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Terrorism is defined in the Code of
Federal Regulations as "the unlawful use of force and violence
against persons or property to intimidate or coerce a government, the
civilian population, or any segment thereof, in furtherance of political
or social objectives."
Antiterrorism refers to defensive measures used to reduce
the vulnerability of people and property to terrorist acts, while counter terrorism
includes offensive measures taken to prevent, deter
and respond to terrorism. Within the emergency management arena,
antiterrorism is a hazard mitigation activity and counter terrorism falls
within the scope of preparedness, response and recovery.
Terrorism is often categorized as
"domestic" or "international."
This distinction refers not to where the terrorist act takes place but
rather to the origin of the individuals or groups responsible for it.
For example, the 1995 bombing of the Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma
City was an act of domestic terrorism, but the attacks of September 2001
were international in nature. For the purposes of consequence
management, the origin of the perpetrator(s) is of less importance than
the impacts of the attack on life and property; thus, the distinction
between domestic and international terrorism is less relevant for the
purposes of mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery than
understanding the capabilities of terrorist groups and how to respond to
the impacts they can generate.
Terrorists look for visible targets where
they can avoid detection before or after an attack such as international
airports, large cities, major international events, resorts, and
high-profile landmarks.
All citizens should prepare themselves
to deal with a terrorist incident by adapting many of the same
techniques used to prepare for other crises:
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Be alert and aware
of the surrounding area. The very nature of terrorism suggests that
there may be little or no warning.
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Take precautions
when traveling. Be aware of conspicuous or unusual behavior. Do not
accept packages from strangers. Do not leave luggage unattended.
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Learn where
emergency exits are located. Think ahead about how to evacuate a
building, subway or congested public area in a hurry. Learn where
staircases are located.
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Notice your
immediate surroundings. Be aware of heavy or breakable objects that
could move, fall or break in an explosion.
Bomb Threats
If you receive a bomb threat, get as much information from the caller as
possible. Keep the caller on the line and record everything that is
said. Notify the police and the building management.
After you've been notified of a bomb
threat, do not touch any suspicious packages. Clear the area around the
suspicious package and notify the police immediately. In evacuating a
building, avoid standing in front of windows or other potentially
hazardous areas. Do not restrict sidewalk or streets to be used by
emergency officials.
Learn how to distinguish what makes a suspicious package suspicious by
going to the following website:
www.atf.treas.gov/explarson/information/indic.htm
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