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Nonprofit Security Grant Program Threat Incident Report

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Nonprofit Security Grant Program Threat Incident Report Nonprofit Security Grant Program Threat Incident Report: January 2019 to Present November 15, 2020 (Updated 02/22/2021) Prepared By: Rob Goldberg, Senior Director, Legislative Affairs [email protected] The following is a compilation of recent threat incidents, at home or abroad, targeting Jews and Jewish institutions (and other faith-based organization) that have been reported in the public record. When completing the Threat section of the IJ (Part III. Risk): ▪ First Choice: Describe specific terror (or violent homegrown extremist) incidents, threats, hate crimes, and/or related vandalism, trespass, intimidation, or destruction of property that have targeted its property, membership, or personnel. This may also include a specific event or circumstance that impacted an affiliate or member of the organization’s system or network. ▪ Second Choice: Report on known incidents/threats that have occurred in the community and/or State where the organization is located. ▪ Third Choice: Reference the public record regarding incidents/threats against similar or like institutions at home or abroad. Since there is limited working space in the IJ, the sub-applicant should be selective in choosing appropriate examples to incorporate into the response: events that are most recent, geographically proximate, and closely related to their type or circumstance of their organization or are of such magnitude or breadth that they create a significant existential threat to the Jewish community at large. I. Overview of Recent Federal Risk Assessments of National Significance Summary The following assessments underscore the persistent threat of lethal violence and hate crimes against the Jewish community and other faith- and community-based institutions in the United States. At the beginning of this year, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Department of Homeland Security and National Counterterrorism Center jointly assessed that Domestic Violent Extremists and Racially/Ethnically Motivated Violent Extremists (RMVEs) will continue to pose a lethal threat to faith- based communities, particularly the Jewish community, in the Homeland and remain concerned about the difficulty of detecting lone offenders due to the individualized nature of the radicalization process.1 1 Joint Intelligence Bulletin, “Continued Interest in Targeting Jewish Communities in the Homeland by Domestic Violent Extremists,” 3 January 2020 (IA-41058-2 0) During a recent Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs hearing on threats to the Homeland, FBI Director Christopher Wray testified that the number one threat the nation faces from domestic violent extremists stems from RMVEs, who are considered the most lethal of all domestic extremists in the post-911 environment.2 To illustrate his point, Director Wray recounted the arrest last November of Richard Holzer on federal domestic terrorism and hate crime charges for attempting to blow up a historic synagogue in Pueblo, Colorado and provoke “a racial holy war.”3 This year, the Nation’s Homeland Security agencies also assessed that domestic extremists were using the Covid-19 pandemic to recruit members to their ranks and to incite violence against Jewish and other minority communities.4 They also warned that if the Government of Iran were to perceive actions of the United States Government as acts of war or existential threats to the Iranian regime, Iran could act directly or enlist the cooperation of its proxies, such as Lebanese Hizballah, to commit attacks in retribution, with little to no warning, including against US-based Jewish individuals and interests, among likely targets.5 In recent years, the US Government has arrested several individuals acting on behalf of either the Government of Iran or Lebanese Hizballah who have conducted surveillance indicative of contingency planning for lethal attacks in the United States against facilities and individuals. In one instance, the US arrested an agent of Iran in 2018 who had conducted surveillance of a Hillel Center and the Rohr Chabad Center, Jewish institutions located in Chicago, including photographing the security features surrounding the Chabad Center. According to the most recent Federal Hate Crimes Statistics (for 2018),6 there were reported 1,550 religious bias offenses by law enforcement. Within this reporting, the Jewish community remains the number one target of faith-based hate crimes (58%), for the 22nd consecutive year. DHS Homeland Threat Assessment (October 2020)7 The Department of Homeland Security released a new report, which finds that racially and ethnically motivated violent extremists, especially white supremacist extremists with demonstrated intent to target racial and religious minorities, such as Jewish persons, will remain the most lethal and persistent threat in the Homeland. It also assesses that violent extremists will continue to target individuals and institutions that represent symbols of their grievances. On point, in the report’s forward, Acting Secretary Chad Wolf expressed particular concern about white supremacist violent extremists who have been exceptionally lethal in their targeted attacks in recent years. 2 Senate HSGAC Hearing, “World Wide Threats,” 24 September 2020; Link: https://www.hsgac.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/Testimony-Wray-2020-09-24.pdf 3 DoJ/US Attorney’s Office, District of Colorado, 4 November 2019; Link: https://www.justice.gov/usao- co/pr/southern-colorado-man-charged-federal-hate-crime-plotting-blow-synagogue 4 DHS Counterterrorism Mission Center, “Terrorists Exploiting COVID-19 Pandemic in an Attempt to Incite Violence,” 23 March 2020 (IA-43383-20) 5 Joint Intelligence Bulletin, “Escalating Tensions Between the United States and Iran Pose Potential Threats to the Homeland,” 8 January 2020 (IA-41117-20) 6 FBI, November 12, 2019; Link: https://www.fbi.gov/services/cjis/ucr/publications#Hate-Crime%20Statistics 7 DHS, October 6, 2020; Link: https://www.dhs.gov/sites/default/files/publications/2020_10_06_homeland-threat- assessment.pdf 2 US Strategic Framework for Countering Terrorism and Targeted Violence (September 2019)8 To address the increasingly complex threats from terrorism and targeted violence since the 9/11 attacks, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) adopted last fall the Strategic Framework for Countering Terrorism and Targeted Violence (CTTV Framework). According to the CTTV Framework, homegrown violent extremists (HVEs) and domestic terrorists (DVEs), particularly individuals motivated by racially- and ethnically-motivated violent extremism, represent a growing share of the threat to the Homeland. domestic terrorists, motivated by racially- and ethnically-motivated violent extremism (REMVE), and that white supremacist violent extremism, a type of REMVE, is one of the most potent forces driving domestic terrorism. White supremacist violent extremists’ outlook is characterized by hatred for immigrants and ethnic minorities, often combining these prejudices with virulent anti-Semitism or anti-Muslim views. As part of the CTTV Framework’s “Priority Actions,” DHS is to continue to enable the private sector to build and sustain the core capabilities required to prevent, protect against, mitigate, respond to, and recover from threats that pose the greatest risk, and to facilitate resource availability for preparedness, in part, through its DHS Homeland Security Grants with the “Objective” the enhancement of defensive measures for soft targets, such as houses of worship. New ISIS Video Encourages Arson Attacks in the US9 A new video released by ISIS’s media center encourages supporters to commit arson attacks in the United States. It encourages arson attacks because of the ease of use and concealment, and potential for destruction of life and property. Foreign terrorist organizations and online supporters have been providing tactical guidance for conducting arson attacks for more than a decade. Homegrown violent extremists have shown an interest in conducting arson attacks in the US and is an ideal tactic for terrorists looking to hit soft targets. On August 26, 2020, an al Qaeda-inspired individual admitted to attempting to burn down several buildings at St. Catherine University, a Catholic university located in St. Paul, Minnesota. In January 2017, ISIS’ now-defunct Rumiyah magazine suggested targets for arson terrorism to include schools, hospitals, churches and temples. Terrorist Incidents Impacting US Critical Infrastructure Including Religious Institutions10: The Department of Homeland Security published a Reference Aid on March 26, 2020, which examines attacks and plots that were inspired by a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) or domestic terrorism ideologies. The bulletin highlights a representative sample of terrorist attacks and plots but does not reflect the totality of terrorist activities against the United States within the reporting period between October 1, 2018 ad October 1, 2019. 8 CCTV Framework, September 2019; Link: https://www.dhs.gov/sites/default/files/publications/19_0920_plcy_strategic-framework-countering-terrorism- targeted-violence.pdf 9 Sources: DHS Intelligence Brief, September 14, 2020 (IA-45928-20); Government Technology and Services Coalition, Homeland Security Today, August 4, 2020; Link: https://www.hstoday.us/subject-matter- areas/counterterrorism/isis-video-urges-arson-as-five-star-terror-tactic-shows-california-burning/; DoJ/US Attorney’s Office for the District of Minnesota, August 26, 2020; Link: https://www.justice.gov/usao- mn/pr/minneapolis-woman-pleads-guilty-attempting-provide-material-support-al-qa-ida
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