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COMBATING HOSTILE SURVEILLANCE by Stanley I. White
 The 1993 and 2001 World Trade Center attacks, the 2002 Bali
nightclub attacks, the 2004 Madrid Train bombings, the 2005 London subway bombings and other notorious terrorist attacks all have had one common component, hostile surveillance. Hostile
surveillance can best be defined as a detailed gathering of information on a potential target in preparation for an attack.
One example of hostile surveillance involved Khalid Shaikh
Mohammad, a recently captured al Qaeda chief, who sent Abu Issa al Hindi, an al Qaeda field operative to collect information on
financial institutions located in New Jersey and New York in 2000 and 2001. This information was later found on the personal computer of Mohammad Nassen Noor Khan after his 2004 capture in
Pakistan. Thorough analysis of this information led the United States to raise its terror alert level from yellow to orange. This form of surveillance can range in duration from days to years prior to the
execution of an attack. Hostile surveillance can be preformed in three different forms
1. Fixed surveillance - is conducted by one or more parties that position themselves in
inconspicuous locations for extended periods of time to gather information on a potential target. During this phase of surveillance terrorist operatives may disguise themselves as either security
personnel, vagrants, street performers, students, photographers, utility workers, taxi drivers or any party that may easily blend into the surrounding landscape.
Fixed surveillance allows operatives to document the locations of security cameras, shift changes for security and general staff, peak times of pedestrian traffic, choke points for pedestrian and vehicular
traffic and other sensitive information pertaining to a potential target.
2. Foot surveillance - is conducted by operatives that are on foot and mobile with the ability to
collect information as they move from one location to another.
These individuals may either pose as lost tourists or attempt to blend into nearby crowds of
bystanders. Operatives may either utilize cell phone cameras, still and video photography or hand held tape recorders to gather information on a potential target site.
3. Vehicular surveillance -
is conducted by operatives that utilize various modes of transportation such as mass transit (trains, buses, ferries, aircraft etc.) automobiles and other common vehicles.
These individuals may pose as ordinary mass transit patrons and utilize cell phone cameras, still and video photography, note pads, sketch books and hand-held tape recorders to gather information
on a potential target site. Operatives may often work in teams of two or more when conducting vehicular surveillance.
Law enforcement and security professionals must continually bare in mind that these forms of surveillance can be conducted by themselves or in conjunction with each other during the information
gathering phase. Once officers have gained an understanding of the various forms of surveillance that operatives can deploy they should also develop an information sharing system with other
agencies to stay abreast of current threats and threat levels. One method of enhancing awareness is to obtain a listing of significant dates that terrorist may seek to commemorate with an attack. An
attack of this nature will easily gain media attention. The weeks and months prior to such dates may fall within the time frame operatives utilize for target selection and surveillance. One such
example is October 12th, 2002 the date of the Bali nightclub attacks, these attacks were executed on this date to commemorate the October 12th, 2000 attack on the USS Cole.
Radical Islamic terrorist may also seek to exploit holidays on the Islamic calendar such as Ramadan. Listed below are some upcoming Islamic holidays in 2005
• October 5th, 2005 to November 2, 2005 Ramadan (Islamic month of Fasting)
• November 3rd, 2005 Eid ul-Fitr (Festival of the breaking of the Fast)
• January 8th - 11th , 2006 Hajj (Annual Pilgrimage to Mecca)
• January 10th, 2006 Eid-ul-Adha (Festival of the Sacrifice)
• January 31st , 2006 Islamic New Year (note: the Islamic calendar also known as the Hijri.
This calendar is lunar and solely based on the movement of the moon; when compared to the Gregorian calendar these dates shift approximately 10-12 days each year)
Law enforcement and security agencies should also continually stay abreast of new training techniques and current threat levels to counter hostile surveillance against potential targets here and
abroad. Some recommended field techniques are
• Law enforcement and security professionals should divide the various sites within their patrol area into sensitive and non-sensitive locations.
Sensitive locations should include those that will yield either a high casualty count, larges amounts of media coverage and/or severe economic damage. These sensitive locations should be given
increased surveillance during periods of high alert and include shopping centers, religious institutions, high volume transportation hubs, schools etc.
• Officers should be familiar with the type of individuals and vehicles that frequent sensitive areas. Suspicious individuals and activities either in or around these areas should be investigated. One
such example could be a hazardous-materials tanker truck parked adjacent to a synagogue during services.
• Officers should become familiar with locations onsite and around a potential target that can be
utilized to conduct hostile surveillance.
Ideal locations for surveillance include areas with easy public access, multiple points of egress and
views of the target site. These locations can include courtyards, bus stops, parking lots, public and semi-private roads, accessible roof tops of adjacent buildings, nearby bridges and overpasses.
Adjacent wooded areas and abandon structures can also provide cover and allow views of a potential target site, these locations should be documented and routinely patrolled. An active security
presence will deprive terrorist operatives of a safe haven for the collection of crucial information on a selected target.
• While on patrol officers should utilize 3 of their 5 human senses regularly. These senses are sight, hearing and smell. The usage for these senses are summarized as follows
Sight -
is probably the most commonly used sense when on patrol. Officers should conduct counter-surveillance from locations that are situated within and around the target site when possible.
Locations that provide the officer with unobstructed views of public gathering points, utility components such as air handling systems and electrical transformers, loading docks, bus stops
other areas commonly known for suspicious activities. When conducting a vehicular patrol, officers should utilize a cruising speed of 15 miles per hour or less when possible. Slower speeds have
been found to provide officers a greater ability to obtain more information while on patrol.
Officers should also utilize binoculars to conduct counter-surveillance over longer distances without
being openly visible to the public. When patrolling at night and in poorly illuminated areas officers should utilize high-powered flashlights, and night-vision monoculars when possible.
Hearing -
is probably is the second most utilized sense used during patrol.
When officers are on patrol especially during periods of high alert they should avoid listening to CD
players and stereo radios inside their patrol vehicles as well as limit unnecessary cell phone usage. Suspicious sounds such as shouts for help, shattering glass, loud banging noises should always be
investigated however, officers should be trained to investigate unfamiliar sounds such as muffled or low intensity explosions that may be indicators of a chemical or biological attack. Sounds and
reports of explosions coming from desolate areas should also be investigated. These sounds may be terrorist operatives testing or attempting to construct improvised explosive devices. Officers can
also enhance their sense of hearing by patrolling with one or more of their car windows down when possible.
Smell -
is the lesser of the three senses mentioned, however, it can be used when investigating suspicious individuals and activities. Chemicals odors may be detected on the clothing of individuals
involved in a suicide bombing attempt as well as the construction of improvised explosive devices.
Officers should take note of chemical odors being emitted either from locations adjacent to or onsite
at potential target sites. Components used in chemical attacks such chlorine have an odor of bleach, mustard gas has an odor of garlic and hydrogen chloride has an odor of burnt almonds.
At present the United States homeland finds itself amidst a period of potential vulnerability, the damage and destruction to the southern gulf coast as a result of Hurricane Katrina has displaced
hundreds of thousand residents and crippled oil production in the region. The US continues to fight wars on two fronts, Afghanistan and Iraq while continuing to monitor the nuclear weapons programs
within the rogue states of North Korea and Iran.
Federal intelligence agencies have documented the existence of terrorist cells living within the United
States, while the northern and southern borders of the country remain porous to an influx of illegal aliens and potential terrorist operatives. These previously mentioned facts alone validate the need for
continual training and increased vigilance on the behalf of law enforcement and security professionals to combat all forms of hostile surveillance not only here in the United States but also
abroad. If the efforts of terrorist operatives to conduct hostile surveillance are not combated it is only a matter of time before a second major terrorist attack occurs in the United States.
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