State and Local News

Arizona Makes It a Crime to Be an Illegal Immigrant (Phoenix Arizona Republic) “Gov. Jan Brewer signed Arizona’s controversial new immigration law” on April 23, reports the Republic. The law “makes it a state crime to be in the country illegally and requires local police to enforce federal immigration laws. It will require anyone whom police suspect of being in the country illegally to produce ‘an alien registration document,’ such as a green card or other proof of citizenship, such as a passport or Arizona driver’s license. It also makes it illegal to impede the flow of traffic by picking up day laborers for work. A day laborer who gets picked up for work, and traffic is impeded in the process, would also be committing a criminal act. The law goes into effect 90 days after the current legislative session ends.” [View article]

Ahmedzay Pleads Guilty in New York Subway Plot (CNN) “New York taxi driver” Zarein Ahmedzay “pleaded guilty [April 23] to involvement in a plot to blow up crowded subway trains,” reports CNN (see the Feb. 26 newsletter). “… Prosecutors said Ahmedzay and another man, Adis Medunjanin, conspired with Najibullah Zazi on the attack in mid-September 2009, which authorities thwarted. Zazi pleaded guilty and has been cooperating with authorities … Medunjanin has pleaded not guilty.” [View article]

British al-Qaeda Commander Planned the New York Subway Attack (London Telegraph) “Rashid Rauf, who also planned the transatlantic airlines plot” (see the Aug. 11, 2006, newsletter) planned the “coordinated attack on the New York subway system,” reports the Telegraph. Rauf “has been connected to almost every significant terrorist plot in Britain,” including the July 7, 2005, attacks on the London Underground rapid transit, “the failed attacks of July 21,” 2005 (also on the Underground), and “an alleged plan to attack shopping centres in Manchester last” year. “Intelligence agencies believe he died in” 2008. [View article]

Massachusetts State Police Reduce Presence at Boston’s Logan Airport (Boston Herald) “Penny-pinching Logan International Airport officials have slashed security at the infamous 9/11 launching pad—cutting anti-terror screening, eliminating crucial state trooper patrols and reducing random checkpoints, according to an internal state police memo,” reports the Herald. [View article]

Marines and Fire Department Hold Chemical Attack Drill in New York City (Global Security Newswire) “The New York Fire Department and the U.S. Marine Corps last week conducted response exercises for a chemical attack and other simulated acts of terrorism in the city,” reports Global Security Newswire. “… Firefighters and members of the Marines’ Chemical Biological Incident Response Force unit on Thursday dealt with the mock release of a dangerous chemical in the subway system, a bus explosion, a collapsing building and detonations of two improvised explosive devices.” [View article]

International News

Switzerland Blocks Attack on IBM Facility (London Daily Mail) “A routine traffic-stop in Switzerland has allegedly thwarted eco-terrorists from blowing up the site of the £55million nano-technology HQ of IBM in Europe,” reports the Daily Mail. “The three members—two men and a woman—of the Italian terrorist group Il Silvestre were stopped just a few miles from their target with their explosive device primed and ready to go. Italians [Constantino] Ragusa and Silvia Guerini, together with Italian-Swiss Luca Bernasconi, were arrested and jailed after a search of their vehicle revealed the bomb. Guerini and Constantino—the 33-year-old leader of Il Silvestre—already have convictions for eco-terrorism offences and have served jail terms. The group describes itself as anarchist.” [View article]

Man Stabs 28 Chinese Children (New York Times) “An unemployed man [Xu Yuyuan] entered a kindergarten in eastern China’s Jiangsu Province on Thursday morning and stabbed 28 kindergarten students and three adults, critically wounding at least five children,” reports the Times. “… It was the second mass stabbing of young students in two days, and the third in less than a month.… On March 23, Zheng Minsheng, 42, stabbed eight primary school students to death in Fujian Province.” Zheng “was executed on Wednesday … [he had said he] wanted revenge on ‘rich’ and ‘powerful officials.’” [View article]

Iranian Insiders Leak Nuclear Secrets (Washington Post) “Iran’s political turmoil has prompted a growing number of the country’s officials to defect or leak information to the West, creating a new flow of intelligence about its secretive nuclear program,” reports the Post. “… The gains have complicated work on a long-awaited assessment of Iran’s nuclear activities, a report that will represent the combined judgment of more than a dozen U.S. spy agencies. The National Intelligence Estimate was due last fall but has been delayed at least twice amid efforts to incorporate information from sources who are still being vetted.… Some of the most significant new material has come from informants, including scientists and others with access to Iran’s military programs, who are motivated by antipathy toward the government and its suppression of the opposition movement after a disputed presidential election in June.” [View article] [View Focus on Iran’s Nuclear Program]

The frigate McInerney, to be sold to Pakistan—U.S. Navy photo by Leah Stiles

U.S. and Canada Freely Share Old Data on Travelers (USA Today) “Thousands of times each day, Canadian authorities tap into sensitive U.S. government databases to check the criminal histories of U.S. citizens who are crossing the border or have been entangled in the Canadian criminal justice system,” reports USA Today. “… Even more Canadian citizens receive similar scrutiny by U.S. officials with access to Canadian records … The U.S. shares its criminal databases more freely with Canada than any other country.” But “about half of the arrest records in the system have not been updated to reflect convictions, dismissals or acquittals.” [View article]

Four Saharan Countries Set Up Counterterrorism Base (Fox News) Four African countries—Algeria, Mauritania, Mali, and Niger—“opened a joint military headquarters Wednesday in an unusual, united effort to combat al-Qaida–linked terrorism and trafficking in northwest Africa,” reports the Associated Press. “The new command and control center is in the Algerian city of Tamanrasset … deep in the desert.” [View article]

Morocco Breaks Up Cell Linked to al-Qaeda (Reuters) “Morocco’s government said on Monday it broke up a cell linked to al Qaeda that was planning assassinations and acts of sabotage,” reports Reuters. “… The group, which had 24 members, also recruited Moroccan citizens to send them to conflict areas including Afghanistan, Iraq and Somalia … Four members had previously served jail terms for terrorism offences.” [View article]

Egypt Convicts 26 Men of Hezbollah Links (Reuters) “Egypt on Wednesday convicted 26 men it linked to Lebanon’s Hezbollah of planning attacks inside the country,” reports Reuters. “… Judge Adel Abdel Salam Gomaa of Egypt’s emergency state security court said investigations had proved the group intended ‘to strike Egypt’s economy, destroy the bonds between its people and create chaos and instability throughout the country.’ The court sentenced the men—who included Lebanese, Palestinians, Egyptians and one Sudanese—to jail terms from six months to life. Some were convicted in absentia.” [View article]

U.S. and Australia Agree to Coordinate Emergency Management The United States and Australia on Wednesday signed a memorandum of understanding to strengthen emergency management cooperation in response to major storms and other disasters of all kinds. The two countries will share information and lessons learned, exchange public awareness mechanisms on preparedness, coordinate professional development activities for emergency managers, build partnerships between the countries’ emergency management agencies, and streamline arrangements for personnel exchange. [View DHS press release]

Private-Sector News

British Man Made Thousands Selling Terror Guidebook (Portsmouth, England, News) “Terrance Brown produced a CD entitled The Anarchist Cookbook” and “sold copies around the world, making tens of thousands of pounds,” reports the News. He “gathered information from the Al Qaeda Training Manual and the Mujahideen Poisons Handbook … The CDs, which he sold for 35 dollars for a set of two, provided information on how to make home-made bombs and improvised explosive devices … He pleaded guilty to seven charges, all under the Terrorism Act.” [View article]

DHS News

Inspector General IDs TSA Checkpoint Weak Spots (Homeland Security Today) The Homeland Security Department’s Inspector General has identified “vulnerabilities in passenger screening technologies and practices at airport checkpoints and made a number of recommendations to the Transportation Security Administration,” reports Homeland Security Today. “The exact nature of the eight specific recommendations remained classified but” an unclassified summary available to the public “revealed that the [Inspector General] Office examined advanced imaging technology, advanced technology x-ray equipment and liquid container screening used to examine air passengers and carry-on luggage” and “evaluated the performance of transportation screening officers in their checks of passenger travel documents.” [View article] [View public summary (200KB PDF)]

FEMA Mismanaged a $40 Million IT System, Says Inspector General (Federal Computer Week) “The Federal Emergency Management Agency poorly managed a $40 million information technology program that has delivered an unproven system,” according to Federal Computer Week, citing a new report by Homeland Security Department Inspector General Richard Skinner. The report “outlined a series of problems with the FEMA Mitigation Directorate’s management of the National Flood Insurance Program’s information technology system known as NextGen.” [View article] [View report (1.5MB PDF)]

FEMA Starts Smartphone Website The Federal Emergency Management Agency has established a new mobile website, m.fema.gov, which makes it easier to use a smartphone to access critical information about emergency preparedness and what to do before and after a disaster. The site answers questions such as “What should I do in a disaster?” “Where can I find assistance?” and “How can I help others?” [View FEMA press release]

Other Federal News

Gaps Remain in Federal Plans for Decontamination After a Large-Scale Bioterrorism Attack (Biosecurity and Bioterrorism) “The threat of a large-scale biological attack on U.S. soil warrants adequate federal investments … in consequence management programs, including decontamination,” write Crystal Franco and Nidhi Bouri in Biosecurity and Bioterrorism. “While the federal government has addressed the issue of decontamination, several major gaps in scientific knowledge, policy, and practice remain. These include biological decontamination challenges in leadership, research coordination, and funding, as well as major scientific and technical challenges.” [View article]

Dual-Benefit Solutions

Dual-benefit news archive

Durham, NC, Uses 3-D to Guide Emergency Response (Emergency Management) The Durham Emergency Communications Center has “started using 3-D technology to observe the locations of residents in trouble,” reports Emergency Management. This month, the center “launched advanced tools that show the exact origins of 911 calls in a 3-D, aerial image. Communications officers can view any property, building, highway or other structure in Durham County from 12 different angles, and obtain measurements and elevation from the imagery. This technology is critical when it comes to [geographic information system] mapping, transportation and community planning. And in the case of Durham, its usefulness includes missions for first responders, who can better assess the scene of an incident.” [View article]

New Upcoming Events (Events are listed for four weeks; after that, they are still on the Upcoming Events page) (May 3-4; Gujarat, India) This conference is designed to strengthen industrial emergency management by bringing major stakeholders—“technology solutions, experts, practitioners, service,” offices of emergency management, and product suppliers—together at one place. It will cover continuity of industrial operations, address management of mitigational measures for complex emerging 21st-century industrial threats and hazards, and offer an opportunity to understand the intricacies of a unified and coordinated national approach to industrial incident management. [View event website] Louisiana Homeland Security & Emergency Preparedness Workshop (May 3-6; Lake Charles, LA) This event, sponsored by the Louisiana Emergency Preparedness Association and the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness, will focus on emergency management and hazmat training. [View event website (263KB PDF)] (May 5-7; Rockford, IL) The conference will address important changes in emergency management case studies, hazmat response, tactical interoperability communication plans, behavior-based safety, lessons learned in H1N1, forensic investigations and scene preservation, grant-writing basics, and facility emergency planning and response. It will culminate in a tabletop drill based on the 2007 I-39 tanker rollover and offer “Hazwoper” refresher training. [View event brochure (1.9MB PDF)] National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (May 11-13; Lake Buena Vista, FL) The conference brings together 49 national members, 55 state and territory organizations, several hundred local organizations, emergency management partners and representatives from around the country, and private-sector partners. [View event website] 2010 Homeland Security Symposium (May 13; Washington, DC) This symposium is co-hosted by the Federal Facilities Council of the National Academies and the Institute for Infrastructure and Information Assurance at James Madison University. This year’s theme is “Safe, Secure, and Sustainable Facilities.” Speakers from government, academia, and the private sector will identify areas of synergy, potential conflicts, and trade-offs among security and sustainability approaches. Through case studies they will highlight ways to achieve balanced design solutions that will minimize environmental impacts and ensure the health, safety, security, and comfort of building occupants. [View event website] Florida Governor’s Hurricane Conference (May 23-28; Ft. Lauderdale, FL) This year’s theme is “Resiliency Through Preparedness—Protecting Our Population.” It will feature training sessions in communication & public information, emergency management, emergency services, health & human services, logistics & resource support, policy & planning, and recovery & mitigation, along with exhibits. [View event website] Understanding Risk Forum (June 1-6; Washington, DC) The Understanding Risk Forum will include the Understanding Risk Conference, the Global Earthquake Model Annual Outreach Meeting, D.C. Crisis Camp, and the Random Hacks of Kindness Hackathon. The discussion threads generated in the online Understanding Risk forum will determine the content of live sessions at the Understanding Risk Conference. [View event website] Airport Employee Credentialing and Access Control Conference (June 7-8; Portland, OR) The conference will provide an opportunity for key players from government and the aviation industry to dialogue face to face, with interactive and informational sessions focused on the key issues related to biometric-based credentialing and access control systems. [View event website] (June 14-17; Washington, DC) This conference comprises three consecutive parts: the Developments in Biodefense Technology Platforms Symposium, the Animal Model Forum, and the Biodefense Vaccines & Therapeutics Conference. [View event website] (June 17-18; Arlington, VA) This conference will explore the latest research and development and commercialization efforts in the cutting-edge fields of biodefense technologies, including threat detection and identification, technological challenges, the role of nanotechnology and biochips, and bioinformatics. [View event website] Rebuilding Sustainable Communities with the Elderly and Disabled People After Disasters (July 12-15; Boston) This conference, hosted by the McCormack Graduate School of Policy Studies at the University of Massachusetts–Boston, will seek to contribute to, and recommend, future policy formulation and implementation processes by local, regional, and national governments as well as multilateral agencies and grassroots organizations with a focus on the long-term, sustainable community recovery and rebuilding needs of the elderly and disabled. [View event website] (July 27-28; Singapore) This conference will bring together regional and international seaport security personnel from port authorities, operators, and government law enforcement agencies, along with top industry executives for dedicated port security discourse. It will offer access and knowledge on the developments and technologies used for seaport security and insights on the ongoing projects and plans for port security programs in Asia. [View event website] Radiological Emergency Planning: Terrorism, Security, and Communication (August 16-20; Boston) This conference will examine the latest requirements for responding to a radiological emergency and respond to changes under way from both government and industry, as emergency planners and emergency response team members face a host of new challenges in an era of unprecedented public scrutiny. [View event website] (August 24-28; Chicago) Fire-Rescue International offers executive education and brings together chief officers from across the United States and around the world to exchange ideas, learn from experts, and see the latest equipment, products, and services for emergency responders. At this year’s conference it will launch the Battalion Chief program. [View event website] Terrorism and New Media: Building a Research Network (September 8-9; Dublin, Ireland) This conference will bring together academics from a broad range of disciplines with policy makers and security practitioners who have knowledge and/or expertise that can facilitate advances in the study of terrorism and new media, particularly the Internet, in novel ways. [View event website] Asia-Oceania Resilience Conference (October 5-6; Singapore) This conference will bring together, for the first time in Asia, security, emergency management, crisis management, business continuity management, risk management, disaster recovery, and disaster relief professionals from 29 countries eager to learn about products and services that support all aspects of corporate and community resilience. [View event website] (November 30–December 2; Perth, Australia) The Security Congress comprises five conferences: Australian Counter Terrorism Conference This conference aims to stimulate discussion and share information and research about the emerging field of terrorism studies, including counterterrorism and human security. The conference will appeal to security practitioners, government policy makers, academics, and students of terrorism. The theme is emerging issues in terrorism, counterterrorism, and human security. [View conference website] Australian Digital Forensics Conference This conference aims to foster the exchange of information and increase knowledge among the digital forensics community. Academia, law enforcement, and industry representatives are invited to participate and help achieve these aims. [View conference website] Australian Information Warfare Conference This conference aims to inform participants about research and practice in historical and contemporary applications of information warfare, which is becoming an increasingly diverse discipline that exists within a constantly changing social environment. [View conference website] Australian Security and Intelligence Conference This multidisciplinary conference will be directed toward the research and practice of security science, focusing on the core areas of intelligence, security risk management, security management, the built environment, security theories, and principles. [View conference website] Australian Information Security Management Conference This conference aims to encourage the dissemination of current research to all those with a stake in the security of information, including security practitioners, academics, law enforcement, and management, who are all cordially invited to participate. [View conference website]

Calls for Papers (Calls for papers are listed for four weeks; after that, they are still on the Calls for Papers page) Terrorism and New Media: Building a Research Network (September 8-9; Dublin, Ireland) The conference welcomes papers or panels reporting on innovative research into any aspect of terrorism and new media, particularly reports of novel results or describing and employing innovative methodological approaches. Abstracts are due by May 17. [View event website] (November 30–December 2; Perth, Australia) The Security Congress comprises five conferences: Australian Counter Terrorism Conference The conference is soliciting papers on new technologies, social networking, radicalization, new modes of communication, international terrorism, extremism and security, new threats and responses, international and national trends, organized crime, piracy, terrorism studies, human trafficking, influence operations, counterterrorism, and other topics. The submission deadline is September 1. [View call for papers] Australian Digital Forensics Conference The conference is soliciting papers on computer forensics, network forensics, small device forensics, forensics education and training, anti-forensics techniques and methods, legal issues, privacy issues, digital rights management, and other topics. The submission deadline is September 1. [View call for papers] Australian Information Warfare Conference The conference is soliciting papers on information operations theory and practice, psychological operations, critical infrastructure protection and vulnerability, application of information warfare in contemporary and nonmilitary environments, case studies in application of information warfare, and other topics. The submission deadline is September 1. [View call for papers] Australian Security and Intelligence Conference This conference is soliciting papers on organizational security, security risk management, physical resilience, social resilience, intelligence and counterintelligence, surveillance, physical security, security science education, security equipment evaluation, smart grid security, security decay, closed-circuit TV, systems control and data acquisition security, and other topics. The submission deadline is September 1. [View call for papers] Australian Information Security Management Conference This conference is soliciting papers on information security management, data security, application security, security policy, authentication and authorization, privacy, software protection, mobile security, network security, risk assessment, secure development, Internet security, and other topics. The submission deadline is September 1. [View call for papers] ASIS Intl. Middle East Security Conference (February 20-22, 2011; Manama, Bahrain) The conference will cover the entire spectrum of security topics from hotel security, loss prevention, and maritime piracy to terrorism, executive protection, intellectual property rights, and more. The submission deadline is June 11. [View call for papers] (April 3-6, 2011; Vienna, Austria) This ASIS Intl. conference addresses a full spectrum of topics in security management: supply chain security, loss prevention, hotel security, intellectual property, maritime piracy, terrorism, executive protection, internal theft and fraud, competitive intelligence, brand protection, physical security, cyber-security, investigations, due diligence, and global business issues. The submission deadline is October 15. [View call for papers]