Weapons of Mass Destruction An Introduction to Terrorism By Dr. Charles Feer Criminal Justice Instructor Video

2 Terrorism is a Crime Terrorist Goal: To force a government or group to change its stance or position.

3 California, a Target? Public / Government Buildings Mass Transit Communication Facilities Utilities Water Supply Food Production Recreational Facilities Malls Stadiums

4 Nature of Terrorism Eight Stages of Terrorist Plot Recruit Finance Weapon Date & Time of Attack Location Surveillance Means of Attack Escape (?)

5 Security Response Recognize Report React

6 What are Weapons of Mass Destruction? Firearms Ambush Ambush Explosives VBIED Bomb Bomb Incendiary Chemical Biological Nuclear Radiological

7 Three Main Concepts of Protective Measures: Time Distance Shielding

8 CONVENTIONAL BOMBS Scenario: Terrorists explode truck bombs and suicide bombers blow themselves up at venues such as sports arenas, train stations and, later, hospitals. A hundred people die. Threat: Improvised explosives remain the weapon of choice for al-Qaida and other jihadists. Of 63 al-Qaida attacks in the last 10 years, all but 12 were bombings, not including 9/11 and the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan

9 CONVENTIONAL BOMBS Vulnerability: It is impossible to protect all potential targets. Experts say the government needs to issue more realistic public warnings, turn to the community for tips and instill a resiliency to terrorism as a way of life.

10 CHEMICAL EXPLOSION Scenario: Terrorists blow up a storage tank of pressurized chlorine gas. A yellow-green cloud spreads 25 miles in six hours. Death toll is 17,500. Threat: Videotapes seized in Afghanistan in 2002 showed al-Qaida experiments on dogs using a lethal gas. Al-Qaida has sought chemical weapons but there is little evidence they acquired any. Such weapons are difficult to deploy.

11 CHEMICAL EXPLOSION Vulnerability: The bipartisan Partnership for a Secure America said more is needed to identify terrorist threats and secure chemical plants and rail cargo. Large volumes of toxic chemicals pass through cities on poorly protected rail cars.

12 DIRTY BOMB Scenario: Terrorists explode a bomb packed with radioactive Cesium-137 in a major U.S. city's downtown. About 180 people die, and a 36-block area is contaminated for years. Threat: Chicago al-Qaida recruit Jose Padilla admitted to planning a dirty bomb attack and was convicted in August on conspiracy charges. Most experts agree Padilla didn't have a thorough plan or the ability to carry it out, but concur that al-Qaida has long sought a dirty bomb.

13 DIRTY BOMB Vulnerability: The House Homeland Security Committee reported the government missed a deadline to screen sea cargo for radiological weapons and failed to improve counter- proliferation.

14 BIOLOGICAL AGENT Scenario: Terrorists release plague spores in three busy public restrooms. Within four days, the bacterium has spread to 11 countries and killed 2,500 people in North America. Status: The best-known biological attack was the 2001 anthrax one, which killed five. No firm evidence exists that al-Qaida has developed a bio-weapon.

15 BIOLOGICAL AGENT Vulnerability: Counter-terror officials worry about former Soviet “super-germ weapons labs” or lax security at U.S. labs. “A one-year grad student knows exactly where to get toxins that can kill 100,000 people,” said Matt Rojansky, executive director of Partnership for a Secure America.

16 CYBER-ATTACK Scenario: Terrorists hack into the nation's financial system, causing 20 million credit cards to cancel and a panic over bank stability. Threat: Russian and Chinese agents routinely hack into sensitive government sites, the U.S. government says. The Russians crippled Georgian military computers weeks before invading its southern neighbor early in U.S. officials say al-Qaida is Internet-savvy and can recruit or hire hackers to shut down a power grid.

17 CYBER-ATTACK Vulnerability: Director of National Intelligence Michael McConnell testified in February that the threat of a cyber attack is growing and America's defenses are poor.