CSARN

SRM Update / Met Police, Major exercise in central London

 

 

 

 

 

22nd February 2012

Surrey Street, London, WC2R between the Strand and Temple Place

0700 - 1900

On 22nd February the Emergency Services and partners will be taking part in an exercise to test responses to an incident on the underground system.  This will include an emergency response by the Met, British Transport Police, London Fire Brigade and London Ambulance Service at the disused Aldwych tube station.

To facilitate the exercise Surrey Street, WC2R will be closed between the Strand and Temple Place from 0700 until 1900 on 22nd February.

The exercise is part of a National counter terrorism exercise programme, run by the Home Office, but is a key part of the testing of the readiness for the London Olympic and Paralympic Games.  For further information about this exercise visit met.police.uk

If you have any further questions please email communitiestogether@met.police.uk or call 0207 230 4014.

Any press enquires should be made to the Metropolitan Police Service Press Bureau on 020 7230 2171.

CSARN SRM / Counter-terror profile for Olympic Borough shows concerns over would-be jihadists; local negative sentiment also a growing issue

View this photo
In this period the Counter-Terrorism Local Profile (CTLP) for Waltham Forest, one of the six Olympic boroughs, was leaked. The document identifies a high level of concern over al-Qaeda’s ability to inspire males aged 20-38, predominantly British born second/third generation South Asian migrants. Signs of “jihadi cool” have been reported in local gangs, mostly made up of youths from the aforementioned communities, and the perception of deprivation within the Pakistani community is particularly highlighted. Concerns over penetration by al-Qaeda in the Maghreb and other North African jihadist movements, as well as political movements such as Hizb-ut Tahrir, were also in evidence.

This fits with our previous assessment that a lone wolf jihadist attack remains one of the most serious security concerns around the games. However, the report also mentions growing right-wing extremism – itself in part a response to the growing radicalisation of

CSARN SRM / Increasing focus on Occupy movement as a potential threat; agenda, constituency and international background implies disruption highly likely

The last edition of the Monitor published details of a threat by Fathers for Justice against the rowing at Eton Dorney. Single-issue groups have taken on more prominence in this period, with increased discussion over the Occupy movement as a potential threat. This is in part due to the Home Secretary’s comments at a recent conference, at which she indicated that measures were being taken to add tents and other camping equipment to the list of banned items for Olympic venues. Further targeted actions are expected in an attempt to prevent the movement from significantly affecting the games.

Given the continued anti-consumerist agenda of the Occupy movement, and the trend towards the conflation of animal, environmental and human liberation as causes, Occupiers certainly do pose a very real threat, which may tie up significant security effort despite the anticipated pre-emptive moves (see later in this Report). Whilst the UK movement seems largely focused on attempting to maintain physical occupations as a symbol of the movement, US groups have embraced the “Occupy 2.0” trend of more adaptive, innovative and targeted roving protests. Whilst efforts to move Occupiers out of existing camps will almost certainly be aggressively pursued over the coming weeks, the point is that the loss of permanent encampments does not equal the negation of the threat – in fact the converse is possible, since losing the focus on a particular piece of ground actually allows the movement to be more agile and original in direct actions.

Further reports of planned single issue activist activity against the Olympic Games

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We have previously mentioned our assessment that single issue activism is likely to lead to attempts to disrupt the games. In this period several events have underlined this threat:

• Local protests have continued against Dow Chemical, a sponsor that is being targeted due to a predecessor company’s culpability for the Bhopal industrial disaster that killed and maimed people in India.
• Fathers for Justice, the pressure group campaigning for father’s rights to children when families split up, has threatened to carry out attention-grabbing direct actions during the rowing at Eaton Dorney (one of the four main sites outside London, where attention is likely due to Team GB’s track record, and where access may be easier).
  
  
• A 'Counter Olympics Network' has been formed by various threat actors, and this is engaged in producing various anti-games material on social media. It has also organised a protest conference on 28 January. The London anarchist collective group 'ALARM' have advertised this conference on their website, giving it credence, and the issue is also understood to have been discussed at that group’s own recent conference.

This last point suggests that some anti-capitalist planning discussion is beginning, which may yet tie into developments related to the Occupy movement. We believe that this could yet emerge into a seriously disruptive issue, and so will continue to report on this trend.

Reported explosives-related breaches of Olympic site cause security concerns, although lessons learned from main incident will have improved effectiveness; role of dogs highlighted

Security breaches have taken on prominence in this period, with two explosives-related incidents drawing headlines:

• In early January it was revealed that security procedures in place at the Olympic Park have been successful in stopping 90% of explosives penetration exercises. Whilst this was portrayed as a positive move and trumpeted a high success rate, numerous observers immediately and accurately noted that this means a 10% failure rate – so in spite of security measures applied at least one dummy device made it onto the site, which is already in pre-games lockdown mode.
• On 13 January it was further revealed that a lorry carrying 20kg of ammonium nitrate (a component for so-called fertilizer bombs) was passed as okay by a canine detection team. It was later intercepted by a manual search.

These incidents have attracted predictable levels of criticism. Penetration testing is however normal procedure and the aim is of course to show up any vulnerabilities in the...

Bristol anarchists target bank property with arson; letter bombs delivered across Europe; banks and financial institutions remain main anarchist targets

On 15 December anarchists in Bristol attempted to burn down what they described as a Lloyds bank depot by placing bins of flammable material soaked in gasoline in front of wooden doors. Their motive was to express solidarity with ‘comrades’ imprisoned in Greece for anarchist activity, and imprisoned in Chile and Switzerland in relation to attempted bombings. Bristol continues to be a particular hotbed of anarchist activity with the Stokes Croft riots, other clashes with the police, and subsequent arrests proving to be significant drivers in a prolonged anarchist campaign. 

The action in Bristol followed a series of operations by international anarchists earlier in the month. Letter bombs targeted the CEO of Deutsche Bank, the Chief Director of Italy’s tax collection office (Equitalia), and the Greek embassy in Paris. Another parcel was sent to Equitalia on 15 December, although unlike the first this did not detonate, and threatening letters containing bullets were mailed to the Italian Justice Minister and Mayor of Rome.

The letter sent to Deutsche Bank has been published and this claimed action on behalf of the “Free East and Billy Cell”. This refers to the case of two anarchists who were caught after torching an ATM in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, on 11 October. Their action in turn was in solidarity with an injured Chilean anarchist, Luciano Tortuga. It is unclear if all these actions were launched by the same group, but the back story shows how networked anarchist groups have become, with causes transcending national boundaries.

UK Uncut plans to hit one particular target on 17 December, is also looking to raise funds for legal case versus HMRC and Goldman Sachs

On 17 December UK Uncut is going to hold a Christmas event targeting a particular offender, to be selected by the group’s members via a Facebook poll. This will result in coordinated action against one specific organisation, so a great deal of disruption is possible. The busiest shopping day before Christmas has clearly been deliberately chosen. 

UK Uncut is also calling for financial support in order to fight a legal battle against HMRC and Goldman Sachs, which it alleges made a deal that was unfair to the taxpayer. The group is asking for every supporter to send £1 to help their cause and will be launching a more general collection drive to support this.

SRM / Met Police - Update

Metropolitan Police:

Historically demonstrators have been known to identify and discreetly highlight business premises of interest.

There have been reports of buildings being marked with posters and stickers in the City this morning. Can your security periodically check the exterior of your premises and report anything unusual or suspicious to police immediately. Please email the information to Communities Together at Communities.Together@met.pnn.police.uk and where possible attach a photograph or provide as much detail as possible.

Photograph the markings in situ and where possible remove from the building and consider the preservation of evidence by placing in an envelope. Handle the evidence as little as possible in order to preserve the integrity of the exhibit.

30 November to see first national strike in decades; public transport and services will be severely impacted; Unions test water, attempt to nudge concessions from coalition government

26 trade unions representing more than three million members in the UK will come together next week to launch a National Day of Action in support of public sector pensions, in what is predicted by industrial relations analysts to be the biggest strike in generations. This follows on from the last Day of Action on 30 June, which saw 750,000 employees go on strike and a small number of anarchist activists hijack some of the central London protest points to attack businesses. This latest protest is designed more as a show of force for larger national trade union bodies to nudge the Coalition Government back to meaningful concessions at the negotiating table, rather than the beginning of a wave of destructive strikes. Influential figures in the Union movement, such as Unite’s (the UK’s largest Union) newly elected General Secretary Len McCluskey, have so far belied the past assertiveness characterised by his team during the recent strike against BA.

 

Terrorism remains main security threat to games, but travel disruption is most immediate issue; process rates through security seem overstated; cabbies protest over Olympic routes, more likely

In this period Assistant Commissioner Chris Allison reconfirmed that terrorism was his main concern as regarded Olympic security. In a meeting with the London Assembly, he admitted that the full cost of security wouldn’t be known until after the event. This was a reasonable statement but it has drawn considerable attention to escalating costs. In part these have been driven by changes in the threat scenario since 2005, when the bid was won, not least increasing jihadist targeting of sports events – previously regarded as off-limits – and a resurgence in Northern Irish dissident Republican activity.

As expected, despite the aim for a “blue games” (i.e. one fronted by civilian security forces) a series of roles are now emerging for the Armed Forces. Special Forces were inevitably going to be on standby and the Royal Navy had always been factored into security for the high-profile sailing events but the regular Army now also faces an increasing role and manpower demand. Whilst the Armed Forces are happy to be involved there is also a feeling that this commitment will increase the current feeling of overstretch, with additional concerns over cost and resource implications.

Security Risk Monitor / Gadhafi’s controversial death marks official end of fighting in Libya, but guerrilla campaign likely to continue; political infighting will become more apparent in National Transitional Council

On 25 October the bodies of deposed Libyan dictator Muammar Gadhafi and his son Mutassim were secretly buried, ending a dispute that had raged since their killing in questionable circumstances in the town of Sirte. Since Gadhafi was certainly captured alive, as evidenced by video footage, pressure has been placed on the National Transitional Council (NTC) to investigate the deaths and it has somewhat reluctantly agreed to do so. The incident has further tarnished the NTC’s image, which had already been degraded by factional infighting and allegations of mass torture of up to 7,000 Gadhafi loyalists.

Whilst an important milestone, Gadhafi’s death and the fall of Sirte may not herald a decisive end to fighting. His most effective heir, Sayf al-Islam, remains at large and has vowed to continue the campaign against the rebels. He is believed still to be liaising with Gadhafi’s former head of intelligence, General Abdullah Senussi, who seems successfully to have fled the country into Niger. It is probable therefore that this is where he too will end up, especially as it is a comparably welcoming base, despite most of his surviving family now being in Algeria. Gadhafi loyalists have previously mounted targeted terrorist attacks and such activity remains possible.

Security Risk Monitor / Security controls and restrictions on access to Olympic sites shows fears of liquid devices, but bigger risk remains crowds and transport outside of venues

New restrictions have been announced on what spectators will be allowed to take into Olympic sites, with “airport style” security now being expected. This includes restrictions on liquids. According to the new terms and conditions for Olympic ticket holders, items that cannot be taken into venues include:

• Food, except baby food
• Alcohol and soft drinks, except baby milk and medical supplies
• Liquid in containers over 100ml
• Bottles or glass containers
• Flasks and thermoses
• Fireworks, flagpoles, whistles and drums and other disruptive or potentially weapon-like material

This has raised immediate concerns over heat problems, with limits on items such as sunscreen, and long delays for security with no water. The restrictions apply to sites such as Lord’s and football stadiums which normally have much lower levels of security, even when hosting high-profile international games.

Security Risk Monitor / Fallout from riots affect Olympics security

Fallout from riots continues to affect security requirements for games; decisions await findings of public order report; mitigation measures deployed, but parallel events remain a concern

Concerns following last month’s riots in London and across England have continued to affect the detailed security manpower requirements planning for the games. Decisions on how to cope with major issues during the games, and the consequent need for personnel, will not now be made until after a new report on public order policing becomes available. However, it has already been publicly admitted that the police could not cope with events of a similar magnitude during the games, and a repeat of last month’s incident cannot entirely be ruled out (indeed, we concluded last time that criminals in particular would seek to make the most of police distraction).

 

Security Risk Monitor / Issue 21

	What does it cover? The CSARN Security Risk Monitor is a fortnightly, security briefing, sent directly to your inbox, covering threats to UK and Ireland business communities How do I receive it? The Security Risk Monitor is a paid for business intelligence service. You can easily subscribe to the service either on-line here>> or by telephone today.
	Analysis this fortnight . Olympic Security Issues Security requirements continue to evolve in light of riots and lessons learned; total staffing requirement to double, enhanced role for military; criminals may capitalise on police distraction . Terrorism and political violence Manchester man had details on ricin; al-Qaeda franchise in Yemen conducting experiments with material; poisons remain most likely terror CBRN threat . Cyber and information security Smash EDO plans 2012 summer of protest; London arms fair likely to be targeted by arms campaigners . Single issue violence, extremism and protests Home Secretary bans marches, EDL instead to hold static protest on 3 Sept in Tower Hamlets; many counter-protests will be present, disruption likely
					CSARN +44 (0) 1737 249 989 booking@csarn.org

 

Security Risk Monitor / Issue 19

	What does it cover? The CSARN Security Risk Monitor is a fortnightly, security briefing, sent directly to your inbox, covering threats to UK and Ireland business communities How do I receive it? The Security Risk Monitor is a paid for business intelligence service. You can easily subscribe to the service either on-line here>> or by telephone today.
	Analysis this fortnight . Terrorism and political violence Norway attacker drew inspiration from US figures and exploited al-Qaeda knowledge, may inspire other extremists of all bents . Cyber and information security Cyber crime and state-sponsored activity recognised as greater threats; calls for international cooperation intensify . Single issue violence, extremism and protests Smash EDO plans 2012 summer of protest; London arms fair likely to be targeted by arms campaigners
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Security Risk Monitor / Issue 18

Terrorism and political violence

Series of public order incidents culminate in 12 July Belfast riots; youths heavily in attendance, likely to be vulnerable to dissident recruitment Low-level dissident Republican paramilitary activity continues; significant arms smuggling route revealed Mumbai blasts show continuing dangers to business travellers in India UK threat level lowered to 'severe', lone actors still a major concern; al-Qaeda encourages cyber attacks more>>

Cyber and information security

Anonymous hacktivist collective continues to drive forward anti-security operation, launches own leaks sites; increasing cross-over with traditional activist groups, possible political launch Arrests in Italy and Switzerland aim to disrupt local Anonymous network responsible for attacks on large corporates and government State actors continue to target US and interest group websites; South Korea expands defences following attack by North, which may have been both war rehearsal and capability demonstration New botnet is not as invulnerable as claimed, but demonstrates significant evolution in tactics

Single issue violence, extremism and protests

Fate of anti-cuts occupation style protests to be decided in November; anarchist group finds its feet English Defence League continues city demonstrations; disruption to city centre business for foreseeable future Stop Huntingdon Animal Cruelty (SHAC) shifts emphasis of campaign; militant animal rights attacks continue Greenpeace strikes again with successful viral social media tactics; new 'warrior ship' aims to cause trouble to alleged environment damagers

 

LEAD ARTICLE

UK threat level lowered to 'severe', lone actors still a major concern; al-Qaeda encourages cyber attacks Last week the terror threat level was dropped, reflecting the Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre's view that the killing of Osama bin Laden and other leading al-Qaeda figures had helped to lower the overall danger to the UK. Whilst some plots are still likely to tie back to Pakistan or al-Qaeda franchises in Yemen or Somalia, our previous assessment was that these organisations have more pressing issues closer to home at this time. The major threat therefore remains the more unpredictable one of lone actors, who are hopefully more likely to be limited in scope. In this regard open-source training remains one of the most serious issues, and a man was arrested by the West Midlands Counter-Terror Unit for distributing this sort of material. This shows that items such as the "Complete Course" – al-Qaeda's bomb-making training course in English-language pdf form – are still available and circulating. Meanwhile, one of the main.... TO CONTINUE READING THE FULL PAGE EDITION, BY SUBSCRIBING TO THE MONITOR SERVICE, PLEASE CLICK BELOW OR EMAIL monitor@csarn.org

CSARN / Security Risk Monitor - LIBYA UPDATE BRIEF: WHAT COMES NEXT?

KEY POINTS

• It currently appears that the protestors are not strong enough to completely topple the regime, although defections from the military may be increasing. Gaddafi’s ability to re-take lost cities and towns in his Western heartland will be a significant indicator of comparative strength.
• Key members of the regime remain in place and loyal, whilst the most important and powerful tribes continue to watch events and have not declared for either side.
• Basic supplies are now running short. Whilst Gaddafi’s plan to bring about a destructive vortex in the east has not entirely worked, the disorganised and inexperienced civil societal structures there will face challenges bringing in food and other necessary resources.
• Gaddafi previously threatened the EU that he would turn the east over to al-Qaeda if he did not get support. The jihadists are also strong and will oppose Western intervention or democratisation. Their full impact will probably not be felt at this time, instead they are likely to be organising and equipping themselves. Western military action is therefore fraught with difficulty, and the UN will almost certainly have to set the context.

CSARN / SRM UPDATE - RUSSIA

Russia’s emergency services are responding to at least one probable suicide bomb attack at the country’s main international airport. Currently at least 35 fatalities are reported by Russian authorities from an attack carried out in the international arrivals lounge nearby to the Asia café.