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TM REPEAT:

OVERVIEW:
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Information Bulletins are informational in nature
and are designed to provide updates on the training, tactics, or strategies of terrorists. The
following information is meant to advise the owners and operators of the nation’s
infrastructures about the possible use by terrorists of official identification, uniforms, or
vehicles to gain access to sensitive facilities for purposes of planning or carrying out
attacks. (In this Information Bulletin, “official” refers to recognized implements of
federal, state, and local governments and private sector entities.) While DHS possesses no
information indicating an organized effort by extremist elements in the United States to
illegally obtain official identification, uniforms, or vehicles in furtherance of terrorist
activities, it has identified the recent theft or disappearance of large numbers of these
items. Attempts to acquire official identification, uniforms, or vehicles would be
consistent with the tactics and techniques of Al-Qaeda and other extremist groups,
according to a variety of reporting sources.

DETAILS:
Al-Qaeda and other terrorist groups likely view the theft or other illegal acquisition of
official identification, uniforms, or vehicles as an effective way to increase access and
decrease scrutiny in furtherance of planning and operations. Although we possess no
information that Al-Qaeda or other terrorist groups are systematically pursuing the illegal
acquisition of the above referenced items, there is indeed precedence for the use of official
identification, uniforms, or vehicles in the execution of terrorist attacks. Terrorist groups
have utilized police or military uniforms to mask their identities and achieve closer access
to their targets without arousing suspicion. This was illustrated in the December 2002,
suicide bombings that targeted the Chechen Government Headquarters in Groznyy, Russia.
Terrorists in South America, the Philippines and Pakistan have commandeered or stolen
emergency medical services vehicles and uniforms (or cleverly designed imitations) to
facilitate the execution of their attacks on key facilities.
In an effort to understand the extent of official identification, uniform, and vehicle thefts,
DHS recently conducted a survey of selected members of the law enforcement community
in five states. This survey revealed that from February to May 2003 hundreds of official
identification cards, badges, decals, uniforms, and government license plates were reported
stolen or lost. Additionally, a number of private companies have reported receiving
suspicious inquiries about renting official delivery vehicles and emergency services
representatives have received unusual requests for detailed vehicle descriptions. There is
no historical baseline to compare recent theft or suspicious inquiry data, and the intent or
resolution of many of the thefts cannot be determined.
Information Bulletin
Title: Potential Terrorist Use of Official Identification,
Uniforms, or Vehicles
Date: July 22, 2003
The worldwide proliferation of individuals or “companies” that traffic in high-quality
imitations of official identification, uniforms, or vehicles is a related issue that increases
the possibility such items could be used to facilitate future terrorist attacks and further
complicates efforts to prevent their acquisition. For example, earlier this month the New
York City High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Task Force reported that it had
identified a Japanese website selling near exact replicas of badges from law enforcement
agencies such as the U.S. Secret Service, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Drug
Enforcement Agency, U.S. Marshals Service, and Los Angeles Police Department.
Several press reports this year have referred to the theft and sale over the Internet of a large
number of United Parcel Service (UPS) uniforms. Although these reports proved to be
false, they did bring to the public’s attention the potential security concerns of missing or
stolen identification, uniforms, or vehicles.
DHS reminds all recipients to remain vigilant to the disappearance of, or unauthorized
inquiries regarding, official identification cards, badges, decals, uniforms, government
license plates, and vehicles and establish practices that account for missing items. DHS
encourages recipients to report suspicious incidents to the proper authorities and to remain
vigilant for any nexus to terrorism