US FBI offers vulnerability assessment for chems

11 April 2007 19:12  [Source: ICIS news]

WASHINGTON (ICIS news)--US federal counterterrorism officials said on Wednesday they have a vulnerability assessment tool available to chemical plants and other at-risk facilities that might be targeted by terrorists hoping to cause mass casualties.

 

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) said the vulnerability assessment can help chemical facility operators “point out potential security weak spots and suspicious warning signs”.

 

An FBI official said announcement of the vulnerability assessment tool was not related to any specific threat but was in keeping with the bureau’s outreach programme following establishment of the FBI weapons of mass destruction (WMD) directorate in mid-2006.

 

The bureau said that chemical facilities and other at-risk sites should be alert for indications that their location is being targeted for attack or for the theft or fraudulent purchase of materials that could be used as weapons of mass destruction.

 

Suspicious activities could include telephone calls inquiring about the facility’s use of security guards, operating hours or total number of employees, the bureau said.

 

Bomb threats targeting a chemical facility could be the work of terrorists testing security response levels at a site, the bureau said, noting too that plant operators should be alert for anyone taking photographs of a plant site or observing the site with binoculars.

 

The FBI also cautioned that chemical company sales teams should be alert to potential purchasers seeking information about products but who are reticent about what uses they intend for the products. 

 

Other red flags, said the bureau, are potential customers who seem unaware of basic safe-handling practices for hazardous materials, those willing to pay cash for large orders or requests for delivery to non-operating facilities and other unusual locations.

 

Those interested in obtaining a copy of the FBI’s vulnerability assessment may contact the WMD co-ordinator any of the bureau’s 56 field offices, which can be identified on the bureau’s Web site.

ICIS Copyright © Reed Business Information 2009

Author: Joe Kamalick
+1 713 525 2653

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