Intelligence. Unclassified.

The whole community—our residents, visitors, business owners, places of worship, schools, and community leaders—all play a vital role in keeping our communities safe and secure. Preparedness is a shared responsibility; it calls for the involvement of everyone—not just the government. NJOHSP developed the Hometown Security Initiative as a pathway to engage our local communities to enhance their level of preparedness, building a more secure and resilient New Jersey. Piloted in June of 2016, the Hometown Security Initiative allows federal, state, and local agencies to connect directly with the local community, its small businesses, faith-based organizations, and educational institutions. Since the program’s inception, we have held 10 Hometown Security seminars, attended by more than 500 residents. In today’s podcast, we discuss New Jersey’s Hometown Security Initiative with our key partners at the Department of Homeland Security and the New Jersey State Police. We will share how this effort fosters a culture of preparedness and lays the foundation to build capabilities in our communities across New Jersey.

During the holiday season, it is important to maintain awareness of the many threats posed by cyber criminals while shopping online and in stores. The National Retail Federation estimates that Americans will exceed last year’s holiday spending to total between $717-720 billion between November and December. As the popularity of online shopping continues to increase, so does the number of potential unsuspecting victims for cyber criminals to exploit. Scammers may target victims through a variety of methods, including via phone calls, text messages, emails, compromised websites, or unsecured Wi-Fi networks. This week, one of our cyber threat analysts at the New Jersey Cybersecurity and Communications Integration Cell (NJCCIC) discusses proactive steps to reduce your risk and make it harder for cyber criminals to succeed this holiday season.

Historically, white supremacist extremists have leveraged alternative social media platforms to promulgate their ideologies, interact with like-minded individuals online, and attempt to radicalize others. On October 27, Robert Bowers, a suspected white supremacist extremist who espoused anti-Semitic comments online, shot and killed 11 people and injured six at a synagogue in Pittsburgh. Prior to the attack, Bowers posted on Gab, a social media website that claims it is a free-speech alternative to Facebook and Twitter, that the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society “likes to bring invaders in that kill our people.” Additionally, Bowers shared other anti-Semitic and xenophobic content online, including a picture with the numbers “1488,” a numeric combination popular with white supremacists. Join us as our analysts delve into how white supremacist extremists have used online platforms and how they leverage social media for various causes.

While there are no known or credible threats to New Jersey, the holiday season is marked with numerous festivals, outdoor gatherings, and large-scale events that offer attractive targets for terrorist organizations and extremists. Join us as our analysts discuss current terrorist tactics and trends, as well as threats to critical infrastructure associated with this time of year.

Women have often played significant, yet often overlooked, roles in terrorism throughout the modern age of political violence. As such, both ISIS and al-Qa’ida continue to produce and disseminate propaganda targeting women in spite of the groups’ respective losses. There is a push to appeal to Arabic-speaking women in order to stay relevant and further their operations. Tune in as our analysts discuss the recent arrests of female sympathizers in the United States. They also explore how female homegrown violent extremists and these terrorist groups continue encouraging supporters to conduct attacks on the groups’ behalf, provide guidance on behavior, fundraise for overseas operations, and issue threatening rhetoric online.

Millions of tourists visited the Jersey Shore this summer as numerous large-scale events took place along our shoreline. With the right information and resources, New Jersey’s coastal towns ensured they had the ability to combat potential terror threats and kept beachgoers safe as they had fun in the sun. Join Aaron Sykes, the Cape May County Counterterrorism Coordinator (CTC), and David Kanig, NJOHSP’s CTC Coordinator, as they discuss the success of the State’s Secure the Shore and Hometown Security initiatives, and how law enforcement, first responders, and other public and private partners deployed a coordinated and comprehensive strategy to inform and prepare our shore communities this past summer and into the fall and winter seasons.

Created in 2012, the Interfaith Advisory Council (IAC) provides a venue for government officials and members of law enforcement to maintain an open dialogue with hundreds of Christian, Muslim, Sikh, and Jewish faith-based leaders throughout New Jersey. Open communication at these quarterly meetings has strengthened the goodwill between law enforcement and faith-based groups that is crucial toward keeping religious communities safe and secure in one of the most diverse states in the nation. Join NJOHSP Director Jared Maples and Chief of Staff Patrick Rigby as they discuss the importance of the IAC, provide examples of what occurs at meetings, and highlight the many valuable resources available to New Jersey’s faith-based communities.

Last year, there were 45 domestic terrorist attacks, disrupted plots, threats of violence, and instances of weapons stockpiling. NJOHSP defines domestic terrorism as violence committed by individuals or groups—including race-based, single-issue, anti-government, and religious extremist ideologies—associated primarily with US-based movements. Tune in to our discussion on the threat presented by domestic terrorists, NJOHSP’s process for tracking their activity in 2017, and some high-profile cases in New Jersey.

Last year, a total of 34 homegrown violent extremists (HVEs) conducted acts of terrorism across the United States. Overall, there were 13 attacks and plots nationwide—two involving New Jersey residents—and 22 individuals were charged with material support or other related offenses nationwide. Tune in to our discussion on the HVE threat, including a look at their continued ability to operate in New Jersey and throughout the United States while connecting with like-minded individuals online and acting independently from organized terrorist groups. Learn what resources are available as our communities try to detect and deter this threat.

As millions of tourists prepare to head down to the Jersey Shore this summer, it is important to remember that our waterfront communities host hundreds of large-scale events every summer, attracting millions of visitors. With the right information and resources, New Jersey’s coastal towns can ensure they have the ability to combat potential terror threats and keep beachgoers safe as they have fun in the sun. Join Guy McCormick, the Monmouth County Counterterrorism Coordinator (CTC), Joe McFadden, the Atlantic County Critical Infrastructure Coordinator (CIC), and Detective Paul Kwiecinski, NJOHSP, as they discuss the State’s Secure the Shore Initiative. Through this initiative, NJOHSP and its law enforcement partners deploy a coordinated and comprehensive strategy to inform and prepare shore communities for potential threats.

From Las Vegas to Parkland, Florida, the frequency of active shooter events across the United States has increased over the past few years. The various individuals, locations, and motives that make up these incidents highlight how they can take place anywhere and at any time. Understanding the best ways to respond to active shooter situations can help save lives. Join Ed Moore, NJOHSP’s Active Shooter Trainer, and Ben Castillo, Director of the NJ Department of Education’s Office of School Preparedness and Emergency Planning, as they discuss the efforts being taken in New Jersey to prepare for such events, options available to those involved in active shooter situations, and available resources and trainings provided by the State and other agencies.

From Las Vegas to Parkland, Florida, the frequency of active shooter events across the United States has increased over the past few years. The various individuals, locations, and motives that make up these incidents highlight how they can take place anywhere and at any time. Understanding the best ways to respond to active shooter situations can help save lives. Join Ed Moore, NJOHSP’s Active Shooter Trainer, and Ben Castillo, Director of the NJ Department of Education’s Office of School Preparedness and Emergency Planning, as they discuss the efforts being taken in New Jersey to prepare for such events, options available to those involved in active shooter situations, and available resources and trainings provided by the State and other agencies.

According to our 2018 NJ Terrorism Threat Assessment and our partners at the New Jersey Cybersecurity and Communications Integration Cell (NJCCIC), terrorists will increasingly use encryption, the dark web, and cryptocurrencies for recruitment and to spread propaganda. They will also use those items to encourage lone-wolf attacks, facilitate their operations, and acquire weapons to conduct physical attacks against targets. As such, we have seen social media companies remove extremist content and suspend accounts, forcing extremists to move their Internet activities to less active platforms, limiting their potential influence. Join us as analysts from our office and the NJCCIC provide insight into terrorist groups’ current cyber capabilities and their predictions of what their future cyber operations may look like. Additionally, the analysts discuss the challenges for social media and web hosting companies in policing terrorists’ content on their sites.

According to our 2018 NJ Terrorism Threat Assessment and our partners at the New Jersey Cybersecurity and Communications Integration Cell (NJCCIC), terrorists will increasingly use encryption, the dark web, and cryptocurrencies for recruitment and to spread propaganda. They will also use those items to encourage lone-wolf attacks, facilitate their operations, and acquire weapons to conduct physical attacks against targets. As such, we have seen social media companies remove extremist content and suspend accounts, forcing extremists to move their Internet activities to less active platforms, limiting their potential influence. Join us as analysts from our office and the NJCCIC provide insight into terrorist groups’ current cyber capabilities and their predictions of what their future cyber operations may look like. Additionally, the analysts discuss the challenges for social media and web hosting companies in policing terrorists’ content on their sites.

Throughout the last year, domestic extremist groups—particularly anarchists, militia members, and white supremacists—in New Jersey and neighboring states clashed, traveled across state lines, and were, at times, subject to foreign influence. Join our intelligence analysts as they discuss trends presented in the 2018 NJOHSP Terrorism Threat Assessment, as well as their outlook for the domestic terrorism threat in 2018.