Schools as terror targets: Paris and San Bernardino ISIS terrorist shooters’ interest in schools
Three chilling developments in recent weeks raise increased concerns about schools being in the crosshairs of ISIS-inspired terrorists. New public information since the Paris and San Bernardino terrorist attacks include: A second wave of attacks by the ISIS-affiliated terrorists in Paris were interrupted just before the attacks were about to occur. According to news reports, […]
School terrorism preparedness: After the ISIS attack in Paris, is the U.S. the next target?
If terrorists want to strike at the heart of America, they will strike at its children. I made that comment before and after the 9/11 attacks on United States. This past weekend’s ISIS attacks in Paris, France, are a tragic reminder that this comment still applies now, if not more than ever, here in America […]
Chechen terrorists: Beslan school hostage siege to Boston bombing
Tension continues to grow as we learn more about possible international terrorism ties to the Boston Marathon bombers. My tension grew dramatically as soon as I heard they had Chechen connections. Most Americans likely know less about Chechnya than I do. And I don’t know much at all. But I do know that Chechen terrorists were responsible […]
Are Schools Prepared When a Terrorist Threat Comes to Their City?
Federal authorities acknowledge a credible terrorist threat to your city or to a city near you. What does a school principal and superintendent do? School officials faced this very reality last night when federal homeland security officials acknowledged a credible al-Qaeda terrorist threat to NY City and Washington, DC. School safety officials in New York City and DC likely […]
Behind the Scenes of a Crisis: 9/11 Ten Years Later
Communication, coordination, and complacency. These three themes repeatedly surfaced in comments by morning panel members for The Press Club of Cleveland’s: Behind the Scenes of a Crisis, September 11 10 Years Later program. The September 7th program’s morning panel included representatives from the FBI, Red Cross, U.S. Attorney’s Office, Cleveland Police, Regional Transit Authority, and […]
Celebrate Bin Laden Death with Caution, Not Blind Elation
Americans deserve to feel excitement and a sense of closure with the death of Osama Bin Laden. But the closure must be viewed as the closing of one chapter of the book, not the entire book itself. We owe a debt of gratitude to our military, intelligence, and law enforcement officials who have doggedly pursued […]
Are Domestic Terrorists Targeting Your Child’s School?
Libya, Iran, Al-Qaeda, Mexican drug cartels, and the list of other possible threat sources to U.S. national security and public safety continue to grow. In fact, one veteran national public official openly asked this week if the U.S. has more international enemies now than we did just prior to 9/11. When you think about it, […]
Teen Arrested in Terror Car Bomb Plot: School Implications
The FBI thwarted an alleged attempted terrorist car bombing by a 19-year-old Somalia-born U.S. citizen who the feds say attempted to detonate a car bomb at a Portland Christmas tree lighting ceremony Friday night. The male was arrested by the FBI, who had been monitoring him for months in an undercover operation. The 19-year-old reportedly […]
Terror Cargo Bombs, Anthrax Scares, & School Mail Handling Security
An envelope containing white powder and marked with “anthrax” and “Al Qaeda” arrives in your school’s main office mail. Would your office staff know what to do? The recent cargo planes with bombs mailed by terrorists, as a part of an international terror plot, quickly brought school mailing handling procedures to mind. Add to that the anthrax scares experienced in […]
How Homegrown Terrorism is a Threat to School Safety
The U.S. has been slow to respond to homegrown radicals, creating a vulnerability for domestic terrorism right here in the U.S., according to a new report by the co-chairs of the 9/11 Commission. The Associated Press highlighted their findings in Report: US must deal with homegrown terror problem. The full report is available at Assessing the […]