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Violent Extremists, ISIS, Boko Haram, and the Al-Shabaab War on Humanity: Top 5 Ways to Protect Yourself from Violent Attack

As President Obama said on Friday after the Paris attacks, “This was an attack on all of humanity.” What was once a “war on terror” by Western counties has become a “war on humanity” by violent extremists where no one is safe.

President Obama wasn’t just talking about the three horrific attacks in Paris killing 132 people, the worst attack in France since World War II, but the bombing in Beirut, Lebanon, which killed 43 people on Thursday, in a Shia community. The worst attack since the Lebanese Civil War ended in 1990. In both cases ISIS has claimed responsibility. The Russian Metrojet Flight 9268, exploded over Egypt killing 224 Russians two weeks ago. Russian and U.S. Intelligence now support ISIS as the perpetrator. Though it is not confirmed, ISIS was also suspected in Turkey’s equivalent of the 9/11 attacks that occurred last month by twin suicide bombers. It’s the deadliest attack to occur in the nation’s history killing 97 people in the capitol Ankara.

In his statement, I believe President Obama also referred to the 14 people killed in Maiduguri, Nigeria at a mosque by Boko Haram in October, and an additional 30 individuals killed at a market and infirmary in Cameroon in September. In July, in Cameroon, three female suicide bombers, at least one of them a teenager, killed 31 people in a matter of days at a crowded bar, market and nearby neighborhood, respectively. Boko Haram is most known for the kidnapping of over 200 girls from a school in northeastern Nigeria and the Baga Massacre in January where 2,000 people disappeared. They have been a potent force for six years and is responsible for displacing 2.5 million Nigerians and killing 17,000 people in Nigeria and Central African countries according to the Guardian.

While Western allies have not launched a joint offensive attack against Boko Haram, like ISIS, the African Union countries, Nigeria, Chad, Cameroon and Niger have responded to Boko Haram incidents. President Obama has recently sent 300 military troops for intelligence, reconnaissance and surveillance to the region as support against Boko Haram.

These attacks beg the question what can people do to protect themselves? In Kenya, Al-Shabaab, has claimed terrorist attacks at Garissa University College, killing 147 people in April, and at Nairobi’s Westgate shopping mall, in 2013, killing 67 people. Overall, Islamists attacks have gone from 41 attacks in 2011, in Kenya, to 115 in 2014. The U.S. recently announced a $27M reward for information on the leaders of Al-Shabaab. Pope Francis who is planning an upcoming visit to Kenya, and other African nations, later this month said in response to recent terrorist attacks, “Such barbarity leaves us dismayed, and we ask ourselves how the human heart can plan and carry out such horrible events.”

The problem with non-state actors, like ISIS, Al Shabaab, and Boko Haram, initiating violent conflict is that they are instigating clashes in the territory of sovereign states. Meaning there is no choice, but to target innocent civilians. When sovereign states find themselves in combat, they are governed by “rules of war.” It’s usually armies fighting other armies, and when innocent civilians die it’s called “collateral damage.” In the case of violent extremists, or non-state actors, there are no rules. Therefore, all violent attacks are collateral damage for sovereign states, and simply murder for violent extremists.

Whether we are taking about mass shootings in a school, a church, or a movie theatre in America, or another terrorist attack on bar or coffee shop in Pakistan, Benin, or Chad, it isn’t just scary, but psychologically terrifying because is it a reminder that there are no boundaries and that no one is safe.

The question remains, how can individuals protect themselves from these attacks? The truth is there is no 100% answer to keep anyone safe, but here are a few tips to help you respond in case of an emergency:

Pay attention to your surroundings: Paying attention to your environment, don’t text AND walk (yes!), or walk and look at a map. Good rules of thumb are: don’t get so caught up in a conversation, or reading, that if someone took your wallet or purse off a table, or brushed against you, you wouldn’t notice. How many times do we sit next to someone, but once we get up, if someone asked us for a description of the individual we wouldn’t be able give one. Training yourself to consciously pay attention when walking down the street or in public places is a great first step. You may be surprised at what you see that could help you or someone next to you.

Have a plan: If an incident occurs don’t panic (this takes mental training)! When in places that are unfamiliar to you take note of stairwells, hallways, entrances and exits in case you need to make a move to a safer location. If a violent altercation occurs call 911. Stay low and look for cover below, or behind, a solid object, assess whether you can move to a more secure location, and check yourself and others for injuries.

Use your intuition: You know that feeling you get when you know you should make a left instead of a right? How about when you “feel” there is someone behind you yet you don’t hear anything? Yes, that’s your intuition, your inner knowing or reasoning that causes you to take a specific action. Pay attention to it, especially while traveling alone. In many cases, it will help steer you out of a challenging situation.

Keep updated with law enforcement communication: Living in New York City, the New York City Police Department and the Metro Transit Authority are constantly engaging New Yorkers with their campaign “If you see something, say something.” Have the same mindset wherever you are. Share information that you think would be important for law enforcement to know. Stay current with local law enforcement or Department of State updates. Follow them on social media for the most current information.

Be Resilient: In writing this article and The ISIS War on Soft Targets, my work, and my life’s mission, to help others live a more consciously secure life, is not trumped by the need to live a life so secure that it becomes a life of anxiety. This information is meant to inform, not evoke fear. I love traveling more than anything. My advice to you is live life, travel, experience cultures, and use this information as you see best to make informed decisions for yourself and your family.

Jessica Robinson, is a writer and Founder & CEO of PurePoint International. She has worked with a top 40 company and with the 2015 US Open. As a security & risk management expert and outsourced CSO (Chief Security Officer), she advises and consults with small and medium sized businesses on threat prevention and response. Learn more at www.the-purepoint.com.

The ISIS War on Soft Targets: Is Your Business Vulnerable to a Terrorist Attack? Top 5 Ways To Prevent Threats on Your Business

Another terrorist attack on soft targets in France isn’t just scary, but utterly terrifying for a nation still recovering from the Charlie Hebdo, a news publication, attack less than a year ago. This is the most deadly terrorist attack, 132 killed, in Europe since the train bombings in Spain, in 2004, which killed 191 people.

These attacks beg the question what can people, and small and medium sized businesses, do to protect themselves? As someone who has worked with private sector businesses and nonprofit organizations for ten years, this is a question I continually ask myself. The “war on terror” by western leaders, has become a “war on western citizens” by violent extremists.

The beginning of the holiday season, Friday’s terrorist attack in Paris, caused the President of France, Francois Hollande, to close its borders for the first time in modern history, stating “ISIS has declared war.” ISIS has claimed responsibility for the three targeted attacks on a sports stadium, the Bataclan concert hall, and la petit cambodge, a Cambodian restaurant. In January 2015, when Charlie Hebdo was attacked in Paris, a small kosher grocery store was also under siege where four people were killed.

Last year as people were getting ready for the holidays, terrorists held a gun to an employee’s head at the Lindt Café in northwest Sydney, Australia. A man screamed he “represented an Islamic state” and that this was a terrorist attack. A 16 hour hostage crisis ensued. In February 2015, Al Shabaab called for an attack on the Mall of America, the United States largest shopping mall, located in Bloomington, Minnesota.

Its clear that places which were once the “Disneyland’s of the world” are no longer as safe as they once were. The question remains, how can businesses and individuals protect themselves from these attacks? Reportedly, France authorities thwarted five previous attempts prior to Friday’s attack. The truth is, unless counterterrorism authorities stop an intended attack, as an individual or a business, there is no way to 100% prevent a physical assault.

As a small and medium sized business, here are five ways to be proactive against any physical threat that could occur, including an act of terrorism:

1. Have a security prevention plan: As a business, especially if you operate a concert hall, sports stadium, movie theaters, or any other ticketed venue, one of the best actions you can take is to conduct a threat assessment and have an updated security plan. This can include magnetometers, no admittance of bags or bag checks. Procedures that directly let people know they cannot just take any weapon, including an AK 47, inside of your building without being stopped, which was the case at the Bataclan concert hall. The right security consultant can help you get a plan in place within a few days after a threat assessment.

2. Focus on Incident Response: For places, like shopping malls, restaurants, movie theaters and grocery stores where anyone is welcome into your establishment without passing through any security measures, an incident response plan is critical. This includes an Emergency Response Plan and a Business Continuity Plan. Having proper technology like digital camera systems and access control measures can be helpful in prevention of, and in response to, violent incidents. For any brick and mortar business this is especially important during the holiday season. Again, a physical security consultant can help you get this established quickly.

3. Involve your employees: In developing plans for your business, this includes training the employees on how to both prevent and respond to potential incidents. Your employees are your first line of defense. They can let you know if something seems out of place or if they have a bad feeling about something or someone. Train them well and listen to them. You will be surprised how much information they absorb on a daily basis that you are not aware of in your own business. Not sure on the best way to train them? After an initial consultation, so an expert can get a good idea of the risks to your specific business, ask a security consultant to sit in on your next staff meeting to cover the five most important things for them to know to help keep your business safe and secure.

4. Involve your guests: Living in New York City, the New York City Police Department and the Metro Transit Authority are constantly engaging New Yorkers with their campaign “If you see something, say something.” Have the same approach in your location. Encourage customers to share information that is important for you to know to enable a safe and secure experience for them. This can include sharing experiences of an interaction with another customer or an employee. Again, you will be surprised what information you receive, not only about other guests, but about your own employees. You can easily establish this with a generic email address or phone number for people to contact. Of course, the best way is through great customer service and asking people while they are in your store about their experience.

5. Develop great relationships with law enforcement: Be involved in public/private partnerships committees and organizations. This can be with your local police department, or state and federal law enforcement. Being a member of public/private partnership committees, you can get updates on local intelligence, develop relationships with various law enforcement officials, and engage in information sharing with other businesses. The law enforcement community needs you as much as you need them in these situations. Contact your local police department and ask about their private sector initiatives.

In the end, if someone plans a suicide attack or intends to cause bodily harm, you may not be able to stop it. However, preventative measures can make it more difficult for a threat to occur, or can limit the amount of people hurt.

Jessica Robinson, is a writer and Founder & CEO of PurePoint International. She has worked with a top 40 company and with the 2015 US Open. As a security & risk management expert and outsourced CSO (Chief Security Officer), she advices and consults with small and medium sized businesses on threat prevention and response. Learn more at www.the-purepoint.com.