Recent events have caused many school and public safety officials to re-consider the potential for school terrorism. Many are wondering if an emphasis on active shooter events could leave them ill-prepared for terrorist attacks on or near schools. While active shooter incidents are one method of attack we have seen in school terrorist attacks globally, we have also seen the use of fire, explosives and chemicals either as alternative attack methodologies or in combination with attacks using firearms. Therefore, the intensive focus on active shooter incidents could reduce the amount of time, energy and fiscal support for other types of school safety incidents and terrorism attacks.
School Terrorism and Fighting the Last War
My colleague, Rod Ellis, and I both have had the opportunity to travel to Israel to learn advanced antiterrorism concepts from the Israel Police, Israeli Defense Forces and Israeli Security services. The Israelis we interacted with impressed upon us just how dangerous it can be to assume that the next event will resemble the last terrible attack on a school. Just as it can be very dangerous to focus on fire, tornado, or hostage situations to the exclusion of active shooter incidents, focusing primarily on active shooter incidents is an unsound approach. A narrow approach could be an especially costly error for school terrorism events where mass casualty loss of life can be a primary goal of well-prepared, equipped and experienced individuals or groups.
School Terrorism Preparedness Requires an All-hazards Approach
Preparedness approaches that focus on one type of security incident such as gang activity or active shooter incidents typically offer little or no protection against school terrorist attacks, which often utilize fire, explosives, chemical or biological weapons. In addition, there are legitimate concerns relating to cyber attacks, radiological incidents, electromagnetic pulse devices and other technological attack methodologies. School terrorism preparedness should be addressed by a proper all-hazards school crisis plan.
While I am not making any predictions relating to terrorist attacks on campus facilities or transportation modes, the possibility is quite real. Whether the concern involves terrorism, gang violence or violence overall, focusing the majority of time, energy and fiscal resources on any one type of security incident can be extremely dangerous.
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 magazine.
Photo by Rachel Wilson, Safe Havens International
