DHS Information Bulletin
Title: Potential Terrorist Use of Official Identification,
Uniforms, or Vehicles
Date: July 22, 2003
OVERVIEW:
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Information Bulletins
are informational in nature and are designed to provide updates
on
the training,
tactics, or strategies of terrorists. The following information
is meant to advise the owners and operators of the nation’s
infrastructures about the possible use by terrorists of official
identification, uniforms, or vehicles to gain access to sensitive
facilities for purposes of planning or carrying out attacks. (In
this Information Bulletin, “official” refers to
recognized implements of federal, state, and local governments
and private
sector entities.) While DHS possesses no information indicating
an organized effort by extremist elements in the United States
to illegally obtain official identification, uniforms, or vehicles
in furtherance of terrorist activities, it has identified the
recent theft or disappearance of large numbers of these items.
Attempts
to acquire official identification, uniforms, or vehicles would
be consistent with the tactics and techniques of Al-Qaeda and
other extremist groups, according to a variety of reporting
sources.
DETAILS:
Al-Qaeda and other terrorist groups likely view the theft or other
illegal acquisition of official identification, uniforms, or
vehicles as an effective way to increase access and decrease
scrutiny in furtherance of planning and operations. Although
we possess no information that Al-Qaeda or other terrorist groups
are systematically pursuing the illegal acquisition of the above
referenced items, there is indeed precedence for the use of official
identification, uniforms, or vehicles in the execution of terrorist
attacks. Terrorist groups have utilized police or military uniforms
to mask their identities and achieve closer access to their targets
without arousing suspicion. This was illustrated in the December
2002, suicide bombings that targeted the Chechen Government Headquarters
in Groznyy, Russia. Terrorists in South America, the Philippines
and Pakistan have commandeered or stolen emergency medical services
vehicles and uniforms (or cleverly designed imitations) to facilitate
the execution of their attacks on key facilities.
In an effort to understand the extent of official identification,
uniform, and vehicle thefts, DHS recently conducted a survey of
selected members of the law enforcement community in five states.
This survey revealed that from February to May 2003 hundreds of
official identification cards, badges, decals, uniforms, and government
license plates were reported stolen or lost. Additionally, a number
of private companies have reported receiving suspicious inquiries
about renting official delivery vehicles and emergency services
representatives have received unusual requests for detailed vehicle
descriptions. There is no historical baseline to compare recent
theft or suspicious inquiry data, and the intent or resolution
of many of the thefts cannot be determined.
The worldwide proliferation of individuals or “companies” that
traffic in high-quality imitations of official identification,
uniforms, or vehicles is a related issue that increases the possibility
such items could be used to facilitate future terrorist attacks
and further complicates efforts to prevent their acquisition.
For example, earlier this month the New York City High Intensity
Drug
Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Task Force reported that it had identified
a Japanese website selling near exact replicas of badges from
law enforcement agencies such as the U.S. Secret Service, Federal
Bureau
of Investigation, Drug Enforcement Agency, U.S. Marshals Service,
and Los Angeles Police Department.
Several press reports this year have referred
to the theft and sale over the Internet of a large number of
United Parcel Service
(UPS) uniforms. Although these reports proved to be false, they
did bring to the public’s attention the potential security
concerns of missing or stolen identification, uniforms, or vehicles.
DHS reminds all recipients to remain vigilant to the disappearance
of, or unauthorized inquiries regarding, official identification
cards, badges, decals, uniforms, government license plates, and
vehicles and establish practices that account for missing items.
DHS encourages recipients to report suspicious incidents to the
proper authorities and to remain vigilant for any nexus to terrorism
PROTECTIVE MEASURES:
Recognizing that possession of some combination of official identification
cards, badges, decals, uniforms, government license plates, and
vehicles tends to reduce suspicion and might allow an individual
or vehicle greater access to sensitive facilities, the following
protective measures are suggested:
• Keep comprehensive records of all official
identification cards, badges, decals, uniforms, and license
plates distributed,
documenting any anomalies and canceling access to items that
are lost or stolen.
• Practice accountability of all vehicles to include tracking vehicles
that are in service, in repair status, or sent to salvage.1)
• Safeguard uniforms, patches, badges, ID cards, and other forms
of official identification to protect against unauthorized access
to facilities, to include stripping all decommissioned vehicles
slated for resale and/or salvage of all agency identifying markings
and emergency warning devices. 2)
• Check multiple forms of valid identification for each facility
visitor.
• Verify the legitimate business needs of all approaching vehicles
and personnel.
• Improve identification card technology to eliminate reuse or unauthorized
duplication.
• Alert uniform store vendors of the need to establish and verify
the identities of individuals seeking to purchase uniform articles.
3)
• Ensure all personnel are provided a security briefing regarding
present and emerging threats.
DHS encourages recipients of this Information Bulletin to report
information concerning suspicious or criminal activity to law enforcement
or a DHS watch office. The DHS Information Analysis and Infrastructure
Protection watch offices may be contacted at:
For private
citizens and companies – Phone: (202) 323-3205,
1-888-585-9078
Email: nipc.watch@fbi.gov
Online: http://www.nipc.gov/incident/cirr.htm
For Telecom industry - Phone: (703) 607-4950
Email: ncs@dhs.gov
For Federal agencies/departments - Phone: (888) 282-0870
Email: fedcirc@fedcirc.gov
Online: https://incidentreport.fedcirc.gov
DHS intends to update this Information Bulletin should it receive
additional relevant information, including information provided
to it by the user community. Based on this notification, no change
to the Homeland Security Advisory System level (HSAS) is anticipated;
the current HSAS level is YELLOW.
Footnotes:
1) Maryland
Security Intelligence Bureau/Maryland State Police, “Emergency
Services Equipment and the Terrorist Potential,” June 20,
2003, Volume 8, Number 47, p. 2.
2) Maryland Security Intelligence Bureau/Maryland State Police, “Emergency
Services Equipment and the Terrorist Potential,” June 20, 2003, Volume
8, Number 47, p. 2, 3.
3) Maryland Security Intelligence Bureau/Maryland
State Police, “Emergency
Services Equipment and the Terrorist Potential,” June 20,
2003, Volume 8, Number 47, p. 3.
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