Preventing Coordinated Attacks

This article delves into the nature of layered attacks including IEDs, how they unfold, and actionable measures to mitigate their effects.

SHTF & SECURITY

1/2/20256 min read

Preventing Layered Small Arms and IED Attacks: Strategies and Preparedness

Layered small arms and IED (Improvised Explosive Device) attacks represent a significant and growing threat to public safety in an increasingly volatile world. These attacks are meticulously planned, often involving multiple stages designed to maximize casualties and chaos. Understanding the nature of these attacks and implementing strategies to prevent and survive them is critical for individuals, first responders, and communities. This article delves into the nature of layered attacks, how they unfold, and actionable measures to mitigate their effects.

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The Looming Threat: Layered Terrorist Attacks in the United States

You can fortify your home into the best secret bunker as well as have a family defensive plan in place, but when you leave the home, this is when we are most vulnerable. When convoy or escort of military vehicles leaves a base, they are the most vulnerable. The state in which someone leaves "home base" is the maximized state of weakness. It is inevitable. From being in your vehicle to being stuck in a city during traffic or a big event. Or even on a work trip in a city. Active shooter and small arms attack should have the same type of planning. If you plan for the layered small arms attack you can handle the single active shooter. These are deadly attacks fueled by the increase in Godlessness and the decrease in morals or care and obsession with social media instead of in-person contact. What kept us safe for so many years is trust in one another, trust in our government, and trust in the ability to live comfortably. All of which provide ripe rationale for people to lose their minds and radicalize and cause harm. When it comes to terrorism, it is the lazy man's rationale to not have self-accountability, which breeds violence and reckless decisions. A person isn't proving anything by driving through a crowd or shooting innocent people. This is a weak person, a lost person, or a cowards way of escaping accountability. These are the people that will unleash layered small arms attacks. They may be skilled but they are lost and weak in that moment. Good people need to be armed and prepared to fight together against evil...

The shadows of modern warfare stretch far beyond traditional battlefields. The next attack won’t come with a declaration of war; it will strike in moments of chaos, exploiting the chinks in America’s armor. In the quiet corners of suburban neighborhoods and the bustling streets of metropolitan hubs, a sophisticated, layered threat waits to erupt—a convergence of small arms, drone technology, and foreign sleeper cells.

Picture a coordinated attack beginning with drones. These aren’t the hobbyist toys zipping around parks, but modified commercial-grade machines equipped with makeshift explosives or surveillance payloads. Their mission: to sow confusion and fear. Deployed simultaneously over multiple cities, they disrupt air traffic, overwhelm emergency responders, and paralyze communication networks. Civilians panic as the whir of rotors turns into an ominous harbinger of destruction.

As emergency services scramble, the second wave hits. Armed assailants, blending into the very communities they attack, emerge with precision strikes. Shopping malls, schools, and government facilities become ground zero. The attackers, equipped with high-powered rifles and well-coordinated plans, are not amateurs. They’re trained, disciplined, and prepared to hold their positions long enough to inflict maximum casualties.

Then comes the third act, the wildcard few see coming. A network of sleeper agents, long embedded in American society, activates. Intelligence whispers have long hinted at foreign adversaries cultivating such cells. While many eyes have focused on Russian cyber capabilities, the threat from China’s influence runs deeper than trade wars and espionage. These sleeper agents aren’t spies in trench coats; they are neighbors, coworkers, and students—individuals who’ve spent years integrating into the fabric of American life. When activated, they aren’t just soldiers but saboteurs, ready to exploit vulnerabilities in infrastructure, utilities, and public trust.

Consider America’s vulnerabilities. The decentralization that fuels its economy also leaves it exposed. Power grids, often aging and stretched thin, can be disabled with coordinated attacks, leaving millions in darkness. Communication networks, dependent on central hubs, become chokepoints under stress. The reliance on just-in-time supply chains means disruptions can lead to empty shelves within days, crippling morale and amplifying panic.

Perhaps the most unsettling aspect of such a scenario is the unpredictability of modern terror. Unlike the organized hierarchies of the past, these layered attacks may be orchestrated by decentralized networks using encrypted communication. The fusion of low-tech and high-tech tactics makes them elusive, capable of slipping past traditional intelligence nets. A drone strike in Chicago, a gunman in Houston, and an infrastructure breach from lack of cybersecurity measures in Los Angeles could all be linked yet seem disjointed, challenging analysts to connect the dots in real-time.

Counterterrorism experts face a daunting task. While military and law enforcement agencies train for active shooter scenarios, the addition of drones and sleeper cells changes the equation. How do you defend against a threat that’s already inside the gates? How do you prepare civilians for a fight that looks nothing like the wars of the past?

For now, the answers remain elusive, and the clock ticks forward.

Understanding Layered Attacks

A layered attack typically consists of an initial assault, such as a small arms attack, followed by secondary attacks that exploit the chaos and the response of emergency personnel or civilians. This multi-pronged approach increases the likelihood of casualties and complicates response efforts.

Primary Attack: The first wave may involve gunfire aimed at causing immediate harm and creating panic.
Secondary Attack: Once responders and survivors attempt to aid the injured or flee, a second wave—usually involving IEDs or additional gunfire—targets these clusters, aiming to amplify destruction.

Historical Example:
The 2008 Mumbai attacks are a grim illustration of layered attacks. Armed assailants coordinated shootings and bombings at multiple locations, sustaining their assault over several days. The attackers sought to overwhelm law enforcement and emergency services while maximizing casualties.

How to React and Escape Safely

1. If Outdoors:

Escape perpendicular to the line of attack on a street. Running directly away or along the street keeps you within the attackers' line of fire. A perpendicular escape reduces visibility to attackers and increases your chances of survival.
Seek immediate cover behind solid objects like concrete walls, vehicles (engine blocks), or large natural features such as trees.

2. If Indoors:

Memorize or photograph the building’s fire exit map upon arrival. Knowing the layout can save precious seconds in a chaotic evacuation.
Identify potential cover locations, such as reinforced walls, large furniture, or concrete structures.
Avoid elevators and take stairs when evacuating.
If no immediate escape is possible, secure yourself in a room, lock the door, and barricade it with heavy furniture.

Challenges of Law Enforcement Response

Law enforcement often faces limitations in resources, personnel, and response time. In active attack situations, police may take several minutes or longer to arrive. This delay is critical, as most casualties in layered attacks occur within the first few moments. Thus, communities must be prepared to bridge the gap until professional responders arrive.

The Role of Armed Civilians

While the idea of armed civilians can be controversial, responsible and trained individuals carrying firearms can provide a critical line of defense in such scenarios. Armed civilians can:

Disrupt the attacker’s plans by engaging them, buying time for others to escape.
Provide cover and aid to unarmed individuals.
Help establish order in the absence of law enforcement.

However, armed civilians must:

Undergo rigorous training to ensure they act responsibly and effectively.
Understand situational awareness and avoid complicating law enforcement efforts upon their arrival.

Immediate Threat Response

When faced with an armed individual intent on causing harm:

Recognize the imminent threat to your life and act decisively. If escape is impossible and you have the means to neutralize the attacker, do so to protect yourself and others.
Avoid lingering after neutralizing the threat. Secondary attacks, such as IEDs, may target those who remain in the area.
Alert others to the danger while moving to a safe location.

Building Preparedness and Resilience

Public Awareness:
Communities should be educated on how to recognize and react to active threats. Public seminars, drills, and outreach programs can significantly enhance preparedness.
Enhanced Building Security:
- Install metal detectors and surveillance systems in high-risk areas.
- Develop clear evacuation routes and conduct regular emergency drills.
First Aid Training:
Civilians should learn basic first aid to assist the injured before professional help arrives.
Coordination with Law Enforcement:
Local authorities and communities should establish communication channels to report suspicious activities promptly.