Targeted violence may be preventable, if appropriate systems are in place to identify concerning behaviours, gather information to assess the risk of violence, and use community resources to mitigate the risk, according to the National Threat Assessment Center (NTAC) annual report on Mass Attacks in Public Spaces (MAPS) in the United States.
That report examines 27 targeted attacks in public spaces in the United States during 2018. Whether those attacks were acts of workplace violence, domestic violence, school-based violence, or inspired by an ideology, the report found similar themes:
– Most of the attackers used firearms, and half departed the site on their own or committed suicide.
– Half were motivated by a grievance related to a domestic situation, workplace, or other personal issue.
– Two-thirds had histories of mental health symptoms, including depressive, suicidal, and psychotic symptoms.
– Nearly all had at least one significant stressor within the last five years, and over half had indications of financial instability.
– Nearly all made threatening or concerning communications and more than three-quarters elicited concern from others prior to carrying out their attacks.
As in the previous study covering 2017, most of the 27 incidents were at places of business. All but four of the 27 attackers made some type of communication that did not constitute a direct threat, but should have elicited concern, according to the report. Some of these ‘concerning communications’ (typically social media posts) included expressing interest in previous attackers, racist and misogynistic comments, referencing a desire to purchase a gun, and comments that suggest an aspiration to commit violence.
Comment
Acting Secretary of Homeland Security Kevin K McAleenan said: “Mass attacks – whether inspired by hateful ideologies, grievances, or any other motivating factor – shatter the feeling of safety that we typically have in public spaces in the US. The Department of Homeland Security prioritises the prevention of targeted violence, to include domestic terrorism inspired by all ideologies. Hate and violence have no place in our public spaces.”
“Since our founding after the horrible attacks on September 11, we have often utilised the special resources within the Secret Service to better protect our public spaces. This is because the Secret Service has the most experience at protecting public spaces, and they remain the best at it in the world. Secret Service’s multidisciplinary methodology involves coordination and partnership between law enforcement and others, including workplace managers, school administrators, local officials, and the mental health community.”
For the 20-page report in full visit the US Secret Service website.
