footage of an Iraqi insurgency training video in which children no morethan 12 years old wielded machine guns and practiced taking hostages. That sameyear, two 15-year-old Iraqi boys killed themselves in suicide bombings.

In other cases, children were used as cover for terrorist activity or even asunsuspecting "mules" for explosives. In March 2004, for example, Israeli soldiersdiscovered an IED in the bag of a 12-year-old boy at a checkpoint near Nablus. In

a particularly heartless incident in 2007, jihadists from the Iraqi branch ofAl-Qaidadetonated a vehicle-borne IED (VBIED) with two children in the back seat afterusing them as cover to get through a US checkpoint in Baghdad and fleeing thevehicle.

Most recently, suspected terrorist Zachary Adam ChesserUSPER attempted to board aflight from New York to Uganda on 10 July 2010 with the intention of joining theSomali jihadists ofHARAKAT AL-SHABAAB AL-MUJAHIDEEN(Movement of WarriorYouth). He admitted that he brought his son along in an attempt to deflectsuspicion among security personnel regarding his ultimate goal.

Analysts note that these types of incidents using small children may be internallyexcused by certain groups that feel themselves "forced to the wall," with limitedoptions. Other groups regularly incite and promote child martyrdom for their(generally jihadist) cause.

Whatever the motivation, analysts believe it is important that security personnelmaintain general awareness of the above-mentioned tactic. While it is unlikely thatchildren will be used in suicide bomb

paib september 2010

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