Protecting Mass Gathering Events: A Behavior-Based Approach

Speaker: United States Secret Service

Mass gatherings such as sporting events, festivals, and large public celebrations present unique security challenges that require coordinated, prevention-focused efforts. NTAC research has shown attacks are often the result of a discernible process of thinking and behavior and therefore offers an opportunity to intervene to prevent a harmful outcome. This presentation will examine the backgrounds and pre-attack behaviors exhibited by three attackers who targeted densely populated venues in order to cause indiscriminate harm to as many people as possible. It will focus and compare their planning behaviors, processes used to select targets (locations and victims), and notable changes exhibited prior to the attacks. It will highlight the importance of recognizing these behaviors and recent changes, then taking steps as soon as possible to strategically intervene to prevent an attack from occurring.

Learning Objective:

This session will provide an in-depth review of three mass attackers and the concerning behaviors observable to family members, friends, and others in the community prior to the attack. It will discuss the importance of receiving bystander reports and taking action even when a direct or specific threat has not been made. It will also emphasize the need to identify and promote community resources to offer assistance to individuals who are in struggling or in crisis.