The question of appropriate vehicle intrusion protection for public assembly facilities and the surrounding areas is now one of necessity. The combination of accidental vehicle incidents and the purposeful use of vehicles as weapons has reached a level that can no longer be ignored.
I understand that fixed vehicle intrusion protection can be expensive, but that does not mean there is nothing you can do. I recommend you begin by conducting a vulnerability assessment to understand the size of the problem, which is the only way to begin to work toward a solution.
Your state DHS Protective Security Agent (PSA), as well as fusion center and other first responders, are excellent resources to assist you with this process, along with reaching out to IAVM or other facility contacts.
There are a variety of ways to begin to layer in protection. If there are resources available, you can look to planters, benches and other devices to mitigate the threat. It is possible to use vehicles or other equipment to protect exposed areas.
A relationship with design and structural firms can also be a valuable asset as you look to develop your plan.
Several recent accidental vehicle incidents have created significant awareness of the vulnerabilities that we face. The SXSW incident in 2014, two Mardi Gras parade incidents in 2017, and the recent Times Square incidents are proof enough that even under normal circumstances (weather was not a factor in any of these incidents), vehicles can present a threat.
In 2014 at SXSW in Austin, Texas, Rashad Owens, age 23, drove a stolen car while drunk through barricades and into a crowd on Red River Street in Austin's downtown live music district while trying to escape police during the 2014 festival. Four people died and 25 were injured.
In New Orleans this past February, 25-year-old Neilson Rizzuto was jailed on charges of first-degree negligent vehicular injuring, hit-and-run driving causing serious injury, and reckless operation of a vehicle. The accident happened during one of the busiest nights of Mardi Gras when thousands of people filled the streets to see the floats and catch beads.
For the second time during Mardi Gras week, a group of revelers were mowed down by an out-of-control vehicle at a Mardi Gras parade in Gulf Shores, Ala. A total of 12 Gulf Shores High School band members aged 12 to 17 were injured, including three people who were in critical condition, when an SUV hit them. The driver was a 73-year-old man who did not appear to be under the influence of alcohol or drugs, according to officials.
Add to these types of incidents the intentional and deliberate choice of vehicles used as weapons by Home Grown Violent Extremists (HGVE) inspired to deliver terrorism at a local level.
Stockholm, Sweden: A vehicle rammed into pedestrians on a Friday on one of the busiest streets in what officials called a deliberate attack.
London, England: An assailant rammed his rental car into pedestrians on Westminster Bridge, not far from the UK Parliament. Again this month, another such attack occurred on London Bridge.
Nice, France: July 14, 2016, Mohamed Lahouaiej Bouhlel used a 20-ton truck to kill 84 people and injure more than 200, many who were women and children.
Berlin, Germany: Dec. 19, 2016, a tractor-trailer rammed into a crowd at a bustling Christmas market which was filled with holiday shoppers. 12 people killed, at least 48 wounded.
Columbus, Ohio: Nov. 28, 2016, Ohio State University student rammed his car into a group of pedestrians on the campus. He got out and lunged at passers-by with a knife.
Recent issues of ISIL magazines Inspire, Dabiq and Rumiyah all continue to call for the use of vehicles as weapons.
"To achieve maximum carnage, you need to pick up as much speed as you can while still retaining good control of your vehicle in order to maximize your inertia and be able to strike as many people as possible in your first run," was written in an Al Qaeda magazine.
This sophisticated publicity campaign has had success and is continuing to inspire more lone wolf actors to take action at a local level.
BOTTOM LINE
The question regarding our responsibilities and obligations to mitigate vehicle intrusion in and around our facilities has been answered. We ignore these obligations at everyone’s risk.
Russ Simons is...
managing partner, Venue Solutions Group, and has been in this industry for more than three decades, working in arenas, stadiums, design, construction, safety and security. Send questions about any aspect of venue operation to askruss@venuestoday.com or mail questions to Venues Today, P.O. Box 2540, Huntington Beach, CA 92647.
