U.S. Offers Counter-Terror Training Programs

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Last September, al Shabaab gunmen attacked a shopping mall in Nairobi, Kenya, killing more than 70 people. In response, the FBI secured operational resources to assist Kenyan authorities.

Not long after, the Bureau – in partnership with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) – formulated plans for a training exercise series to ensure that American law enforcement, other public safety first responders, and private sector entities had coordinated, effective response plans in place in case this type of complex terror attack ever occurs at a U.S. public venue.

These exercises aren’t in response to any current threat but are simply part of the continuing mission to share information and work with public safety and private sector partners to improve overall threat response capabilities.

iHLS – Israel Homeland Security

The first two phases of this training series took place last fall. Tabletop exercises were held with FBI field office personnel; federal, state, and local public safety officials; and private sector partners—including mall managers and owners—to discuss a hypothetical terror attack on a local mall and gain a clearer understanding of each other’s capabilities and responsibilities.

A second exercise was more inwardly focused, concentrating on FBI field office response plans and the effectiveness of their capabilities to communicate vital information to personnel and external partners.