Tough Mark: Domestic Terrorism On Our Streets

By Peter Van Beek

It doesn’t matter if you think it could ever happen in our neighborhoods…
It’s already here.

After a thorough explanation of who the terrorists are, readers are introduced to the tactics terrorists often use, the weapons they use, how the weapons work and how we can recognize them. Pete then explains the fundamental steps necessary to observe and report suspicious people, behaviors and devices and how to respond if you find yourself caught in the middle of a domestic terrorist event.

Special attention is given to security in public places, active shooter situations, sheltering in place, improvised explosive devices (IED’s), chemical, biological and radiological (CBR) weapons and likely targets for domestic attacks in our neighborhoods.
With 32 years of experience in corporate safety and security, Peter Van Beek is an expert who now shares his proven techniques of attack and assault prevention with average citizens so they can prevent or effectively respond to a domestic terror attack.

Domestic Terrorism On Our Streets contains vital content to enable normal, everyday citizens to be the first and last line of defense against those who wish us harm on our streets.

• Language: English
• Publisher: BookBaby
• Release date: Jan 31, 2016
• ISBN: 9781483561202

Book preview

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PREFACE

This book is for any man or woman currently living in the world today who is concerned with the growing frequency of terrorist attacks occurring right on our own streets. These attacks range from violent demonstrations, shootings at schools, attacks at churches and in public places, workplace shootings, and the rising threat of radicalized terrorists.

The information contained in this book is the result of 32 years of experience in safety and security. During this time, I investigated countless safety incidents, conducted interviews, collaborated with other experts, testified before the National Transportation Safety Board, and offered written testimony to the Senate sub-committee on ground surface transportation.

In 2001, I wrote our nation’s first terrorism-prevention program for bus transportation called Operation Secure Transport. At the time, I was concentrating solely on protecting the commercial motor vehicle industry from the threat of an attack, but now I realize that the general public desperately needs to be educated on the real threats we face everyday and how to effectively respond in the event of an attack.

Since this book is a training guide, I will not address any of the political aspects of domestic terrorism. How or why we got here isn’t important in this context. What is important is to cut through all of the confusion and discuss real-life examples of how you can make yourself a harder target for an attack, how to report suspicious behaviors and devices, and how you can successfully respond to keep yourself and your family safe.

INTRODUCTION

Many believe that terrorism will only be conducted overseas and any attacks conducted in the U.S. are simply perpetrated by crazed lunatics. This couldn’t be further from the truth. Domestic terrorism is now a fact of life that we all must face. The threats I detailed in my first book, Tough Mark For Women, address the more common assaults we face in our everyday life, and although these techniques can be applied to avoid most assaults, we must explore in more detail the unique characteristics of a domestic terrorist attack and how we can protect ourselves.

America has become one big, soft target

You might wish otherwise, but certain facts are clear. The world has changed, and not for the better. There is not a day that goes by that we don’t hear news reports of another terrorist attack on innocent people, and we now see the attacks are more frequently occurring in our own country.

Common, everyday citizens like you will most likely be the first to notice suspicious objects and people. Remember the shoeshine man in New York City who saw the unattended package and reported it to police before it exploded?

Our police and other law enforcement agencies are amazing—the best in the world—and there is no question that our federal government has implemented several effective initiatives to try and prevent these attacks from happening. Since DHS started training, primarily focused on people in transportation, real and very deadly terrorist plots have been stopped. All because normal truck and bus drivers, doing their everyday job reported something that just didn’t look right to them. Then in 2002, we had the color-coded terrorism warning system called the Homeland Security Advisory System or HSAS that was intended to notify the public of the current security level of the U.S. But what were we supposed to do when the colors changed? When it changed from yellow to orange, what behaviors were the citizens supposed to change? What should we have been prepared for? It was somewhat confusing to say the least.

In 2016 the new National Terrorism Advisory System or NTAS, replaced the old Homeland Security Advisory System. NTAS, and includes information specific to the particular credible threat, and will not use a color‐coded scale.

The following can be found at DHS.GOV.

How does the new system work?

When there is credible information about a threat, an NTAS Alert will be shared with the American public. It may include specific information, if available, about the nature of the threat, including the geographic region, mode of transportation, or critical infrastructure potentially affected by the threat, as well as steps that individuals and communities can take to protect themselves and help prevent, mitigate or respond to the threat. The advisory will clearly indicate whether the threat is Elevated, if we have no specific information about the timing or location, or Imminent, if we believe the threat is impending or very soon.

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Let’s be honest, our government is not capable of preventing 100% of the attacks 100% of the time or give us adequate warning prior to an attack.

Therefore, regardless of whether or not you think it could ever happen, every citizen must now be responsible for recognizing the signs of a domestic terrorism attack.

This book will help you develop the specific skills necessary to recognize suspicious people,