259 Terrorist related incidents

Question 1

What are the threat level of terrorism?

Answer 1

Low- an attack is unlikely.
Moderate- an attack is possible, but not likely.
Substantial- an attack is a strong possibility.
Severe- an attack is highly likely.
Critical- an attack is expected imminently

Question 2

What is NILO

Answer 2

National inter-agency liasion officer (NILO)

Question 3

The NILO is the London Fire Brigade ‘tactical advisor’ for:

Answer 3

• Conventional terrorism.
• CBRN terrorism.
• Firearms related incidents.
• Public disorder.
• Crisis management.

Question 4

What is (MTFA)

Answer 4

Marauding terrorist firearms attack (MTFA)

Marauding means: going about in search of things to steal or people to attack

Question 5

What advice has the MPS firearms

team have provided on how to stay safe during a MTFA incident

Answer 5

• Immediately seek out and move behind substantial cover from gun fire. Substantial cover
would include concrete or structural elements of a building. An engine block of a vehicle may
also provide ballistic protection.

• If unable to identify substantial physical cover crews should seek out cover that is out of direct
view of the armed assailant(s).

• If safe to do so crews should try to make an immediate escape from the firearms threat and
direct members of the public to areas of safety

Question 6

At the earliest opportunity what Key information should communicate with Brigade control or police During a terrorist attack

Answer 6

• The number and exact location of armed assailant(s).
• Description of the weapons being used (hand gun, rifle, automatic weapon etc).
• Description of the armed assailant(s), and information on hostages or victims.

Question 7

All responders should consider what following points when attending a terrorist incident where the Vehicle is used as a weapon attack

Answer 7

• Anticipate further violent action by the driver and/or passengers to include using weapons to
injure and kill additional members of the public and responders.
• Treatment/rescue of the injured and protection of the responders/victims should occur simultaneously.
• Threat of further vehicles being used to target responders. Utilisation of fire appliances to
block unauthorised vehicle access to scene. This must be balanced with need for further emergency services to access casualties, consider leaving drivers with vehicles.
• Early liaison with Police to confirm attendance of explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) team and
secondary sweeps of area and other emergency responder locations.
• Anticipate and prepare for other attacks or incidents.
• Early declaration of suspected terrorist event and providing a METHANE message to control
• The importance of establishing a shared situational awareness and joint understanding of risk
with our partner emergency responders,early adoption of the Jesip principle should be applied.

Question 8

What is Step 1-2-3 plus?

Answer 8

STEP 1-2-3 is a familiar and well-established protocol for assessing the likelihood of hazardous
materials being present at an incident scene, and determining subsequent actions

Question 9

What are the protocols of Step 1-2-3 plus?

Answer 9

Step 1 - one person incapacitated with no obvious reason:
• Approach using standard protocols.
Step 2 - two people incapacitated with no obvious reason:
• Approach with caution using standard protocols.
Step 3 - three or more people in close proximity, incapacitated with no obvious reason:
• Use caution and follow step ‘plus’.
Plus - follow the CBRN first responder flowchart to consider what actions can be undertaken to
save life, using the following principles:
• Evacuate – get people away from the scene of contamination.
• Communicate and advise – immediate medical advice and reassurance that help is on its way.
• Disrobe – remove clothing.
• Decontaminate – improvised decontamination – dry decontamination when a non- caustic
agent is suspected and wet decontamination when a caustic agent is suspected.

Question 10

Who is responsible for overall control and coordination of a terrorist incident.

Answer 10

At any incident identified as having terrorist origins, the police incident commander will be
responsible for the overall control and co-ordination of the incident.

Question 11

Who/What is the responsibility of the Fire brigade?

Answer 11

The fire brigade incident commander (Fire Silver) will, in consultation with the police incident
commander (Police Silver) be responsible for firefighting and rescue operations.

Question 12

A call to a bomb or terrorist related incident would normally fall into the following categories

Answer 12

• No warning - device actuated.
• Warning given - device actuated.
• Warning given - device not actuated, made safe.

Question 13

Regardless of what criteria the call received falls into, incident and crew managers in particular
and all personnel in general are to think:

Answer 13

• Think - secondary devices
• Think - safe cordon distances
• Think - safety! Do not touch.

Question 14

When can Fire brigade personnel search for a suspect device?

Answer 14

Brigade personnel are not to search for suspect devices unless the device is reported to be on a
fire station, or premises to which the personnel undertaking the search are attached.
It is police policy that the occupiers are the persons best suited to know what is unusual or out of place on
their own premises.

Question 15

What are the effective cordon control considerations and distance when dealing with IEDs and the following general
guidelines to be considered a suitable minimum dependent on the size for a suspected device

Answer 15

(a) Up to suitcase size, more than 100m.
(b) Car/light vehicle, more than 200m.
(c) HGV/lorry, more than 400m*.

*Note: If any doubt exists on size, 400m should be the minimum distance

Question 16

Before siting appliances and/or committing personnel into an area, consideration must also have
been given to the following what?

Answer 16

• Not in direct line of sight.
• Away from glass.
• Away from secondary hazards (parked vehicles, garages etc).
• Behind hard cover.
• Upwind if any suspicion of chemical or biological agent.
• Beware secondary devices.
• Request police - if not in attendance.

Question 17

How should fire appliances be sited?

Answer 17

Appliances should be sited facing away from the IED with their windows open and under the
direction of the police.
If the police are not in attendance, incident commanders should establish their command point in such a way as to make it readily movable should the police request this.
Personnel are also to be mindful of the fact that any vehicles parked may become part of the
crime scene in the event of detonation taking place.

Question 18

Remember…!

Answer 18

Brigade control must be kept fully informed of appliance movements

Question 19

Remember…!

Answer 19

In the event of an area or premise becoming a regular source of attendance to terrorist threats,
incident commanders should vary the siting of appliances. This helps to prevent a terrorist
organisation/s anticipating the position of personnel and deliberately planting a secondary
device. Watch managers are to make sure that information concerning bomb threats (regardless
of the call appearing to be a hoax) is passed to the oncoming watches. This should then begin to
identify any developing patterns.

Question 20

Remember…!

Answer 20

The incident commander may, in liaison with the police, decide to utilise the nearest fire station as a rendezvous point for fire appliances where they will remain on standby until required, or a stop message is received.

Question 21

What preparation should be made for the arrival of the EOD officer. What are the 5 C’s?

Answer 21

Explosive ordinance disposal (EOD) officers will expect the emergency service responders to
follow the actions referred to as the five Cs, and prepare the answers to their questions, referred
to as the five Ws, for their arrival at the rendezvous point

The five C’s are:
1) Confirm
− Locaton , postion and characteristics have been noted.
2) Clear
− The public have been safely cleared away from the area,clearing those nearest to the device first.
− Evacuation/invacuation of nearby premises has been considered.
− Direct those affected by CBRN to a safe area to await IOR/medical aid.
3) Cordon
− Cordonsin place to appropriate distances.
− Not in direct line of sight behind hard cover.
− Away from glass and parked vehicles.
4) Control
− Ensure control is informed.
− Rendezvous point is designated and searched.
5) Check
− Cordoned areas have been checked to ensure they are clear.
− Secondary devices and hazards considered.
− Request for more resources made as necessary.

Question 22

What preparation should be made for the arrival of the EOD officer. What are the 5 W’s?

Answer 22

Explosive ordinance disposal (EOD) officers will expect the emergency service responders to follow the actions referred to as the five Cs, and prepare the answers to their questions, referred to as the five W’s, for their arrival at the rendezvous point.

The five W’s are:
1) What
− What is it? Size , components and description?
2) Where
− Where is it? Exact position. Map of approach route.
3) When
− Exact time it was found?
− Has it been moved by anyone?
4) Why
− Why is it suspicious?
− Any potential targets nearby ( people or places)?
− Any suspects?
• Who
− Who are the witnesses/informants.
− Keep them available at the rendezvous point for the EOD officer.