CSARN (City Security and Resilience Networks)

CSARN The Monitor / Cyber espionage incidents demonstrate vulnerability of critical national infrastructure and building management systems

In further cyber espionage news, it has been revealed that the US Army Corps of Engineers’ National Inventory of Dams (NID) database has been the victim of a recent cyber espionage incident. The database holds sensitive information detailing the structure and vulnerabilities of more than eight thousand dams across the US. Attackers are likely to have accessed the data either to acquire privileged intellectual property regarding the dam’s construction and operation, but are more likely to have been conducting reconnaissance of vulnerabilities.

While no official suspect has been identified, unnamed US intelligence officials have indicated that the attack is again believed to have originated from China. Breaches of this nature are a concern, as it raises the potential for future cyber attacks against such installations. The destructive manipulation of machinery by cyber means was demonstrated in the 2010 Stuxnet malware attacks against Iranian nuclear processing facilities at Natanz. US officials have in the past identified hydroelectric plants as vulnerable to similar attacks, citing the instance of the 2009 accident at a Russian hydroelectric plant at Sayano–Shushenskaya (on that occasion a failure in automatic control systems caused by a fire resulted in a turbine explosion and extensive flooding, killing 75 people).

In a further incident demonstrating the potential vulnerability of physical installations to cyber attack, researchers in the US have demonstrated security failings in commonly used building management systems. These systems are used to manage and monitor a building’s mechanical and electrical components, including air-conditioning, plumbing and fire systems. In the test, the researchers were able to gain access to the system controlling Google’s office in Sydney, Australia.

CSARN Member Event / The Risk and Network Threat Conference

 

CSARN Members Receive Discount of %50
(request discount code for RANT registration page)

Tuesday 11th June 2013
St. Paul’s, 200 Aldersgate, London, EC1A 4HD 

Come and play a part in moving the real conversations out of the shadows and into the spotlight...
The RANT Conference 2013 offers an incredible line-up of Industry Rockstars, Futurologists, Innovators, Ranters and “enfants terribles” of the Infosec world.

This June the first Risk and Network Threat Conference will be held in London, providing the senior information security community the opportunity to join the big InfoSec debate.  Building on from the successful monthly networking event, RANT Events are pleased to be offering a full day of enlightening and informative presentations, intriguing and interactive panel debates and other fun sessions all presented by a selection of  the industry’s best thought leaders, evangelists and entertaining speakers.  The RANT Conference is an essential date for the 2013 I.T. security events calendar, specifically for the End User community to discuss real-life, pertinent industry topics in a range of formats that encourage participation and controversial debate. Click here to register.

Hear from well known speakers including Stephen Bonner, KPMG and Mark Stevenson, Futurologist, amongst plenty of other known industry professionals on topics that we know are your priorities for 2013 including Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) and Mobile Device Management (MDM), Secure Outsourcing, State Sponsored Espionage, Cyber War and the ever challenging Security Awareness Training. 

COMMENT / Richard Bingley / Local Election Day – is it important for security professionals?

By Richard Bingley, Director CSARN and Senior Lecturer at the Department of Security and Resilience, Buckinghamshire New University

Well folks, it’s local election day here in the UK and the roads are clogged up with families eager to get to their polling stations; or perhaps not!

Local election turnout has dwindled over the past few years… perhaps an indication of public cynicism, disinterest, heavily mobilised daily work and social patterns, and the fact that the electoral system here makes what should be an incredibly simple function, so remarkably difficult.

For example, ‘Thursday’ might be a good name for a Detective Inspector in the popular new TV series ‘Endeavour’, but is it the correct day, or the only day, that we can hold a national election?

Griping aside, we are where we are. But what implications do local elections have, per se, for security management personnel?

Hopefully some of our students (or all of our students!) are beginning to dig into the detail of wider political dynamics and environments and establish that there may – or may not – be some implications from local elections anywhere in the world for businesses that they manage and protect.

CSARN / 4th Crisis Leadership and Business Recovery Conference

1 July, 2013 - 09:45 - 15:00
Herbert Smith Freehills, Exchange House, Primrose Street, London, EC2A 2EG

Last year's World changing events such as global unrest, terrorist attacks, drought, flooding, economic instability, pandemics and international tension between nations is a stark reminder that there is a continuing need for effective crisis leadership. The ability for national and international events to affect the growth of the UK's business sector seems to be a growing phenomenon and ultimately business need to be ever increasingly prepared to recover from a whole range of 'black swans'. There is a view that crisis leaders are not born. If that's correct, then CSARN's 4th Crisis Leadership and Business Recovery conference becomes a 'must attend' event.

By hearing presentations from government, business and police leaders, this full day conference is designed to equip security, business continuity, emergency and resilience planners with the skills and knowledge to lead their own teams before, during and after a crisis; recovering to the point at which their organisation can return to normalised business.

More >>

New CSARN Member / QuinSec joins CSARN

CSARN is delighted to welcome QuinSec as the latest Member Partner of the UK’s largest resilience and business security network. 

QuinSec was founded by staff with many years of expertise in intelligence, Special Forces and the commercial sector. Based on this knowledge we have designed innovative techniques that improve safety for personnel and for emergency responders across a range of environments.

Our technological developments and cyber capabilities are truly innovative and cutting edge. For example our GIS platform works in a fully integrated manner and allows clients to reduce broad areas of risk. This mapping service is then enhanced by the provision of our additional products: all of which are seamlessly integrated on the platform such as interactive 360-degree photographic surveys, integrated wireless and wired camera systems, and quick-drop camera systems.

CSARN The Monitor / Anarchist and far-left threat heightened after death of Baroness Thatcher; anti-cuts campaigners will continue to target banks and companies accused of tax avoidance

Austerity measures and colossal cuts in public spending since the 2008 financial crisis have contributed significantly to a renewal of interest in anarchist ideology and causes. As a result, Europol reports show that in 2010 there were 45 terrorist attacks committed by left wing and anarchist groups across Europe, building on 40 in 2009 and 28 in 2008 - considerably more than conducted or attempted by domestic jihadist groups over the same period. In 2009 the Greek anarchist terrorist group Synomosia Pyrinon Fotias (SPF, also known as Conspiracy Fire Cells and Conspiracy Fire Nuclei) adopted increasingly violent methods, regularly employing explosive devices against targets. Due to several members’ arrests the group now employs a more clandestine approach to their operations; abandoning their protest activities, the use of traceable mobile phones, and ridding residences of incriminating evidence, making their attacks harder for authorities to intercept. The organisation has since become more internationalised, for example issuing a communiqué which drove similar actions in Italy and Argentina.

The international component of the anarchist threat remains complex, and “reprisals” around significant anniversaries are commonplace even in locations that seemingly bear no connection to events. In the UK, September and October 2011 saw arson attacks take place against car dealerships in Cambridge, one having responsibility claimed by a group calling themselves ‘fire cell’ – possibly a copy-cat or franchise of Greece’s SPF. In 2012 Bristol anarchists attempted to burn down Lloyds TSB’s depot – an action they claimed was in solidarity with ‘comrades’ imprisoned in Greece for anarchist activity, and those imprisoned in Chile and Switzerland for attempted bombings. Although not as badly affected as Spain, Greece and Italy, International events can therefore trigger actions in the UK (or aimed at British interests overseas), with the current situation in Greece and Cyprus adding to the potential threat.

Member Partner Event / 15 May 2013

Crisis Managment
Building a strategic 21st Century capability

Full Details>>

The Monitor / Dutch banking sector targeted in DDoS attack as campaign against US banks continues; widening use of tactic suggestive of future trend

 

In this period we have seen Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks carried out against the retail banking sector in both the United States and the Netherlands, leading to the disruption of online banking services in both countries. DDoS attacks involve flooding websites with a greater amount of data then they are able to process, reducing the availability of the affected site. The US financial institutions targeted over this period include the Bank of America, Capital One, PNC Bank, TD Bank, Keybank, Citibank, Union Bank, Wells Fargo and Amex; in Holland, initial reports indicate that the websites of the ING, Rabo and SNS banks were targeted, along with the iDEAL payment system..

The attacks against the US banking sector have been claimed by an Islamic self-proclaimed “hacktivist” group, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Cyber Fighters. They began in September 2012, and the group has claimed that the campaign is a response to “The Innocence of Muslims” film released at that time, which they consider offensive to Islam. There are however several notable differences between this campaign and other on-line actions carried out by more general hacktivist groups, which we consider may suggest the involvement of a state sponsor, most likely to be Iran. Central amongst these are:

ICPEM ANNUAL CONFERENCE 2013 - "Resilience: Learning from the past to deal with threats in the future."

Disruptive challenges, often of a more serious kind, have a greater impact on everyday life, and are becoming more difficult to plan for, manage and recover from. The Conference will attempt to look ahead at what is likely to cause disruption and chaos in the years ahead.

Kettering Conference Centre on Thursday 16th May 2013.

Speakers:

• Nik Gowing, News Anchor, BBC

• Helen Braithwaite, OBE, Head of the Resilience & Emergencies Division at the Department for Communities and Local Government.

• Bob Broadhurst, QPM, FICPEM, former Commander, Head of Public Order and Operational Support, Metropolitan Police.

• Air Vice Marshall Clive Bairsto, CBE, RAF Rtd, Global Head of Resilience for the National Grid.

• Phil Wood, MBE, MSc, Head of the Department pf Security and Resilience at Buckinghamshire New University 

• Roy Wilsher, OBE, BEng, MIFireE, Director, Community Protection, Hertfordshire County Council & Chief Fire Officer, Hertfordshire Fire & Rescue Service

• Phil Wood, MBE, MSc, CPP, PSP, CBCI, Head of the Department of Security and Resilience, Buckinghamshire New University.

• Kevin Brear, MSc, FICPEM, MBCI, MEPS, PhD Candidate, University of Portsmouth, Business School, Strategy & Business Systems

• Charley Newnham, MSc, MBCI, MICPEM, ABCP, PwC
• Scott Hughes, MBCI, MBCS, PwC

Full Details >>

 

The Monitor / Counter-terrorism report reveals developing shape of terrorist threat; confirms Middle East hotspots may be driving domestic threat

The publication this week of the first CONTEST Report into the government’s counter-terrorism strategy has raised a number of trends regarding the development of the terrorist threat in the UK. Particularly of interest, following on from notes in the Monitor of March 14, is the underscoring in the report of the potential threat emanating from domestic extremists returning from ‘theatres of Jihad’ in places such as Syria, where the Home Office estimates “hundreds” of British citizens have joined fighting, with a number working with the most dangerous salafist/jihadist group Jabhat al-Nusra.

 

COMMENT / Richard Bingley / Cyber Security: Just how laterally do we need to think?

By Richard Bingley, Director CSARN and Senior Lecturer at the Department of Security and Resilience, Buckinghamshire New University

I'm midway through a house move; my books and treasured news clippings are packed away and I'm dependent almost totally on a daily newspaper and the web!

Meanwhile, our part-time BA Security Consultancy students are nearing the end of their Information Security module.

Some fantastic work is being produced in their interactive journals around information security; particularly some of the lessons that we can learn from the high-risk environments, in which many are based. Basically, most are saying, that back here in the UK, and other more advanced economies, we need to tighten up. Civilian environments are simply not addressing future cyber issues.

The Monitor / New campaign against tax avoidance launched this week by global activist group ‘The Rules’; ‘Visit the City’ campaign may target companies before Corporation of London elections later this month

A loosely-knit global collective calling itself ‘The Rules’, with links to the Occupy movement, has recently been established. The group aims to stage a number of campaigns based on what it sees as major issues connected to fairness and equality in various countries. In essence, it aims to globalise the activist approach to what it considers a global tax avoidance issue whereby, for example, tax avoidance in the UK negatively impacts countries in the developing world.

The London branch of the collective was launched this week and will see initial actions being played out through a campaign called ‘Visit the City’. A mock video advertising the City of London as a global tax haven indicates that actions will begin on Saturday 16 March by the Royal Exchange, London, to expose ‘the hidden City of London’. The event looks set to be theatrical, possibly playing out a ‘beach theme’ and the date has been timed to take place ahead of City of London Corporation elections on 20 and 21 March.

Richard Bingley / 20:20 vision: fascinating questions for the future of business security

I’ve just got in from spending the day listening to an excellent range of presenters at the CSARN conference: '20:20 Vision: Business Security in the Next Decade’

For those of you who don’t know, the City Security and Resilience Networks (CSARN) group is a not-for-profit membership group of business and public sector security and emergency planning leaders, excellently supported by MITIE.

Their groups meet under Chatham House rules to brainstorm and share expertise around Organisational Resilience. Their mission is not to make judgements; but to promote and share good practice. Today’s meeting was hosted at Canary Wharf by global legal practice Clifford Chance LLP and their indefatigable security manager, Len Randall.

In its fourth year, this briefing is challenging yet fun for presenters. In front of their peers, they put their collective necks on the chopping block and give their insight about how the future, in their specialist spheres, may unfold. The clever approach may well be to push broad strategic questions back to the audience for interpretation... and here, below, are some of the biggies that were posed.

Louise Ellman MP, Chairman of the Transport Select Committee, and liked around all corners of the House, diplomatically asked if sufficient support would really be given to meaningful technological developments that really do genuinely address our security needs, yet do not materially restrict us. (For example, there still remains no full inspection of air cargo.)

Stirling Assynt’s Hugh McLeod gave a tour de force of developments in Syria and across the wider Middle East. McLeod’s analysis and range across these dynamic and turbulent theatres of conflict remains second-to-none. He prompted attendees to ask how dominant the Muslim Brotherhood will become in years to come, the nature of its interface with investors and regional emerging economies, as well as  - more broadly - possible future confrontations in between social cleavages and states over chasms including regional water resources and insurgencies.  To say nothing of Syria’s tortured demographic schisms and the embedded sanctuary of armed jihadists in Yemen, Mali and now Syrian territory.

Vernon Coaker MP, who only recently became Shadow Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, was right to celebrate the achievements of post-Good Friday Agreement. But around two dozen terrorist attacks each year demonstrate that pockets of so-called Irish ‘dissidents’ will probably continue to attack, principally, some symbolic elements of security forces unless the six counties of the North are united with the island of Ireland – my words, not Vernon’s. However, Vernon spoke eloquently on social and educational divides that exist and are even reinforced today. Separate schooling, housing and (possibly) a divide in perceptions in relation to who benefitted from any peace dividend. How we as a society, and network of communities, address these potential fault-lines, will ultimately play some role in determining our security by the year 2020, won’t it?

CSARN and MITIE partner to discuss ‘future of security’

For the fourth year running, CSARN and MITIE’s Total Security Management business are working together to bring a range of expert panellists together to explore the ‘future of security’ with British business leaders.

A day of presentations will be heard from leading security and business resilience commentators at the fourth annual '20:20 Vision: Business Security in the Next Decade' conference, pioneered and delivered by CSARN, the UK's leading not-for-profit business security group.

Richard Bingley, Senior Lecturer at Buckinghamshire New University (who led CSARN as CEO until 2012), and CSARN Advisory Council member said:

"We are delighted to be working in partnership with MITIE to run this business risk briefing and conference. By working to support UK Plc and critical national infrastructure, MITIE always demonstrates that it is a knowledge-leader in the UK security and resilience sphere."

Bob Forsyth, Managing Director of MITIE Total Security Management, said:

"We look forward to working with CSARN to provide a day of forward-looking presentations and learning around the UK security and risk environment. The day always provides tremendous networking and education and we are delighted to be principal sponsor partners to this illustrious event."

Topics to be covered on the day will include:

• the future of Northern Ireland
• prospects for Transport security
• cyber security and hacktivism
• reform and prospects for peace in the Middle East and North Africa

The event will be chaired by CSARN Chief Executive Officer, Brett Lovegrove.

The event is kindly hosted by CSARN corporate member, Clifford Chance LLP and will take place in Canary Wharf on 7th March 2013 between 9am and 3.30pm. 

 

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NEW SPEAKER / Vernon Coaker MP, Shadow Secretary of State for Northern Ireland

Milton Security Group Provides Network Security Against "Spear Phishing" Email Attacks and Java Vulnerabilities at a lower cost.

Everbridge join CSARN to promote security and resilience initiatives

CSARN is delighted to welcome Everbridge, the leading provider of interactive communication and mass-notification solutions, as the latest Member Partner of the UK’s largest resilience and business security network. 

Chief Executive Officer of CSARN, Brett Lovegrove, said:

“Everbridge bring into the CSARN resilience network an expert executive team and plethora of client experience in crisis communications and mass notification. The ability of organisations to communicate professionally and accurately before, during and after a major incident is absolutely paramount to business survival. Therefore we very much welcome Everbridge’s positive partnership to working with us to promote resiliency.”  

NEW SPEAKER / Vernon Coaker MP, Shadow Secretary of State for Northern Ireland

We are delighted to announce our final speaker for this years CSARN / 20 : 20 Confeence, Vernon Coaker MP, Shadow Secretary of State for Northern Ireland

Full Agenda

08:30	Registration and Coffee
09:00	Brett Lovegrove / Chair of the day Welcome
09:05	Louise Ellman MP / Chair of Transport Select Committee
09:30	Hugh McLeod MBE / Stirling Assynt International Group The Arab Revolutions Two Years On – What Prospects for 2020?
09:55	Vernon Coaker MP / Shadow Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Future challenges for security and the peace process in Northern Ireland
10:20	Q & A
10:25	Coffee Break and networking
10:45	Chris Needham-Bennett / Managing Director of Needhams  1834 Ltd 20:20 hindsight; 14 years of inertia?
11:10	Jason Hart / VP Cloud Solutions at SafeNet
11:35	Jeff Little / Chief Executive, National Security Inspectorate (NSI) Standards, Standards, Standards.......
12:00	Q & A
12:05	Lunch and Networking
12:55	Simon Gleeson / Partner, Clifford Chance
13:20	Nick Beale / Managing Director, ISARR
13:45	Q & A
13:50	Coffee
14:05	Nigel Hall / Managing Director, NHJ Strategic Consulting Denial and Change
14:30	Ranald Munro / Senior Vice President, General Counsel, Company Secretary & Head of External Affairs | Chubb Insurance Company
14:55	Q & A,/ Close / Networking

MORE>>

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NI 'held to ransom' in flag row

Bomb found under police officer's car in Belfast was 'clearly intended to kill'

ICPEM ANNUAL CONFERENCE 2013 - "Resilience: Learning from the past to deal with threats in the future."

Planning has already commenced on our Annual Conference scheduled to be held at the Kettering Conference Centre on Thursday 16th May 2013.

Speakers:

• Nik Gowing, News Anchor, BBC

• Helen Braithwaite, OBE, Head of the Resilience & Emergencies Division at the Department for Communities and Local Government.

• Bob Broadhurst, QPM, FICPEM, former Commander, Head of Public Order and Operational Support, Metropolitan Police.

• Air Vice Marshall Clive Bairsto, CBE, RAF Rtd, Global Head of Resilience for the National Grid.

• Phil Wood, MBE, MSc, Head of the Department pf Security and Resilience at Buckinghamshire New University 

• Roy Wilsher, OBE, BEng, MIFireE, Director, Community Protection, Hertfordshire County Council & Chief Fire Officer, Hertfordshire Fire & Rescue Service

• Phil Wood, MBE, MSc, CPP, PSP, CBCI, Head of the Department of Security and Resilience, Buckinghamshire New University.

• Kevin Brear, MSc, FICPEM, MBCI, MEPS, PhD Candidate, University of Portsmouth, Business School, Strategy & Business Systems

• Charley Newnham, MSc, MBCI, MICPEM, ABCP, PwC
   
• Scott Hughes, MBCI, MBCS, PwC

Full Details >>

The Monitor / UK energy companies to be targeted with ‘Stop the Great Fuel Robbery’ actions; protests planned outside company premises; separate awareness events to be held elsewhere

Over the next four days, numerous campaign groups are conducting actions across the country under the banner ‘Stop the Great Fuel Robbery’. The events are being conducted by numerous environmental, anti-cuts and community groups as well as housing organisations, in response to rising energy prices which campaigners suggest means many people now have to choose between ‘heating or eating’.

Activists will be targeting the UK’s six largest energy companies - British Gas (Centrica), EDF, E.On, Npower, Scottish Power and SSE, which they claim set the market to obtain maximum profit margins. Furthermore, the actions will also target government departments, most notably The Department for Energy and Climate Change. The targeting of the public sector is a result of fuel poverty benefits being cut and further privatization of the UK electricity industry (The Dash for Gas) which will, activists claim, result in expensive gas power, which also contributes towards climate change.  In addition to energy companies and the public sector, some actions will ‘target’ the public in the form of awareness events to highlight the wider campaign. We are currently aware of the following upcoming actions;

CSARN The Monitor INDIA / Spurt in crime against women continues in Goa and federal capital Delhi; foreign women travellers are statistically less likely to be victims of violent crime, although petty crime and low-level verbal advances

 

On the 17^th of January, Goa state authorities recovered the dead body of a young woman allegedly raped in the forest area of Assagao village, approximately 15 km (9 miles) from the state capital Panaji. The development comes following the much-publicized incident of rape of a child in her school toilet in Vasco town, approximately 40 km (24 miles) from Panaji that had prompted massive public as well as opposition political parties’ protests in the town for two days. The accused in both the incidents are on the run and investigation is under way.

CSARN Parliament / Protecting our CNI: A Public Private Perspective

CSARN / Protecting our CNI: A Public Private Perspective

21 February 2013, 08:30 – 14:00
House of Commons 
London 

CSARN Members, MPs and Members Guests only
Spaces very limited

In an age of increasing interconnectivity and uncertainty, quantifying and understanding risk has developed to a new level of complexity as distinctions between the public and private sector are becoming increasingly blurred. Legislators and wealth generators both ultimately seek assurance that they are taking appropriate measures to ensure business continuity and where relevant to protect critical national infrastructure. This members only briefing will be a chance to discuss public and private interpretations of risk and resilience and explore how government and business can work better together to protect critical national infrastructure.

MORE >>

MALI / Continued concerns over traveller safety in North, West and East Africa; Israeli strike on Syria could have collateral implications

In the last edition of the Monitor, we reported on the initial results of the jihadist action at the In Amenas facility in Algeria. Although almost certainly planned for some time the ostensible reason for the action remains the ongoing UK-backed, French-led intervention in Mali (which has now seen the Salafist advance turned back). In our analysis, we indicated that this action was likely to be symptomatic of a wider response across North and East Africa. This assessment has now been borne out, with the following being reported in this period:

• Last week the Foreign and Commonwealth office took the rare step of warning Britons to leave Benghazi, Libya, due to “a specific and imminent threat”.
• Shortly afterwards, threats in Somaliland prompted a similar warning to nationals there.
• Most recently, on 28 January the FCO confirmed it was aware of a “potential threat” against the embassy in Tripoli, Libya.

MALI / answers to questions can help our analysis

By Richard Bingley, Director CSARN and Senior Lecturer at the Department of Security and Resilience, Buckinghamshire New University

Images of French planes and Special Forces being deployed into nearby Mali were being relayed in the bustling Moroccan city hotels and cafes of Marrakesh, Ouzerzate and Zagora; the oasis outpost near Algeria’s border where I travelled last weekend. General security and surveillance was tightened; a sign of understandable worries about the targeting of French or other ‘western’ visitors possibly in response to events in Mali several hundred miles away.

What became for me less understandable were images of British military transport planes, (eventually) leaving the UK to provide logistical support to France’s intervention.  I know that France rejoined NATO’s military command back in 2009, and that joint UK-France operations in Libya were broadly perceived a strategic success, but I have to admit that my initial instinct was to scratch my head. What is going on here? Does the UK have a strategic purpose? Or, perhaps, something was about to come to light that I had missed?

FULL AGENDA / CSARN Morning Briefing / Cyber and information security

28 February, 2013, 08:50 - 11:30

Justin Crump / CSARN Security Risk Monitor, Security Intelligence and Management Process Consultant
Cyber threat analysis: cyber warfare, espionage and hacktivism

Phillip Wood / Head of the Department of Security and Resilience at Buckinghamshire New University
Dynamic Risk Multipliers – Organic Processing Units and Networks

Richard Astill / Chief Security Officer - UK&EMEA, Aon Services Group, Security Risk Management
Corporate perceptions on countering cyber threats

Michael Thwaites / Regional Security Manager, UK and Ireland, Estee Lauder Companies
The fight against counterfeit goods and challenges in information security

Adrian Davies / Principal Research Analyst, Information Security Forum
Addressing Information Security Concerns in 2013

More details >>

MALI / French intervention in Mali drives jihadist backlash; more possible as campaign continues; shows emerging capabilities in North Africa

The French decision to intervene against armed jihadist groups in Mali, which saw combat operations start on Friday 11 January, has seemingly driven a response and backlash from groups across the region. The action remains a principal driver for yesterday’s assault and seizure of foreign workers at a BP, Statoil and Sonatrach facility in Algeria, near the Libyan/Tunisian border. This was orchestrated by Mokhtar Belmokhtar, formerly leader of al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb’s Saharan faction, but since last year leader of an independent group.

Belmohtar has a history of profiting from hostages, but this is also a well-respected tactic amongst jihadists to retaliate against pressure being brought by Western nations. Often the objective is not necessarily to profit, but rather to create delay and uncertainty. The initial assault by the group was against a bus carrying foreign nationals, before they assaulted the compound, seemingly as a fall-back plan. Latest reports suggest that Algerian forces have bungled a rescue attempt, resulting in the deaths of over 30 hostages and 14 kidnappers.

We remain concerned of further actions against French, British and US interests as a result of the intervention in Mali. Although AQIM (along with close affiliates) is the franchise most directly involved, this could extend to Somalia/Kenya, which has also been seeing an increase in violent incidents. French interests have already been targeted in East Africa due to unrelated events, and so this would be a natural extension. Moreover, acts of solidarity are possible across most “theatres of jihad”, especially given the example of the Algerian action.

This event also serves as a reminder of the heightened threat across North Africa that we have often highlighted, enabled in part by the breakdown of order in Libya (indeed, it once would have been comparatively unusual for Belmokhtar’s group to operate effectively so close to this border). In general , Western interventions of this kind can be expected to arouse similar responses, and so should be viewed as important trigger events for continuity planning. A further possibility remains the pursuit of operations by cells/lone wolves inspired to achieve revenge for the military action, particularly in France, although the continued strong capability of the security forces – and a recent sweep of domestic jihadist/extremist groups following last year’s incidents - suggests that emerging threats will find it hard to develop. 

The role of standards in enhancing Societal Resilience

CSARN members would probably agree that making society more resilient is a desirable goal, writes Dave Austin from Oprel, a CSARN member. However when one starts to consider what is really involved, it quickly becomes apparent that this is a complex and perhaps overwhelmingly huge task.  For a society to be resilient, we need to consider many actors and many layers - from central to regional and local Government, businesses, not for profit organizations and individual citizens.  Indeed even this list does not take into account international relationships.

In order for society to address all of these areas there are many initiatives required ranging from legal frameworks which define responsibilities for organizations, such as the Civil Contingencies Act, regulatory requirements such as the FSA's guidance to Firms on business continuity and other matters.  Recognized standards can also have a role to play in that they help to define recognised good practice in areas related to resilience.

Increased tempo of Dissident activity likely to be maintained; number of factors could drive uptick in 2013

The fact remains that dissident operations in Northern Ireland are clearly running at an increased tempo. In part this reflects the somewhat traditional desire to commit acts over the Christmas/New Year holiday to keep the public aware of the campaign (especially by the New IRA), and also to take advantage of potentially lax personal security procedures over the festive season. However, at present we also believe that the flag row is being seen as a significant distraction for PSNI (several more protests in this period blocked roads and saw petrol bombs thrown at officers, with the disorder likely sporadically to continue over coming weeks). The uptick also reflects the perceived importance of 2013 for Northern Ireland, especially Derry, which remains a key heartland for New IRA activity.

Two further factors underscore the likelihood that the campaign will continue to intensify. First, evidence shows that youth in Northern Ireland continue to be particularly vulnerable to recruitment due to underlying and potentially worsening social issues. Secondly, the New IRA in particular appears to be on a significant drive to raise funds, including through criminal activity. Cigarette smuggling, fuel laundering and property fraud schemes appear to have increasing ties to dissident Republicans with finances being better controlled than was previously the case, especially in the Republic, with former Real IRA cells now reportedly being forced to work more effectively to raise and manage funds for the wider organisation rather than just pleasing themselves.

Intersec interview with Brett Lovegrove, Chief Executive of CSARN

Brett discusses the threats facing UK businesses, whether terrorist or naturally occurring, and argues they have never been better prepared to respond.

RP: Can you describe the aims and objectives of the City Security and Resilience Networks (CSARN)? Who are its members and what benefits do they gain from membership?

BL: CSARN is the only nationally-based networking organisation that has as its mainstay the continued development and building of resilience from all hazards for the business sector. We are strictly not-for-profit, which allows us to partner government departments, the public sector and NGOs in achieving our objectives. We engage our members by providing business intelligence, educational networking events in the major cities across the UK, training and specialist project management. We take pride in engaging fully with our members and we work hard to ensure both clients and solution providers are visible to each other. This takes the form of getting the members to deliver high-level presentations about critical issues to audiences across the UK.

Constant input from the Membership Network allows us to identify and pinpoint potential threats and issues on the horizon in quick time; this translates into a constant cycle of forums, conferences and briefings on topics that are currently at their zenith of importance to the security and resilience environment. We also exist to partner our members in finding solutions that affect their areas of expertise, and we frequently hear that we have been able to introduce members to each other, thereby solving long-held problems by the client. We are a nationally-based organisation that provides our membership with national (and often international) opportunities that make them more prepared and resilient to spontaneous and large-scale events. Our fortnightly publication, The Monitor is the only analysis covering threats to businesses in the UK and Northern Ireland which considers a range of potential disruptions, from cybercrime and political activism to terrorism.

Full Article

Intersec Magazine

Counter Terror Expo 2013

Further “come-on” attack mounted against police in Northern Ireland; under-car device seems to have targeted solider; New IRA grouping prompts increasing concern

This period has seen further developments in attacks against the security establishment in Northern Ireland, as predicted in our most recent reports. The most significant event in this period occurred on 26 November, when a come-on attack saw a pipe bomb thrown at PSNI officers attending a (hoax) burglary report. The incident occurred in Culmore Gardens, in a predominantly Catholic area in West Belfast, and the device was viable although it did not explode. The tactic is in line with previous attempts of this kind, although the fact that this was in a residential area seems to have aroused greater than usual condemnation. Our last report covered the fact that dissident Republicans were planning “something big” in the area; it is not clear if this attack was related to that report. However, if this was indeed that operation, it represents a serious drop in aspirations, perhaps indicating how far dissident capability has been eroded.

New CSARN Advisory Council member / Alastair McAslan OBE - Director, Strathfillan Consultancy & Cranfield University

CSARN are pleased to welcome Alastair McAslan OBE, Director, Strathfillan Consultancy & Cranfield University

Alastair McAslan is a former Army officer. He followed a standard military career with tours of duty in Northern Ireland, the Falklands, Kuwait and the Balkans. In 1997 he was coordinator of UK MoD matters relating to humanitarian demining in the period leading up to the signing of the Ottawa Treaty. This led to appointments with the United Nations in New York and the Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining.

CSARN The Monitor / Thousands expected in London for National student demo on 21 November; heavy congestion likely around Westminster; violence possible

A national student demo named ‘#Demo2012: Educate, Employ, Empower’ is set to take place on Wednesday 21 November. It has been organised by the National Union of Students (NUS) as a result of delegates voting for a national demo during the annual conference in April. Although the protest is centred on the three themes of education, employment and empowerment, it is not calling for anything specific. Instead, it appears to be an opportunity for those participating to express their disaffection with the coalition government and its ‘broken promises’, which students feel have left them in debt, unemployed and unable to get on the property ladder.