History Repeats Itself

In July of 1993, eight individuals were arrested and later convicted for plotting attacks on key sites in Manhattan.  Such key sites included: the St. Regis, the Waldorf-Astoria and the UN Plaza hotels, as well as the Holland and Lincoln tunnels.  VP of Counter Terrorism and Corporate Security at Stratfor Fred Burton stated, “The militants planned to storm the island armed with automatic rifles, grenades and improvised explosive devices.” Luckily this specific plan, which was later identified as the Landmarks Plot, failed.  The goal of the attack was to kill as many people as possible.

Last November, several gunmen carried out numerous attacks across the Indian city of Mumbai.  Some of the targeted locations included the city’s main commuter train station, a hospital, a restaurant, and two hotels.  Indian police estimated that 20 gunmen were involved in the attack, but the planning and coordination creates the possibility that there were additional members.  The Mumbai attacks showed that attacking locations where Westerners are known to congregate could be a more efficient and effective way for militants to use their limited resources. Burton noted that as hotels and other traditional soft targets harden their facilities and implement new security countermeasures to prevent further Mumbai-style attacks, militants will seek less-secure venues that will achieve the same result.

Similarities can be seen when examining the instances that occurred in New York and Mumbai.  For example, both New York and Mumbai are financial capitals of their countries and home to their nations’ major stock exchanges. Both locations also offer multiple points of waterborne entry where security would not be as strict.  

Jamie Smith, a retired CIA officer, says that attacks similar to the ones in Mumbai would be crippling to the United States and difficult, if not impossible to stop. “Ten guys with guns and hand grenades in shopping malls in 10 different cities- or even spread out in one city- would bring this country to a standstill.  Even if this happened in a city like Los Angeles, there are only so many SWAT officers available to respond.”

Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Counterterrorism Division 2002-2005 report on terror states, “The threat of terrorism is expected to continue from both international and domestic sources.” Connecticut Senator Joe Lieberman acknowledged, “It is imperative that we take smart, cost-effective security measures here in the U.S.A. through means such as security awareness training, exercises focused on soft targets and improved information sharing about potential threats.”

Business can be easily impacted by actions that take place around the world.  Take the necessary steps to protect your business and your employees.  Click here for more information.