2009 VIRGINIA TERRORISM THREAT ASSESSMENT COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF STATE POLICE VIRGINIA FUSION CENTER MARCH 2009 LAW ENFORCEMENT SENSITIVE 2009 VIRGINIA TERRORISM THREAT ASSESSMENT This is LAW ENFORCEMENT SENSITIVE information and is protected by Code of Virginia Title 52-48 and 52-49 unless otherwise noted. Further distribution of this document is restricted to law enforcement agencies, intelligence agencies, and Department of Defense organizations only. Prior approval shall be obtained from VFC for dissemination to other agencies. Persons or organizations violating distribution restrictions may be prosecuted and will be prohibited from receiving future documents. NO REPORT OR SEGMENT THEREOF MAY BE RELEASED TO ANY MEDIA SOURCES. Please contact the Virginia Fusion Center at (804) 674-2196 if you have any questions or need additional information. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY............................................................................................................4 OVERVIEW ................................................................................................................................5 VSP DIVISION MAP...................................................................................................................7 Division 1 ..................................................................................................................................................8 Division 2 ................................................................................................................................................10 Division 3 ................................................................................................................................................12 Division 4 ................................................................................................................................................14 Division 5 ................................................................................................................................................16 Division 6 ................................................................................................................................................18 Division 7 ................................................................................................................................................20 OVERVIEW OF TERRORIST AND EXTREMIST DATA IN VIRGINIA ....................................22 INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM THREAT ..............................................................................26 Al-Qa’ida .................................................................................................................................................27 Al-Shabaab .............................................................................................................................................29 HAMAS ...................................................................................................................................................31 Hizballah .................................................................................................................................................33 Jama’at al-Tabligh ..................................................................................................................................35 Jama’at ul Fuqra .....................................................................................................................................37 Lashkar-e Tayyiba ..................................................................................................................................39 Muslim Brotherhood................................................................................................................................41 DOMESTIC TERRORISM THREAT.........................................................................................43 Anarchist Extremists ...............................................................................................................................44 Black Separatist Extremists ....................................................................................................................48 Homegrown Islamic Extremism ..............................................................................................................52 Lone Wolf Extremists..............................................................................................................................58 Militia Extremists.....................................................................................................................................60 Special Interest Extremism .....................................................................................................................62 White Nationalist Extremism...................................................................................................................73 LAW ENFORCEMENT SENSITIVE Page 2 2009 VIRGINIA TERRORISM THREAT ASSESSMENT OVERVIEW OF TERRORISM AND EXTREMISM TRENDS ...................................................77 Bioterrorism ............................................................................................................................................78 Cyber-crime and Cyber-terrorism ...........................................................................................................80 Illicit Entry into U.S..................................................................................................................................85 Narco-terrorism.......................................................................................................................................92 Terrorism Financing................................................................................................................................95 Terrorism Tradecraft .............................................................................................................................111 Terrorist Use of Technology..................................................................................................................118 Recruitment & Radicalization................................................................................................................125 CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE/KEY RESOURCES.............................................................134 Agriculture and Food Sector .................................................................................................................137 Banking/Finance ...................................................................................................................................141 Chemical/HAZMAT ...............................................................................................................................146 Commercial Facilities............................................................................................................................149 Critical Manufacturing ...........................................................................................................................154 Emergency Services.............................................................................................................................154 Energy ..................................................................................................................................................158 Government Buildings/Defense Industrial Base ...................................................................................166 Information Technology and Communications......................................................................................170 Monuments and Icons ..........................................................................................................................174 Postal/Shipping.....................................................................................................................................178 Public Health and Healthcare ...............................................................................................................180 Transportation System Sectors.............................................................................................................182 Aviation .....................................................................................................................................182 Highways/Bridges .....................................................................................................................184 Ports..........................................................................................................................................188 Rail and Mass Transit ...............................................................................................................190 Water (Drinking and Waste Systems)...................................................................................................194 CONCLUSION .......................................................................................................................197 RECOMMENDATIONS ..........................................................................................................199 LAW ENFORCEMENT SENSITIVE Page 3 2009 VIRGINIA TERRORISM THREAT ASSESSMENT EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The purpose of the 2009 Terrorism Threat Assessment is to convey potential terrorism threats affecting the Commonwealth of Virginia. Terrorism, for the purpose of this report, is defined as politically motivated violence