Nonprofit Security Grant Program Threat Compendium: January 2019 to Present November 15, 2019 Prepared By: Rob Goldberg, Senior Director, Legislative Affairs [email protected] I. Recent Events of National Significance Imminent Attack on Colorado Synagogue Prevented: Between November 1 and 2, 2019, Richard Holzer, 27, of Pueblo, Colorado, was arrested by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and allegedly admitted planning to blow up Temple Emanuel, a synagogue in Pueblo, Colorado. According to the criminal affidavit: Holzer used several Facebook accounts “to promote white supremacy ideology and acts of violence.” For example: o On July 11, he sent a message to another Facebook user stating, “getting ready to cap people.” He included three photos of himself dressed in clothing with white supremacy symbols, holding handguns and a semiautomatic rifle. o On Sept. 3, he told a Facebook user, “I wish the holocaust really did happen… they need to die.” o On Sept. 28, Holzer sent a video of himself urinating on the front door of what appears to be a Jewish center. o On Oct. 3, Holzer sent a message stating, “I’m getting ready for RAHOWA,” meaning a racial holy war. He also sent a voice mail stating he was going to Temple Emanuel “to scope it out.” o On Oct. 13, Holzer explained his plan to use arsenic to poison the synagogue in Pueblo on Oct. 31. On Oct. 17, Holzer met with three FBI undercover agents (UCs). o After the meeting, Holzer, an associate, and the undercover agents drove to Pueblo to visit Temple Emanuel. Holzer allegedly stated that Molotov cocktails would not “be enough” and the group discussed using pipe bombs. o “Let’s get that place off the map,” Holzer reportedly stated.” This is the big center for them here in town. Thing is, why not hit the heart, right?” On Oct. 31, and Nov. 1, Holzer met with undercover agents and “repeatedly affirmed that he was prepared to go through with the attack.” Holzer reportedly said he didn’t think anyone would be at the synagogue at the time but he didn’t care if they were. o The FBI agents showed Holzer fake pipe bombs and dynamite, which Holzer said were “absolutely gorgeous.” o He referred to the plan as ‘my mountain’ and to Jews and the synagogue as a ‘cancer’ to the community.” Temple Emanuel is a synagogue serving a small congregation of Jewish families in Pueblo, Colorado. Its stated mission is to foster Jewish identity and ensure the survival of Judaism in a small community. Constructed in 1900, Temple Emanuel is the second-oldest synagogue in Colorado and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. (Sources: CBC 4 Denver, November 4, 2019; Link: https://denver.cbslocal.com/2019/11/04/richard-holzer-temple-emanuel- pueblo-white-supremacist-arrested-plot-blow-up-synagogue-colorado/. Criminal Complaint Affidavit, Filed November 2, 2019; Link: https://denver.cbslocal.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/15909806/2019/11/affidavit-richard-holzer.pdf) Attack on Halle, Germany Synagogue: An identified German racially/ethnically motivated violent extremist (RMVE) advocating for the superiority of the white race conducted an attack on a synagogue in the city of Halle, Germany, with homemade firearms and explosives. The attacker attempted to break into the synagogue using multiple methods, including improvised explosive devices (IEDs), but was unable to do so because the synagogue entrances were locked. During this time, the attacker shot and killed an individual walking by on the street and then drove to a nearby kebab restaurant where he threw an explosive device and fatally shot another victim. Security measures such as locked doors likely prevented additional deaths, as a well-attended Yom Kippur service was reportedly occurring in the synagogue at the time. Prior to the incident, the attacker allegedly posted a manifesto online and live- streamed the attack online using an identified US-based streaming platform. German authorities apprehended the attacker and believe him to be the only perpetrator; however, the investigation is ongoing. Relevant Findings: The attacker’s manifesto and motivations are similar to RMVEs in the United States. There is an established history of US-based RMVE violence against Jewish targets in the United States, including recent attacks. The livestreaming of the attack on the synagogue could inspire similar attacks. The synagogue attack in Halle, Germany, underscores the continued threat to religious institutions, particularly Jewish and Muslim institutions, and other targets by violent extremists. It remains that due to the highly personal nature of radicalization and mobilization to violence, it is difficult to assess specific indicators that are indicative of US-based violent extremists’ intent to commit violence at home or abroad. (Source: Joint Intelligence Bulletin IA-39086- 20, October 18, 2019) Al Qaeda Bomb Maker Who Targeted Jewish Community Confirmed Dead: Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula terrorist Ibrahim Hassan al-Asiri has been confirmed killed in a drone strike in 2017. A highly skilled bomb maker who built the explosives for several high-profile terrorist plots, Asiri was among the world’s most feared terrorist operatives. In one major plot in 2010, Asiri designed explosive devices concealed in packages shipped on cargo planes and addressed to synagogues in Chicago, Illinois. A U.S. official said that the devices found in the packages were very sophisticated and could have exploded in flight, but it wasn't clear whether that was the intent. The group's statement said the devices' designs "allow us the opportunity to detonate them in the air or after their arrival to their ultimate destination, and they are designed to pass through all detectors." The packages were discovered thanks to a tip from Saudi Arabia. Saudi officials provided tracking numbers of the two packages bound for Jewish organizations in the United States, enabling quick tracing to the United Kingdom and Dubai, a source told CNN. (Sources: New York Times, October 10, 2019; Link: https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/10/world/middleeast/qaeda-bomber-death- trump.html. CNN, November 5, 2010; Link: http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/meast/11/05/yemen.security.concern/index.html) 2 911 Senate Hearing: Marking 18 years since 9/11, the Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee held a field hearing yesterday morning on the State of Homeland Security after 9/11. The witnesses were three former Secretaries of the Department of Homeland Security: Michael Chertoff, Janet Napolitano and Jeh Johnson. The Nonprofit Security Grant Program was the subject of Senator Maggie Hassan’s questioning of the witnesses. Note: According to the 911 Commission Report (page 150), Khalid Sheikh Mohammed claimed that Bin Laden directed in early 2001, that his followers be “sent to the United States to case potential economic and ‘Jewish” targets’ in New York City.” Senator Hassan spoke highly of the program and acknowledged that more resources need to be brought to bear to respond to growing unmet needs. Secretaries Chertoff and Napolitano agreed on the importance of the program to help mitigate risks and underscored the significant challenges in securing such an open aspect of society. Secretary Johnson recommended that Congress consider increasing the program’s level of funding. (Source: HSGAC Hearing, September 9, 2019, "18 Years Later: The State of Homeland Security after 9/11") Iran Threat to Jewish Community: After Iran threatened a leading Washington think tank with sanctions and other unspecified measures, U.S. government officials began warning Jewish communities across the country to be on the lookout for threats that could originate with Iran or its proxies, including the Lebanese terrorist group Hezbollah. While in recent months much of the Jewish security focus has been on white supremacists, federal authorities have their eye on Iran. Earlier this year, the FBI, DHS, and NCTC assessed in a Joint Intelligence Bulletin that the Islamic Republic of Iran and Hizballah have both demonstrated intent to target Jewish persons and Jewish interests in the Homeland, referencing Iranian-orchestrated surveillance of a synagogue in Chicago, Illinois, last year. In 1994, a suicide bomber drove a van loaded with explosives into the AMIA Jewish center in Buenos Aires, killing 85 and injuring hundreds more. Multiple intelligence agencies have identified Hezbollah and Iran as the masterminds of the AMIA attack. (Sources: JTA, August 27, 2019; Link: https://www.jta.org/2019/08/27/united-states/as-us-iran- tensions-escalate-us-jews-warned-they-could-be-a-target’; Joint Intelligence Bulletin (IA-32337-19), February 22, 2019) II. Recent Reports of National Significance FBI Lone Offender Terrorism Report: The threats we face from terrorism and targeted violence are rapidly evolving. We’ve seen a steady increase in the number of attacks and the array of attack methodologies, targets, and underlying motivations driving the attackers. Lone offender terrorism continues to pose a threat as violent ideological groups and terrorist organizations place emphasis on inspiring lone offender-style attacks. Additionally, individuals who view violence as an accessible and justified method for advancing their own ideological goals can independently mobilize toward violent action. Based on findings from 52 attacks, lone offender attacks in the United States are particularly deadly, according to the FBI’s The FBI's Behavioral Threat Assessment Center. Moreover, the primary targets of lone wolf attacks after federal government facilities and law enforcement personnel are religious centers and personnel. (Source: FBI, November 13, 2019; Link: https://www.fbi.gov/file-repository/lone-offender-terrorism-report-111319.pdf/view) FBI 2018 Hate Crimes Statistics: Statistically, very little changes in the reporting year-over-year. There were reported 1,550 religious bias offenses by law enforcement. The Jewish community remains the number one target of faith-based hate crimes (58%), for the 22nd consecutive year.