Steve Crimando on: TSA Issues New Guidance on Vehicle Ramming Attacks
On May 4th, the Transportation Security Administration issued a new unclassified report, “Vehicle Ramming Attacks: Threat Landscape, Indicators, and Countermeasures” providing guidance on detecting and deterring vehicular assaults. While directed primarily at the trucking industry, the report and follow up news stories from the major news networks, highlight the seriousness of this evolving threat and provide a good overview of the threat landscape, as well as sharing
some of the grim statistics associated with terrorist vehicle attacks. While only four of the attacks discussed in the report used commercial trucks, the TSA note they are particularly effective as killing machines.
Over the past three years, more than 170 people have been killed and more than 700 wounded in about 17 ramming attacks around the world. The report reminds us that, “No community, large or small, rural or urban, is immune to attacks of this kind by organized or ‘lone wolf’ terrorists,” and that locations particularly vulnerable are those with “large numbers of people congregate, including parades and other celebratory gatherings, sporting events, entertainment venues, or shopping centers.”
NBC TV News aired a good synopsis of recent vehicular terror attacks that you can view here, but the report has not yet been posted on the TSA’s public website. While unclassified, the report was distributed directly to law enforcement, intelligence and homeland security agencies across the country, and serves to remind those involved in public and private-sector security roles of this emerging risk.
If you have not previously read my post from February 28th, “The Escalating Risk of Vehicular Attacks,” please note that it offers several suggestions for personal and family safety and survival in vehicle ramming attacks that you might find helpful and worth sharing with those in your personal and professional circles.
Steve has kindly allowed us to share various articles over the years. Check out a few of his insights below.
- The Hajj, the Pope and Crowd Safety
- Bioterrorism, Fake News & Alternative Facts
- Strategies for Safety and Survival in Vehicular Attacks
- 5 Tips for Fearless Business Travel
- Social Media, Violence and the Herostatus Syndrome
- Smokejumper Logic & Civil Unrest
Learn more about Steve Crimando and connect with him on LinkedIn.