| In April, 2004, Seungmin Lee, a candidate for the Degree of Master of Hospitality Management did a research paper entitled: "Protecting Hotels from Terrorism." (Editor- she received the Master Degree with Honors.) Although it is 7 years since the 9/11 attack, we cannot afford to become complacent. Have you recently reviewed and up-dated your anti-terrorism program?
Terrorism events have increased interest in the vulnerability of U. S. workplaces, schools, and other occupied buildings to terrorist threat. Protection of guests, staff, and hotel property from terrorist attack faces a new meaning after the event of September 11, 2001. Many hotel properties are in the middle of a potential and primary target of a terrorist attack because hotels, especially those having worldwide reputation or symbolic significance, are involved with many special events, and they are the place where U.S. and foreign VIPs are staying. (Since 2004, there have been incidents involving properties of major United States lodging corporations in both the Middle and Far East.)
Since the likelihood of a specific hotel or building being targeted for terrorist activity is generally difficult to predict, there is no specific formula that will determine a certain building's risk level. Also, since hotels are public buildings where large number of persons gather, and because of the constant flow of traffic caused by guests and the general public, it is hard to monitor the flow of people in and out of a hotel. Publicly accessible buildings, such as hotels or convention centers, can be the most vulnerable target for a terrorist agent. In other words, although larger and fully staffed hotels may have an entrance staffed 24 hours per day, the ever-changing population of guests and individuals utilizing other services (meetings, receptions, bar-lounges, restaurants, etc.) present a major challenge in securing a property against a terrorist.
General Definitions of Terrorism: Terrorism is defined in the Code of Federal Regulations as "the unlawful use of force and violence against persons or property to intimidate or coerce a government, the civilian population, or any segment thereof, in furtherance of political or social objectives (www.fema.gov/hazards/terrorism). According to a FEMA Fact Sheet, terrorists look for visible targets where they can avoid detection before or after an attack such as international airports, large cities, major international events, resorts and high-profile landmarks.
Types of Terrorism: Paul Pillar, a former deputy chief of the CIS's Counterterrorist Center, suggests four key elements of terrorism.
1. It is premeditated - planned in advance, rather than an impulsive act of rage;
2. It is political - not criminal, but designed to change the existing political order;
3. It is aimed at civilians - not at military targets or combat-ready troops, (Afghanistan and Iraq, not withstanding); and
4. It is carried out by sub-national groups - not by the army of a country.
The categories of terrorism generally divide into six different types: nationalist, religious, state-sponsored, left-wing, right-wing, and anarchist. Nationalist-type terrorists look for forming a separate state for their national group and often fight for "national liberation." Examples of this group include the Irish Republican Army and Palestine Liberation Organization. Religious terrorists seek to use violence to follow the purposes divinely commanded and they are religiously motivated. The examples of this group include Osama bin Laden's al-Qaeda network, the Palestinian Sunni Muslim organization Hamas, and the radical Jewish groups affiliated with the late Rabbi Meir Kahane. Also, state-sponsored terrorism is used by radical states as foreign policy tools such as taking a person as a hostage. (www.terrorismanswers.com/terrorism/types.html).
Bioterrorism: Biological agents are of concern because of the ease with which many types can be manufactured, transported, and dispensed. They include infectious microbes and toxins used to produce illness or death in people, animals or plants. They can be dispersed as aerosols or airborne particles and terrorists use biological agents to contaminate food or water because they are extremely difficult to detect. They can show immediate effect or a delayed effect and because of the time gap between a biological attack and the appearance of symptoms, biological weapons' effect can be devastating. Although Health and Human Services claim the government is much better prepared than the American public thinks, the integration of public health agencies and private health care providers at all levels is critical to identify the symptoms of a bio-terror attack and to coordinate stockpiles of antibiotics due to the seriousness of bio-terror agents. Also, to prevent public from bio-terror agents, vaccinations are a critical issue. For example, vaccination against smallpox is significant because it is considered a highly contagious disease and a most serious bio-terrorism threat.
Chemical agents are poisonous gases, liquids or solids that have toxic effects on people, animals or plants and most of them cause serious injuries or death. Duration of exposure to chemical agents can be fatal because severity of injuries depends upon the type of chemical agent used.
Cyber-terrorism: This involves computers, networks, and the information they contain. According to the FBI definition, it is terrorism with force or violence against persons or property to intimidate or coerce a government, the civilian population, or any segment thereof, in furtherance of political or social objectives (www.s.etsutn.edu/gotterbarn/stdntppr). From this definition, cyber-terrorism can be defined as the use of competing resources to terrorize others or any type of terrorist attacks in cyberspace. A good example of cyber-terrorism can be that someone hacks into a hospital computer system to change a patient's medical prescription to a lethal dosage as revenge. There are some cases from Kosovo, Kashmir, and the Middle East where cyber-terrorism involved changing website or blocking internet servers.
However, cyber-terrorism can be disastrous because in these days most systems maintaining property, data, and security are linked with computer systems to control these automatically. This is the reason for computer systems being a target for a terrorist attack. Furthermore, many organizations store their files, which are made from surveillance, in the computer since it is easy to control, find and copy. However, it is also easy to erase files or destroy files in the computer, and while computer forensics can re-establish such files, this is time-consuming and could be too late in some instances. For example, where HVAC systems are linked or controlled by computer systems, a terrorist hacking the computer system could introduce chemical agencies through the ventilation systems. Also the perpetrator might try to block emergency communications or cut off electricity or water in the wake of a conventional bombing or biological, chemical or radiation attack (CBR).
Develop strategies:
Prevent access to outdoor air intakes: Protect outdoor intakes for building ventilation against terrorist attack. If unprotected, agencies can be introduced into the intake with disastrous results. Relocate outdoor intake vents to unreachable and inaccessible locations.
When outdoor intakes are publicly accessible and relocation or physical extension is not an option, physical security barriers can provide a solution. For example, iron fencing or similar see-through barriers that will not obscure visual detection of suspicious activity in the area of the intake is desirable. Further protection may be provided through CCTV, security lighting, intrusion detection sensors, guards, and/or alarms
Prevent public access to mechanical areas and building roofs: Since mechanical areas provide access to centralized mechanical systems (HVAC, elevator, water, etc.), these areas need to be controlled from public access by applying keyed locks, keycards or other similar security measures to prevent a terrorist intrusion. (A reminder: OSHA mandates all mechanical rooms, electrical rooms, electrical panels, trash or laundry chutes be locked against public access.) Access to a building's roof can allow a terrorist to access air intakes and HVAC equipment located on the roof. Like the main entrance, roofs are also an alternative entry from the aspect of physical security. So, roofs with HVAC systems must be put "under lock and key."
Also, if the mechanical systems are maintained by outside maintenance, a member of building staff should escort these individuals throughout their service visit and should inspect their work before final acceptance and payment for service. In addition, to prevent buildings from terrorist attacks, lobbies, mailrooms, loading docks and storage areas should be independently secured from the rest of the building.
Evaluate HVAC Systems and HVAC Control options: HVAC systems and their components should be evaluated as to the level of vulnerability to the introduction of CBR attacks by HVAC terrorist experts, especially when the facility is open to the public and during evening access when less traffic permits closer monitoring. Since some bio-orgasms are as small as a micron level, if it is introduced to a commercial HVAC system, the building is highly vulnerable. For this reason, HVAC systems having energy management and control systems that regulate airflow and pressures within a building must install an emergency response capability. In other words, sensors to recognize the introduction of foreign materials should block the airflow and move to an evacuation or outflow of air from the building through reverse air flow or pressurization techniques. However, in the event of an incident of CBR attack, no action should be taken regarding fan operation unless the effects of the consequential airflow patterns are thoroughly understood.
Upgrade Filtration Efficiency: As noted above, with the potential of a bio-organism as small as a micron level, upgrading filtration efficiency needs to be considered as one of the measures to reduce the consequences of a terrorist HVAC attack. Also, upgrading filtration efficiency benefits the indoor environmental air quality of the building. However, it is important to realize that the air filters used for biological and radiological particles are not suitable or effective for gases or vapors, typical of chemical attacks. To mitigate such attacks, absorbent filters need to be installed but these filters require substantial costs.
Low-leakage, fast-acting dampers: If an HVAC system is shut down, since the building pressure compared to outdoor is negative, the outside air with CBR agents can flow in via many leakage pathways, including the HVAC system. For this reason, installing low leakage dampers to minimize the air backflow needs to be considered.
Training for Staff and Occupants: Maintenance of HVAC systems and training of staff are critical for controlling exposure to and minimize damage from airborne contaminants, such as CBR agents. Most buildings have their own current emergency plans to address fire, weather, and other emergencies and these emergency plans should be upgraded to consider CBR attack scenarios such as proper selection of personal protective equipment and the identification of suitable evacuation procedures. Properly designed plans, policies and procedures can minimize damage or major impact in the event of a CBR release. Staff training, particularly for those who have responsibilities during an emergency, including a CBR event, are essential and there should be regularly scheduled practice drills for all staff and protocol for assisting in the evacuation of occupants.
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SOME STRATEGIES FOR PROTECTING YOUR PROPERTY FROM TERRORISM