Public Intelligence

(U//FOUO) This assessment describes threats and other suspicious activities directed against courthouses in the United States over the past twelve months. Additionally, it provides indications of surveillance and suggested protective measures for vehicle-borne improvised explosive devices and homicide-suicide bombers to assist in the protection of courthouses and related facilities.

The Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will conduct National Level Exercise (NLE) 2010 on May 17-18. NLE 2010 will engage federal, state and local partners in a series of events and opportunities to demonstrate and assess federal emergency preparedness capabilities pertaining to a simulated terrorist attack scenario involving an improvised nuclear device. “Every day we are taking steps to continue to strengthen our nation’s emergency response team, from the local level up to the federal government,” said FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate. “NLE 2010 provides an important opportunity to exercise these response and recovery capabilities across all levels of government.”

Under the “BP Oil Spill Response Social Media Event Monitoring Initiative” the Department of Homeland Security’s National Operations Center (NOC) monitors “publicly available online forums, blogs, public websites, and message boards” in order to provide “situational awareness and establish a common operating picture for the federal government, and for those state, local, and tribal governments, as appropriate, assisting with the security, safety, and emergency response associated with the oil spill”. According to a “Privacy Impact Assessment” from April 29, 2010 available on the DHS website, Public Intelligence is included in the list of sites monitored by NOC analysts.

In the evening of May 1, 2010, a vehicle with a large incendiary device was discovered and rendered safe in Times Square, New York City. The vehicle was parked at 1515 7th Ave. in Times Square, according to local police officials. The vehicle did not detonate as designed, and there were no casualties. The investigation into the attempted bombing is still ongoing. According to open sources, the vehicle was a blue Nissan Pathfinder spotted by a street vendor who noticed smoke emanating from the vehicle about 6:30pm EST. It is believed the vehicle was abandoned just after 6:00pm, and had its hazard lights flashing and its engine still running. A firefighter who arrived on the scene shortly after being notified reported seeing a “flash” and heard a “popping sound” from the trunk of the vehicle. Theatres, hotels and all foot traffic in the area were cleared and streets were cordoned off by police.

(U) Times Square:

–(U) At 6:34pm, a 1993 Nissan Pathfinder bearing Connecticut license plates was discovered in front of 45thStreet and Broadway, the Times Square area of New York City, with smoke in the cabin. Eyewitnesses report seeing smoke and hearing popping sounds coming from inside the vehicle, and people were observed running from the scene. A mounted NYPD Patrol Officer responded, evacuated the area, and notified the bomb squad.

(U) On 2 May, at approximately 1330, Al-Jazeera reported that a group claiming to be Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan had claimed responsibility for the attack in a one-minute long video posted on a video-sharing Website. It has yet to be determined if the tape is authentic, and if so, if the group played any role in the attack.

(U//FOUO) Threats to the U.S. highway system (including tunnels, bridges, long-haul buses, school buses, and commercial trucks) emanate from transnational and domestic terrorist organizations, as well as from insiders and special interest groups. However, the primary threat stems from al-Qa’ida, its affiliates, and other Sunni Muslim extremists, whether foreign or domestic. No reporting indicates a current, credible, and specific terrorist threat to U.S. highway interests. However, since 1993 at least three terrorist plots to bomb tunnels and bridges in the United States have been disrupted, aborted, or abandoned. Further, recurring suspicious incidents involving U.S. highway infrastructure and assets could reflect pre-operational terrorist planning. Thus far, however, no definitive link has been established between any of the suspicious incidents and terrorism.

(U//FOUO) DHS Acutely Toxic Chemical List, September 2008.

FEMA 2009 Presidential Inaugural NSSE Brief, January 14, 2010.

The purpose of the Multiyear Training and Exercise Plan (TEP) is to provide a follow-on companion document to the Colorado Homeland Security Strategy and the priorities set by the State Improvement Planning Workshop. It is a living document that will be updated and refined annually. The Multiyear TEP provides a roadmap for Colorado to follow in accomplishing the priorities described in the Homeland Security Strategy through effective trainings and exercises.

To facilitate the development of a nationwide, integrated, inter-connected fusion center capability, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) National Preparedness Directorate (NPD) and the Office of Intelligence & Analysis (I&A) and the U.S. Department of Justice’s (DOJ) Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) have partnered to develop and deploy the Fusion Process Technical Assistance Program. This program has been developed in coordination with the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI); the Office of the Program Manager, Information Sharing Environment (PM-ISE); the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI); and experts from the State and local community—including the Global Justice Information Sharing Initiative (Global), the Criminal
Intelligence Coordinating Council (CICC), and the Global Intelligence Working Group (GIWG).

Public Intelligence has received a request from FEMA to remove a “For Official Use Only” document regarding the National Level Exercise 2010 (NLE 10), which was scheduled for this coming May. The exercise was to be based on National Planning Scenario 1 which simulates a nuclear detonation in a U.S. city. However, recent political pressure has led to the exercise’s “scaling back” according to the Washington Post, Christian Science Monitor and a variety of other publications. At the behest of Senator Harry Reid (D-NV), the exercise’s Nevada events have reportedly been canceled and the FEMA website now shows no mention of NLE 10.

On April 13, 2010, we received a message from Danny Rains who is an investigator for the Federal Emergency Management Agency in the “Office of Security” requesting the removal of a document entitled “National Level Exercise 2010 (NLE 10) Exercise Overview”. The ten page document, which is described in FEMA’s request as “very sensitive”, consists of approximately 20 PowerPoint slides including the title page and was published nearly seven months ago on August 8, 2009. The document is labeled “For Official Use Only” and is marked as a draft copy. The contents of the brief are basically a calender of potential dates for the exercise and very brief descriptions of some preliminary plans for the exercise. The document has already been seen by a large number of people and has been discussed on a variety of websites and forums, including mirrors in some cases.

Deparment of Homeland Security Science & Technology Directorate DNSSEC: Securing the Domain Name System (DNS), March 24, 2010.

(U//FOUO) DHS/Office of Intelligence and Analysis (I&A) and the Los Angeles Joint Regional Intelligence Center (JRIC) assess that an intentional release of hydrogen sulfide gas most likely would be by a person using it to commit suicide, thus not exposing large numbers of people. The gas is, however, highly toxic and easy to produce from commonly available materials—properties that could make it attractive for use in a terrorist attack. DHS/I&A and JRIC have no information that terrorists are planning an attack in the United States using hydrogen sulfide gas.

(U//FOUO) On 3 October 2009, US citizen David Headley (aka Daood Gilani) was arrested by FBI Chicago and charged with conspiracy to conduct acts outside the United States that would constitute the offenses of murder and maiming. Additionally, Headley was charged with conspiring to provide material support to terrorism.

(U//LES) Radio frequency jammers are devices designed to prevent communication devices from operating by deliberately broadcasting disruptive radio transmissions on the frequencies used by the targeted devices. Radio frequency jammers have been used to interfere with communications between law enforcement officers.

(U//FOUO) According to recent FBI reporting, an identified sovereign citizen extremist group is advocating a plan to remove state governors from office. This organization authored a “Restore America Plan” that consists of a multi-step process beginning with notices issued to state governors demanding they vacate their positions within three days. As of 31 March, over 30 governors have received such notices. The plan calls for the removal of any governor who fails to comply. DHS has no specific information that this removal refers to a specific plan to use violence; however, law enforcement should be aware that this could be interpreted as a justification for violence or other criminal actions. According to the group’s plan, other steps involve establishing bogus courts, calling of “de jure” grand juries, and issuing so-called “legal orders” to gain control of the state. The plan notes that this call to action depends on the participation of identified sovereign citizens or other unidentified violent antigovernment extremists whose cooperation is not assured.

(U//FOUO) On March 22, 2010, President Obama signed the healthcare reform bill into law. This bill was fervently contested in both the House and the Senate by Republican and Democratic parties. While this bill was being debated in the government, many groups and organizations became very vocal in their support or opposition to it. It has undoubtedly become one of the most controversial topics in years, and many citizens feel passionately about their stance on this topic. Therefore, numerous demonstrations, counter-demonstrations and rallies, have taken place as a result.

The Fusion Center provides one central location for intelligence collection, investigation and dissemination of ND Homeland Security information to protect critical infrastructure and assets.

National Communications System brief on the Government Emergency Telecommunications Service “Priority Telecommunications Services For Public Safety”, November 5, 2008.

This document will serve as the first State Homeland Security Strategy (SHSS) for New Hampshire. The purpose of this strategy is to identify a strategic direction for enhancing statewide capability and capacity to prevent and reduce the vulnerability of New Hampshire from weapons of mass destruction (WMD)/terrorism incidents. This is an exceedingly complex mission that requires coordination, cooperation and focused effort from the entire state-citizens, local, state, and federal government, as well as the private and non-profit sectors.

The purpose of the Nebraska State Homeland Security Strategy (NSHSS) is to identify a strategic direction for enhancing the State of Nebraska?s capability and capacity to detect, prevent against, protect against, respond to, and recover from threats or incidents of terrorism, natural disasters, major emergencies, and incidents of national significance. This is an exceedingly complex mission that requires coordination, cooperation and focused effort from the entire State’s citizens, local, tribal, state, and federal government, as well as the private and non-profit sectors.

The purpose of the Nevada State Homeland Security Strategy (SHSS) is to identify and address statewide priorities to achieve and sustain a strengthened ability to prevent, detect, deter, mitigate against, prepare for, respond to and recover from any natural, manmade and/or technological emergency or disaster up to and including any act of terrorism. The State, through implementation of this strategy, is seeking outcomes that will ensure a safe and secure Nevada through enhanced capabilities in intelligence, surveillance, rapid first response and recovery, the protection of critical infrastructure, and to promote public education and awareness.

The National Communications System (NCS), as the Communications Sector-Specific Agency (SSA), manages numerous protective programs that industry developed and operates to further help reduce risk to the Communications Sector by ensuring the security of the communications infrastructure and delivery of National Security and Emergency Preparedness (NS/EP) communications services, with a strong focus on response and recovery. These programs include the Government Emergency Telecommunications Service (GETS), Wireless Priority Service (WPS), and the Telecommunications Service Priority (TSP) Program. The NCS has also begun to work with industry to develop a Next Generation Priority Service (NGPS). The overarching goal of the above programs is to improve access and expedite restoration or provisioning for national security and emergency preparedness users should there be congestion in the network.

The State of Connecticut has identified interoperable communications as a priority in its emergency response and disaster recovery planning efforts. The Connecticut Public Safety State Executive Interoperability Committee (CPSSEIC) is comprised of emergency management and communications experts from throughout the state. CPSSEIC meets regularly to determine communication equipment requirements, provide grants guidance, and develop training and exercise requirements.