Potential Port Security / Shipping Security Threat
Chatter has recently increased worldwide, consistently referring to potential terrorist activities and attacks, directed at both CONUS and US-related OCONUS assets.
Specific mention has been made for these operations to coincide with national holidays, other symbolic dates, as well as on dates which precede federal elections.
With this context set, intelligence sources within Israel have recently indicated that on or about March 14, 2004 a shipping container was located which had been rigged in the Gaza Strip to contain 2 suicide bombers, explosives, weapons and ordnance.
The container had been smuggled into Ashdod port, Israel, where two Palestinian terrorists had emerged, detonated bomb belts, killing 10 Israelis.
It was later learned from confidential Palestinian sources that the ultimate goal of the mission had been to cause the detonation of fuel tanks and toxic chemical storage facilities located in the port, thereby causing significant collateral damage to the city of Ashdod (population 160,000) located near the port.
Examination of the container by Israeli authorities revealed a secret compartment containing food, mattresses, water and other material. The compartment was rigged so as to not be externally discernable during an inspection. The container was also secured in such a manner that it would have had to have been opened from the outside by an accomplice.
Israeli Intelligence sources indicated the sophistication of the engineering and the logistics was unique, strongly suggesting collaboration with element(s) outside known Gazan Palestinian groups.
Although there are no known or specific thefts related to such a scenario being directed CONUS, such scenarios could be considered of medium to high potential. Such scenarios could certainly present a serious threat either directly to U.S. ports or to U.S. assets located in foreign ports, particularly if such assets are located near fuel or chemical storage facilities.
Ag-Security/Cbr-Security Specialists, especially those associated with ports or chemical storage facilities are strongly encouraged to consider similar scenarios when developing or expanding security plans.