Basic Level Pre-Course Reading

Chapter 2
CBRN Response Overview
Other reasons terrorists might not pursue the use of CBRN weapons include:
• political counter productivity, given the likelihood of alienating supporters or
potential supporters on moral grounds;
• fear of unprecedented governmental retribution that might follow; and,
• the lack of a perceived need for such indiscriminate, high-casualty attacks in
furthering the goals of a group. 11
2.1.4 What are Some Targets Terrorist Groups are Likely to
Attack?
History has taught us that the likely targets of terrorists can be as varied as the
motives of the terrorists. A high level of security often identifies the most desired
targets. This, however, cannot always be used as a gauge of the likelihood of
attack as evidenced by the bombings of the World Trade Centre in 1993 and the
Alfred P. Murrah building in Oklahoma in 1995, or the hijacked airline attacks on
the World Trade Centre and Pentagon in 2001. When the most likely targets are
difficult to attack, terrorists, just like criminals, seek an easier target. For many
years the Provisional Irish Republican Army (PIRA) attacked the commercial and
financial districts of London because they were easy targets and brought
attention to their cause. The recent attack in Bali, Indonesia is another example
of an easy target being chosen with devastating results.
Some of the types of targets terrorist groups may attack include:
• Government buildings
• Transportation facilities (including mass transport)
• Political figures and leaders
• Military installations
• Nuclear facilities
• Churches, synagogues, mosques, and other facilities of religious significance
• Popular or symbolic landmarks
• Public utilities including power lines, pipelines, etc.
• Emergency services (including hospitals)
• Municipal, provincial, and federal infrastructure (roads, bridges, sewers, etc.)
• Financial institutions and related infrastructure (e.g., stock exchange)
• Agriculture
• Manufacturing
• Sports and entertainment facilities
11
CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) – Chemical and Biological Terrorism, “First Responders Briefing
Pack”, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. 1997.
CBRN First Responder Training Program 7 Basic Level Course