National Threat Assessment Center Conducts Mass Attacks in Public Spaces 2019 Report Walkthrough
In an event on August 6, the U.S. Secret Service (USSS) National Threat Assessment Center (NTAC) outlined mass public attack trends and prevention strategies from their Mass Attacks in Public Spaces-2019 report. The events highlighted changes in mass public attacks from 2018 and advised law enforcement personnel on strategies for responding to and preventing future mass public attacks.
During the webinar event, members of the NTAC team stressed the importance of a “whole community” approach that unites law enforcement, workplaces, schools, and communities in the mission to identify at-risk behavior and prevent it from becoming violent.
The NTAC identified changes in mass public attacks from the previous 2017 and 2018 reports. For example, in 2019 the U.S. saw an increase in mass public attacks with hateful or extremist motives following a decrease from 2017 to 2018. The 2019 report also added blunt objects as a common type of weapon used in attacks.
According to the report and presentation, attackers often had a prior history of criminal charges and domestic violence. The NTAC noted that many of these individuals received mental health support while incarcerated, but fell back into violent activity and fixations following their release. The presenters stressed the importance of adequate mental health services following the release of an incarcerated person to identify a return to violent behavior before escalation occurs.
The report found that roughly 32 percent of the attacks in 2019 were acts of retaliation for perceived wrongs relating to specific issues within an individual’s life, 21 percent of attacks were related to symptoms of mental illness, and another 21 percent of attacks were motivated by extreme or hateful views.
Joining the USSS in the presentation were law enforcement personnel from Las Vegas who responded to the 2017 mass shooting at the Route 91 Harvest music festival.
After playing law enforcement radio audio from during the attack response, the presenters explained how quickly active shooting scenes can become chaotic and provided law enforcement with strategies for assessing risks and coordinating responses in the moment.
In order to address the report’s findings, the USSS offered the following considerations for action:
Establish threat assessment programs;
Enforce existing firearms laws;
Provide crisis intervention, drug treatment, and mental health treatment;
Recognize the risk of crime and violence; and
Encourage reporting of concerning behavior.
The report examined 34 targeted attacks that occurred in public or semi-public spaces from January through December 2019.