The United States continues to face a dynamic and multifaceted terrorism threat landscape, necessitating vigilant preparedness and response strategies from law enforcement agencies nationwide.
Recent incidents, such as the Jan. 2025 terrorist attack on Bourbon Street in New Orleans, where an assailant drove into a crowd, resulting in multiple casualties, underscore the persistent danger posed by both domestic and international actors.
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More youth are also embracing extremist ideologies, and terroristic threats and attacks have impacted educational campuses. In 2018, 19-year-old Tnuza Jamal Hassan admitted to setting eight separate fires at St. Catherine University in opposition to U.S. military actions abroad. No one was injured.
In 2024, multiple Springfield, Ohio, schools closed when they received bomb threats following President Donald Trump’s claim that Haitian immigrants were eating peoples’ pets.
Perhaps most notable is the 2004 Beslan school siege in Russia that claimed the lives of 334 people, including 186 children.
Current Terrorism Threats in the U.S.
The Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) 2025 Homeland Threat Assessment indicates that the terrorism threat environment within the U.S. remains high. The assessment highlights concerns over individuals with terrorism ties attempting to exploit migration flows to enter the United States, as well as the potential for violent extremist responses to the 2024 election cycle and continued tensions in the Middle East.
Additionally, the National Terrorism Advisory System (NTAS) Bulletin issued in May 2023 emphasizes that both lone offenders and small groups, motivated by a range of ideological beliefs and personal grievances, continue to pose a persistent and lethal threat to the homeland. These are both domestic violent extremists, which increased 357% from 2013 to 2021, and those associated with foreign terrorist organizations.
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In a CNN story, FBI Director Christopher Wray recently said he has never seen a time during his decades-long career when so many threats against the U.S. were all as elevated as they are now, warning senators he sees “blinking lights everywhere.”
The attack on New Orleans is potentially just the beginning. As a police trainer for many years, I see trends in training that develop after a high-profile incident takes place. Some of this training has great value while other responses and the training that is created is simply a knee-jerk reaction to public pressure.
To help our local, county, and state police officers prepare to identify and respond to a potential terror incident means we have to develop a curriculum for this topic and then provide the training for every officer. This may require federal or state funding but not doing it is asking for problems.
Recommended Anti-Terrorism Training Programs for Law Enforcement
To effectively address these evolving threats, police agencies must adopt a comprehensive approach that includes training and intelligence sharing. This includes realistic drills, constant review of threats, and a way to receive information from citizens.
Several specialized training programs are available to equip law enforcement personnel with the necessary skills to counter terrorism effectively, including:
- State and Local Anti-Terrorism Training (SLATT) Program: Sponsored by the Bureau of Justice Assistance, SLATT provides online training modules covering a wide range of counterterrorism topics tailored for state, local, tribal, and territorial law enforcement officers.
- Counterterrorism Division at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers (FLETC): FLETC offers high-quality training courses related to terrorism methodology, threat response, threat mitigation, and infrastructure protection. Their programs are designed to enhance the capabilities of law enforcement officers in counterterrorism efforts.
- FBI Training Programs: The FBI provides various training opportunities, including the FBI National Academy, which offers coursework in intelligence theory.
Preparing for and Responding to Terrorism Threats
Based on the research, several specific skills and training areas can significantly enhance the preparedness of local and state police officers to respond to terrorist threats. Here are some ideas on programs and skill sets that are needed to fight terrorism in the U.S.:
- Critical Incident Management
- Training Focus: Leadership and coordination during emergencies, especially in scenarios involving multiple agencies.
- Key Skills:
- Incident command system (ICS) training.
- Decision-making under pressure.
- Communication and interoperability between agencies.
- Suggested Programs: FEMA’s National Incident Management System (NIMS) and Incident Command System (ICS) training courses.
- Active Shooter Response
- Training Focus: Tactics for neutralizing active shooters and protecting civilians in high-risk situations.
- Key Skills:
- Room-clearing techniques.
- Engaging threats in crowded or confined spaces.
- Civilian evacuation and medical triage supports
- Suggested Programs: Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training (ALERRT) at Texas State University.
- Behavioral Analysis and Threat Recognition
- Training Focus: Identifying pre-attack indicators and suspicious behavior.
- Key Skills:
- Recognizing signs of radicalization or “leakage” (statements or actions suggesting violent intent).
- Proficiency in behavioral analysis techniques.
- Conducting effective threat assessments.
- Suggested Programs: FBI’s Behavioral Analysis Unit training and the Terrorism Liaison Officer (TLO) program.
- Community Engagement and Intelligence Gathering
- Training Focus: Building trust within communities to encourage the reporting of suspicious activities.
- Key Skills:
- Effective communication and cultural sensitivity.
- Encouraging citizen involvement in security efforts.
- Analyzing tips and leads from community members.
- Suggested Programs: DHS’s “If You See Something, Say Something®” campaign integration training and Fusion Center liaison programs.
- Counter-Surveillance Techniques
- Training Focus: Detecting and disrupting surveillance conducted by potential terrorists.
- Key Skills:
- Identifying unusual patterns in surveillance activity.
- Using surveillance equipment to monitor public spaces.
- Collaboration with private security entities to expand observation capabilities.
- Suggested Programs: DHS’s Counter-Surveillance Detection Training and local FBI field office workshops.
- Explosives and Hazardous Materials Awareness
- Training Focus: Recognizing and responding to explosive devices and hazardous materials.
- Key Skills:
- Bomb threat response and evacuation protocols.
- Identifying chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) threats.
- Working with bomb squads and hazardous materials (HAZMAT) units.
- Suggested Programs: National Bomb Squad Commanders Advisory Board (NABSCAB) training and DHS’s Improvised Explosive Device (IED) Awareness Workshop.
- Cybersecurity and Technology Proficiency
- Training Focus: Identifying and mitigating cyber threats related to terrorism.
- Key Skills:
- Analyzing social media and online communications for terrorist planning.
- Monitoring and addressing cybersecurity vulnerabilities.
- Using data analytics tools to track suspicious digital activity.
- Suggested Programs: FBI’s Cyber Shield Alliance training and DHS’s Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) programs.
- Medical and Tactical Emergency Care
- Training Focus: Providing immediate medical aid during or after a terrorist attack.
- Key Skills:
- Applying tourniquets, chest seals, and other life-saving measures.
- Operating under combat-like conditions.
- Supporting emergency medical services (EMS) in mass casualty situations.
- Suggested Programs: Tactical Emergency Casualty Care (TECC) and Stop the Bleed® programs.
- Cultural and Religious Awareness
- Training Focus: Understanding diverse communities to prevent cultural missteps and build trust.
- Key Skills:
- Knowledge of different religions and customs.
- Sensitivity to cultural dynamics that may be exploited by terrorist groups.
- Collaborating with community leaders to counteract radicalization.
- Suggested Programs: Local law enforcement cultural competency workshops and specialized FBI training.
- Scenario-Based Training
- Training Focus: Simulated exercises to replicate real-world terrorism scenarios.
- Key Skills:
- Practicing coordinated responses to complex threats.
- Testing communication channels and rapid decision-making.
- Learning from post-exercise debriefings to refine strategies.
- Suggested Programs: DHS’s Full-Scale Exercise (FSE) toolkit and multi-agency regional drills.
Investing in these targeted training programs and skills will empower local and state police officers to effectively address the evolving terrorism threats within their jurisdictions.
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Joseph Pangaro is a retired police lieutenant from Ocean Township, N.J. and the former director of school safety and security for a large school district in New Jersey. He is a Certified Public Manager (CPM) and the CEO of Pangaro Training. He can be reached at [email protected].
NOTE: The views expressed by guest bloggers and contributors are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views of, and should not be attributed to, Campus Safety.