Top 10 Indicators of Terrorist Planning

According to the Department of Homeland Security website, the following indicators suggest possible terrorist planning.

1. Prolonged interest in security measures, personnel, entry points and access controls, or perimeter barriers such as fences or walls.

2. Behavior such as staring or quickly looking away from personnel or vehicles entering or leaving designated facilities or parking areas.

3. Observation of security reaction drills or procedures.

4. Increase in anonymous telephone or e-mail threats to facilities in conjunction with suspected surveillance incidentsindicating possible surveillance of threat reaction procedures.

5. Surveillance by two or three individuals on foot.

6. Mobile surveillance using bicycles, scooters, motorcycles, cars, trucks, SUVs, limousines, boats or small aircraft.

7. Prolonged static surveillance using operatives disguised as panhandlers, shoe shiners, food or flower vendors, news agents or street sweepers not previously seen in the area.

8. Discreet use of still cameras, video recorders or note-taking at nontourist locations.

9. Use of multiple sets of clothing and ID.

10. The use of sketching materials (such as paper and pencils).