Terrorist Activity Signs

Terrorism is an organized use of fear, force, or threats to intimidate a person(s).  The International community has failed to develop a universal definition of terrorism.  "Terrorism" is a word that all civilians take to heart.  When the term is heard, people are emotionally charged and take a concerned demeanor for family, friends, and state.   The term terrorism has a violent or a series of violent behaviors attached to its definition.  Politics, religion, or personal goals appear to be at the heart of each act of terrorism.  The perpetrator of the act of terrorism unfortunately targets the most emotionally vulnerable part of the receiving end of the terrorist's act(s).  If the receiver is an individual, it may be family or friends of the receiver that are unfortunately targeted.  If the receiver is a leader of a country, it may be the civilians of that country who are affected.  To hurt someone, terrorists target the people who mean the most to their target.
Bin Laden supported Al Qaeda's attack on American civilians and promises further attacks as well.  Laden, further holds Americans accountable for the policies that their democratically elected government creates.
Bin Laden has stressed the importance of preserving oil to Arab governments.  He explained the economical affect the oil preservation could have on the rest of the world (namely the United States).  This strategic move will certainly increase the cost of gasoline and attack the United States economy and its citizens as well.  This economic attack on the United States doesn't increase the death toll as in a typical terrorist attack would however, it hits their economy where it hurts (in the wallets of their citizens).  This welcomed change of strategy doesn't add to the body count however, it also doesn't affect Al Qaeda's commitment to its ideological agenda.
The ASIS International (American Society for Industrial Security) is an organization for security professionals.  ASIS focuses their concentration on increasing the productivity and effectiveness of security professionals by keeping educational programs and seminars up to date for its members.  The organization has many different resources and other information that may be useful to every person who is interested in their nation's security.  A question in many American's mind (since the September 11, 2001 tragedy) may be how do I recognize if a particular location is going to be a victim of a terrorist attack?  After visiting the ASIS public website I found the answer to that question.

The following seven signs of terrorist activities I obtained from the ASIS public website.

• Surveillance – When terrorists choose a specific site, they will have the site observed and document the following: traffic, number of employees (when and where they are located), the number of routes to and from the target (both by vehicle and foot), cameras and other means of surveillance, building & property plans (floor plans, external dwelling plans on property), etc…
• Elicitation – The Gathering of sensitive information for the target, which includes the following:  security information of the target, infrastructure plans, traffic routes and structures within the target's transportation routes, plans of surrounding properties, individual(s) taking an usual interest in mail or certain boxes / packages received by or mailed from the target, etc…
• Tests of Security – These tests may consist of the following: a member of the terrorist organization may apply for employment at the target to obtain security and local authority response times to emergencies in sensitive areas or a specific area of concern; or possibly enter a secured area as an outsider and time the security and police response and the general number of people involved in the response and the locations they respond to.
• Acquiring Supplies – The terrorists may either make rather large purchases of a product used in explosives, or a product that is not commonly purchased and must be ordered.  They may also bypass the purchasing stage by steeling the products needed.
• Dry Runs – Terrorists may perform practice runs of their operation prior to the actual terrorist's act.  These practice runs may be the most important part of their plan.  They may find what part of their plan is the most vulnerable and needs the most attention.
• Deploying Assets / Getting into Position – Deploying assets or getting into position may be the last sign that preempts the actual terrorist's act.

 NOTE: Pre-terrorist act indicators may occur days, weeks, months, or even years prior to the final act of terrorism.  It is imperative that all incidents are reported, no matter how trivial they may be.