Supply Chain Impact of Security Controls Following Brussels Attacks Delays to Freight Transpor

March 22, 2016 BSI Special Alert: Supply Chain Impact of Security Controls Following Brussels Attacks Delays to freight transport and other supply chain disruptions are expected as a result of increased security measures in Belgium and neighboring countries following multiple terrorist attacks in the Belgian capital this morning. The security measures and movement restrictions follow a pattern similar to what BSI observed following the November 2015 attacks in Paris, France, which contributed to costly delays to cross-border shipping. These new security measures come on top of border controls imposed in European countries due to the migrant crisis, exacerbating the impact of delays and other disruptions and creating significant added costs for shippers in the region. A full list of the current supply chain disruptions and restrictions can be found below: Belgium ● Interruptions to air freight transport ● Brussels airport closed until at least tomorrow ● Flights canceled and diverted, mainly to Amsterdam and Dusseldorf ● Halt in all international train traffic, including rail freight, with Brussels ● Brussels train stations evacuated and closed ● Closures disrupt rail traffic in other areas, such as Wallonia ● Widespread road traffic restrictions ● All road tunnels in Belgium closed until further notice ● Major road closures ● Boulevard Général Jacques to Montgomery ● Rue de la Loi to central Brussels ● A201, Boulevard Leopold III to Brussels airport ● Authorities recommend avoiding other major roads ● Inner and outer ring road toward Brussels airport ● Haecht road between Melsbroek and Diegem ● Roads around government buildings, including the Royal Palace and Parliament ● Traffic restrictions in and to/from other cities: Liege, Charleroi ● Manufacturing facilities, other businesses closed today ● Factories likely to remain shuttered for the duration of the restrictions France • Interior Ministry: “1,600 police deployed to border crossings, airports, ports and rail infrastructure” • Security reinforced at Charles de Gaulle and Orly airports; delays expected • Deployment of security officers in major cities could disrupt road transport 400 additional officers in the greater Paris area, deployments in Toulouse in the south Netherlands • Tightened controls at the Belgian border • Added police patrols at national airports: Schiphol, Rotterdam, and Eindhoven • Increased security presence at train stations Germany • Controls at Belgian border enhanced • Train traffic, including rail freight, destined for Brussels is stopping before Belgian border at Aachen • Security presence at airports and train stations increased United Kingdom • International rail traffic to Brussels suspended • Security increased at airports and other transport hubs • Extra police mobilization in London The security situation, in Brussels in particular, and Belgium and border areas more generally remains extremely fluid at this time. Transport restrictions may change with little to no notice, leading to additional complications to business continuity and contingency planning. BSI is closely monitoring the situation and will update the SCREEN intelligence portal or issue additional notices as more information becomes available or the security situation changes significantly. As noted above, the transportation restrictions and enhanced border controls imposed today come as border security has already been tightened in European countries due to the ongoing migrant and refugee crisis in the region. The new measures are very likely to exacerbate supply chain disruptions caused by the border controls first imposed due to the crisis. BSI has produced a Special Report on the supply chain impact of the migrant crisis, which is attached to this email. Background: Two explosions occurred around 8:00 a.m. local time at the departure area of Brussels International Airport, located 10 miles northeast of the city’s center, killing at least 14 and injuring at least 35 others. An explosion occurred about one hour later at the Maelbeek metro station, located two miles east of central Brussels and about one block from buildings housing major European Union institutions, killing at least 20 and injuring 55. Belgian officials indicated the explosions at the airport and the metro station were probably attacks. The incidents come four days after authorities in Brussels arrested Salah Abdeslam, one of the key planners of the Paris attacks. BSI has previously reported on the heightened threat of Islamist extremist terrorism in Western Europe over the past year, including threats from individuals inspired by jihadist groups but not actual members of these organizations. Belgium suffers from an especially high risk of jihadist-related terrorism, as highlighted in the below graphic, which BSI first developed in June 2015 and continues to update regularly. Belgium is responsible for the highest number of foreign fighters per capita traveling to join terrorist groups in Syria and Iraq of any nation in the region. BSI has also previously reported on the concentration of terrorist activity in the Mollenbeek neighborhood of Brussels, located just miles from the city’s center. Most of the suspects tied to the 2015 Paris attacks have ties to Mollenbeek, as well as jihadists involved in numerous other plots. **We’d like to thanks BSi and the Pharmaceutical Cargo Security Coalition for providing these supply chain security alerts** .

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