2-2 Discussion Intelligence Report

INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN

CENTRAL FLORIDA INTELLIGENCE EXCHANGE (CFIX)

4 September (current year)

(U//FOUO) Situational Awareness

The United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is providing this bulletin for situational awareness. On June 17, (Current Year) at an International Mail Facility located in Miami, Florida pictures of Hoover Dam was discovered coming from a small town on the outskirts of Islamabad, Pakistan. These pictures were addressed to Mary Lou Hoskins of Phoenix, Arizona. Ms. Hoskins was later identified as the sister-in-law of Norr Aziz Uddin.

(U//FOUO) Potential Impact of Qur’an Burning Event in Brooksville, Florida

(U//FOUO) The CFIX has no specific threat information to Region 5 relating to the planned Qur’an burning event to be held in Hernando County 11 September 2014; however, due to the proximity of the event, information is being provided for situational awareness.

· (U//FOUO) 11 September 2014 @ 1800 hrs – Controversial pastor, Terry JonesUSPER, has sent out numerous press releases over the last few months indicating his intentions to hold a “Worldwide Burning of 2,998 Korans” in Brooksville, Florida. JonesUSPER plans to burn one Qur’an for each of the 9/11 victims. A FacebookUSORG page, which has been removed within the last few days by FacebookUSORG, was created to promote the event.

(U//FOUO) On 30 August 2014, JonesUSPER started promoting his event on TwitterUSORG by tweeting messages to well-known pro-ISIS accounts and attaching their

#AmessagefromISIStoUS hashtag. The pro-ISIS accounts JonesUSPER selected to tweet gained attention during recent ISIS hashtag campaigns for posting threats to the U.S. In

addition to the pro-ISIS accounts, JonesUSPER has also tweeted messages to journalists and news sites in the U.S., Europe, Australia and the Middle East.

(U//FOUO) Analyst Comment: At this time, there has been no mention of the “Worldwide Burning of 2,998 Korans” on the jihadi forums or jihadi social media accounts; however, following similar events held by Jones, it has typically taken a few days before discussions and/or threats have emerged.

FOR TRAINING PURPOSES ONLY

(U/FOUO) The defamation of Islam continues to be a motivating factor for attempted and/or successful attacks carried out by militant groups worldwide. If the “Worldwide Burning of 2,998 Korans” does take place, it could create a backlash against U.S. soldiers, U.S. Embassies, Americans, and Christians in Muslim countries, as seen in past events. Along with the threat posed by terrorist groups or lone extremists, this event also has the potential to escalate anti-Islamic sentiments which could result in hate crimes against the Muslim Community.

(U//FOUO) International Terrorism Threat

(U//FOUO) As of 4 September 2014, the CFIX is unaware of any credible information which would suggest that international terrorist groups are planning an attack in Central Florida on the anniversary of 9/11; however, terrorist organizations continue to encourage attacks against the U.S.

(U//FOUO) 9/11/12 Attack on American Consulate in Benghazi

(U//FOUO) In response to the successful attack to the American Consulate in Benghazi on 11 September 2012, propaganda from terrorist organizations has encouraged similar attacks against against U.S. and Western Embassies/Consulates in Muslim countries:

· (U//FOUO) 19 August 2013 – as-Sahab, al-Qa'ida's media arm, released a video on the jihadist forums titled “The Exploits of Muslims and Infamies of the Criminals". In the video American mouthpiece for AQ, Adam Gadahn (aka Azzam al-Amriki), praised the killing of the

U.S. Ambassador in Benghazi and encouraged similar attacks on Western diplomats and Western Embassies.

· (U//FOUO) 7 June 2013 – Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) video titled “The Honor of the Prophet and Our Religion” was released on the Jamia Hafsa forum. In the video TTP Commander Asmatullah Muawiya encouraged attacks against U.S. Embassies and Consulates for insults to the Prophet Muhammad, citing in particular Terry Jones and Salman Rushdie.1

(U//FOUO) Islamic State of Iraq and Sham (ISIS)

(U//FOUO) Heightened tensions resulting from current U.S. airstrikes against ISIS raise the risk of retaliatory attacks against U.S. interests worldwide. Rhetoric calling for direct action and/or retaliatory attacks has been widespread and could incite lone offenders or a small cell of extremists to conduct violent acts. With the extensive online presence of ISIS and their supporters, it is highly likely that a hashtag campaign will be initiated on or around 9/11. This will likely resemble other recent ISIS hashtag campaigns where supporters post threats to the U.S. using graphic images from events such as 9/11, the beheadings of the two American journalists, etc.

(U//FOUO) Al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP)

(U//FOUO) On 16 August 2014, AQAP released a new English-language publication titled “Palestine..Betrayal of the Guilty Conscience” via one of its official Twitter accounts. The publication encourages lone offender attacks in response to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. In the magazine, AQAP included the “Make a Bomb in the Kitchen of Your Mom” article from their inaugural issue of Inspire, highlighting how the Boston bombers were inspired by this explosive recipe. AQAP also re- addressed the issue of using car bombs in America, identifying locations in the U.S. such as tourist areas as desirable targets.

1 (U//FOUO) Site Intelligence Group

FOR TRAINING PURPOSES ONLY

(U//FOUO) Domestic Terrorism Threat

(U//FOUO) As of 4 September 2014, the CFIX has no current intelligence indicating domestic extremists are planning an attack on Christmas (current year). The domestic terror threat derives from extremists associated with a wide range of U.S. based hate groups, eco-terrorists, socialist groups, anti-government extremists, etc. Lone offenders from within these movements motivated by political or ideological agendas pose the most significant threat.

(U//FOUO) AQ-Inspired Homegrown Violent Extremist (HVE) Threat2

(U//FOUO) As of 4 September 2014, there has been no information identified by the CFIX which would indicate that HVE’s plan to target Central Florida on the anniversary of 9/11; however, over the last year, there have been numerous arrests at home and abroad of al-Qa’ida inspired individuals becoming operational and attempting or preparing to carry out attacks. The most popular methods of attack have been VBIED’s, small explosives and firearms. Additionally, we could see more spontaneous attacks using knives.

(U//FOUO) Lone Offender Threat3

(U//FOUO) As of 4 September 2014, the CFIX has current intelligence indicating a lone offender threat to Hoover Dam on or about Christmas (current year); however, lone offenders pose a significant issue to law enforcement and the intelligence community as it is considerably more difficult to predict and disrupt the attacks/crimes these individuals may be planning. In recent decades, numerous attacks planned and/or perpetrated in the United States have been at the hands of lone offenders or by groups of individuals utilizing a leaderless resistance strategy. Propaganda regarding lone offender or “Lone Wolf” activities has been the topic of discussion on both Domestic extremists and jihadist forums in recent months

(U//FOUO) Since April 2014, there has been an emergent trend on social media of Western foreign fighters in Syria and Iraq encouraging lone offender attacks in the West. The fighters advocating for these attacks are the more prominent voices that maintain social media accounts on multiple platforms. Typically, these accounts are used to encourage and facilitate travel to Syria. However, the infighting between jihadist groups (primarily between the Islamic State and Jabhat al-Nusra) which has been on-going since January 2014, is now causing Western fighters to advocate for attacks to be carried out in the West.

2 (U//FOUO) FBI and DHS define HVE as a person of any citizenship who has lived and/or operated primarily in the United States or its territories who advocates, is engaged in, or is preparing to engage in ideologically motivated terrorist activities (including providing support to terrorism) in furtherance of political or social objectives promoted by a foreign terrorist or organization, but is acting independently of direction by a foreign terrorist organization. HVEs are distinct from traditional domestic terrorists, who engage in unlawful acts of violence to intimidate civilian populations or attempt to influence domestic policy without direction from or influence by a foreign actor.

3 (U//FOUO) FBI defines a “lone offender” as an individual who commits terrorist acts alone and without direction from a group or another individual. The perpetrator may have contact with others, but those other individuals are not aware of the perpetrator’s plans or intentions.

FOR TRAINING PURPOSES ONLY

FOR TRAINING PURPOSES ONLY

(U//FOUO) Protective Measures in Light of Boston Marathon Explosions4

· (U//FOUO) Establish a comprehensive security plan and emergency response plan for the event or facility that includes interaction and integration with local law enforcement and public safety agencies

· (U//FOUO) Test communications equipment with emergency responders, including primary and backup systems

· (U//FOUO) Provide VBIED indicators (e.g., vehicle sagging, illegally parked, etc.) and reporting procedures to facility or event staff

· (U//FOUO) Ensure personnel receive training on IED and threat awareness, emergency communication, response actions, and reporting of suspicious activity

· (U//FOUO) Develop mass evacuation procedures in response to a threat

· (U//FOUO) Institute strategies for detecting and reporting pre-operational surveillance and other suspicious activity

· (U//FOUO) Implement a public awareness and vigilance campaign that provides information for reporting and responding to potential IED activity (e.g., PA system announcements, television ads, social media, etc.)

(U) Reporting Notice

(U) The Central Florida Intelligence Exchange is unaware of any specific threats; however, this bulletin is being provided for situational awareness as unforeseen incidents could occur. For additional information on this product, or to report suspicious activity, please contact the CFIX at

(407) 858-3950 or [email protected] .

(U) Entities and agencies outside of the Central Florida region should report suspicious activity to the appropriate law enforcement agency and their regional or state fusion center.

4 (U//FOUO) DHS & FBI, Indicators and Protective Measures in Light of Boston Marathon Explosions, Joint Intelligence Bulletin, 16 April 2013

FOR TRAINING PURPOSES ONLY