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