Tag Archive for Sensitive But Unclassified

(U//FOUO) Vermont Fusion Center Improvised Chemical Pressure Bomb Warning

An improvised chemical pressure bomb is a device that’s charge comes from a gaseous chemical reaction or phase change (such as when liquid changes to gas) in a confined area; the resulting buildup causes the container to rupture violently. There are several types of improvised chemical pressure bombs that can be constructed from easy to acquire materials.

(SBU) DHS TRIPwire: Times Square Vehicle Incendiary Device Attack

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.

DIA (U//FOUO) Haiti: Health Risks and Health System Impacts Associated With Large-Scale Earthquake

(U) NCMI assesses with high confidence that health care in Haiti is by far the poorest in the Western Hemisphere and on par with that of the less developed African countries. Furthermore, health care availability and accessibility, trauma care, and medical logistics are inadequate to respond to and mitigate the current disaster. Port-au-Prince inpatient and trauma capacity is already overburdened. Haiti is still recovering from the 2008 hurricane season, and the 12 January earthquake only worsened the already poor health situation and damaged the country’s already degraded health care system, which will require years to rebuild. Although major outbreaks of infectious diseases are unlikely as a result of the earthquake, incidences of diarrhea, respiratory diseases, and other infectious diseases likely will increase among local populations. Fires and explosions at facilities storing petroleum, oils, and lubricants (POL) are the greatest industrial chemical health threats. Chemicals released from damaged POL facilities are expected to cause localized contamination of soil and surface water.

U.S. State Department: Terrorist Tactics – Attack on Indian Embassy Kabul, Afghanistan

(SBU) In the early-morning hours of July 7, a suicide vehicle-borne improvised explosive device (SVBIED) detonated outside the Indian Embassy in Kabul, Afghanistan. The explosion killed 60 people and injured over 100. This was the deadliest terrorist attack in Kabul since the Taliban government was ousted from power in 2001. This issue of Terrorist Tactics describes how this well-planned attack was carried out and how it possibly could have been avoided if host-country security personnel manning the checkpoint near the embassy were more aggressive in their vehicle inspections. As of this report, no group has claimed responsibility for the attack.

DHS TRIPwire Quick-Look Report: Holocaust Museum Shooting, 10 June, 2009

* James W. von Brunn, a Holocaust denier reported to be in his late 80s, walked into the Holocaust Museum in Washington, DC and shot a security guard with a .22 caliber rifle on 10 June 2009
* In 1981 von Brunn served six years in prison for attempting to kidnap members of the Federal Reserve board due to anger over high interest rates
* Von Brunn has been charged with murder and killing in the course of possessing a firearm at a federal facility, both capital offenses under federal law
* The Department of Homeland Security has categorized the shooting as a criminal incident and said it does not appear to have a connection to terrorism. The attack is being investigated as a hate crime

U.S. State Department: Look out for terrorist beggars

(SBU) On January 20, a suicide bomber disguised as a beggar approached Afghan warlord General Abdul Rashid Dostum outside a mosque in northern Afghanistan. Though the “beggar” detonated his device one meter from Dostum, no one was killed in the explosion other than the bombers himself. In this issue of Terrorist Tactics, we will see how posing as a beggar can serve as a clever ruse to carry out pre-operational surveillance.

U.S. Integrated Civilian – Military Campaign Plan for Support to Afghanistan

The Integrated Civ-Mil Campaign Plan for Afghanistan provides guidance from the U.S. Chief of Mission and the Commander of U.S. Forces-Afghanistan to U.S. personnel in Afghanistan. The Plan represents the collaborative effort of all the USG Departments and Agencies operating in Afghanistan and the range of different equities, resources, and approaches. The Plan is based on close collaboration with the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) as well as the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) and partner nations to build effective civilian and military mechanisms for integrated assistance.

Update on pandemic influenza A(H1N1) activity, United States

• Oseltamivir (Tamiflu) and Zanamivir (Relenza)
• Randomized clinical trials (RCT): Reduced duration of influenza by 1-1.5 days when administered in 48 hours
• Pooled RCT analysis: Reduced lower respiratory tract complications, pneumonia, and hospitalization
• Observational studies*: Oseltamivir reduced mortality among hospitalized adults with lab-confirmed seasonal influenza A virus infections

Update on the epidemiology and clinical features of Novel H1N1

• January 2007 –“Novel influenza A” made a Nationally Notifiable Disease but CSTE –part of pandemic preparedness efforts
• RT-PCR for influenza capabilities developed by public health labs in U.S.
• Increasing numbers of swine influenza infections in humans being detected from improved surveillance
• Increasing efforts at states, CDC, and USDA to investigate human cases of swine influenza