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General Security and Resilience

The George Washington University Launches ISIS Files Digital Repository

Yesterday, the George Washington University’s (GW’s) Program on Extremism launched its “ISIS Files” repository. The virtual public repository features a selection of the 15,000 digitized pages from the documents collected in Iraq by New York Times journalist Rukmini Callimachi and a team of Iraqi translators. GW’s Program on Extremism formed a partnership with the New York Times in 2018 to make these documents available to the public. The first collections released by GW focus on ISIS ideology and real estate and taxation.

UN Warns COVID-19 Provides Opportunities for Terrorists

Speaking at the launch of the United Nation’s (UN’s) 2020 Virtual Counter-Terrorism Week yesterday, Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned that the COVID-19 pandemic provides new opportunities for the Islamic State extremist group, al Qa’ida and its affiliates as well as neo-Nazis, white supremacists and hate groups. Guterres said it’s too early to fully assess the implications of the pandemic on terrorism, but all these groups seek to exploit divisions, local conflicts, failures in governing, and other grievances to advance their aims.

Dr. Fauci Says U.S. Needs to “Keep Our Eye on” Emerging Swine Flu Strain, which Researchers Report Has Pandemic Potential

A multi-year study of flu viruses in pigs in China identified an influenza strain with the potential for pandemic spread in humans, researchers from China reported earlier this week. Their findings about the new strain, called “G4,” were published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS). According to their report, G4 carries lineage from European and Asian bird flu, the 2009 H1N1 pandemic strain, and North American H1N1 that includes genes from swine, avian, and human flu viruses.

COVID-19’s Potential Implications for the International Security Environment

A report from the Congressional Research Service (CRS) provides a brief overview of potential implications of the COVID-19 pandemic on the international security environment. Some of the issues identified in the report include the U.S.’s relationships with international peers and rivals, the U.S.’s stance toward and budgeting for national security, and the reaction of non-state actors, such as international terrorist and criminal organizations.

UK Guides for Understanding and Preparing for “Marauding Terrorist Attacks”

The United Kingdom’s Centre for the Protection of National Infrastructure (CPNI) has published series of guides to help organizations assess the risks of “marauding terrorist attacks” to their facilities and personnel and implement a range of protective security measures. The CPNI defines marauding terrorist attacks, or “MTAs,” as fast-moving, violent incidents where assailants move through a location aiming to find and kill or injure as many people as possible.

Pros and Cons of Thermal Imaging Technology

As organizations are bringing more employees back into office and meeting settings, many are utilizing new technologies to screen people as they arrive, whether they are their workers or visitors. Among these technologies are thermal imaging devices that can be used to detect fevers. And while much of the attention has been on handheld devices, there are also thermal cameras that can be mounted at building entrances. The pros of such devices include that they’re able to take the temperature of dozens of people at once and that the scan the whole body or head.

Western States Contending with the Confluence of an Active Wildfire Season and COVID-19

Significant portions of the western U.S. are currently at above normal risk for wildfires, according to the lastest outlook from the National Interagency Fire Center. Already last week, wildfires prompted evacuations in Arizona and California. According to the same outlook, heightened levels of risk will continue, expand, and adjust to new areas of the West over the next few months.

As COVID-19 Restrictions Are Lifted, Counterterrorism Officials Remind Public of Materials to Help with Prevention and Response

As stay-at-home and other COVID-19 restrictions are being lifted and busy centers of activity return, the UK’s National Counter Terrorism Security Office is reminding the public that the threat of terrorism has not gone away and of the availability of a free eLearning counterterrorism training course.

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