THE TORCHSTONE WATCH
THE TORCHSTONE WATCH
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TorchStone publishes The Watch to assist our readers in proactively managing risk—whether personal, professional, or organizational—in an increasingly insecure world. The featured articles, blog posts, and expert interviews address vulnerabilities and issues we have frequently encountered while safeguarding high profile individuals, wealthy families, multinational corporations, and international sporting events across six continents. Now, more than ever, security seems to be a precious commodity. Our goal is to give you more of it through The TorchStone Watch.
SPOTLIGHT ISSUE
Contextualizing the Extremist Insider Threat
By TorchStone VP, Scott Stewart
Extremism is a growing problem that is of interest to many of TorchStone’s clients and contacts. We must be careful to recognize that it is not just jihadists and white supremacists who are threat actors, but also individuals who hold any extremist ideology that can pose an insider threat to our organizations. While these persons may not have the goal of committing violence directly against their employer, hostile action is tied to their ideology.
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Reflections on 9/11 — Twenty Years Later
Americans from all walks of life and across all political persuasions were deeply impacted by the events that September morning. I can still recall watching television interviews in the wake of the 9/11 attacks in which people of many different backgrounds told reporters that “Things will never be the same again.” And these statements were not just made by Americans; the spectacular attacks against the symbols of America’s economic, military and political power also made a profound impression on people outside of the United States. The front page of the French newspaper Le Monde declared on Sept. 12, 2001, “We are all Americans.” This sentiment was shared by citizens and leaders across the globe.
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Keeping the Threat of Terrorism in Context
The threat posed by domestic violent extremists is real, but that it is important to place the threat in the proper context. Historical and tactical context is critical in assessing threats because it is what allows us to understand what a threat is, and just as importantly—what it is not. Because of recent Department of Homeland Security warnings, it seems an appropriate time to discuss the closely related phenomena of terrorism and terror, in an effort to place them both into context.
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Mitigating Knife Attacks
A man in Würzburg Germany, launched a knife attack against a crowd, killing 3 women and wounding numerous others. This attack comes in the wake of knife attacks against police officers in France in April and May. There have also been several knife attacks in the UK in recent years, including attacks in June and December 2020. These incidents highlight that knife attacks remain a popular terrorist tactic. This merits a closer look at edged weapon attacks, strategies to avoid them, and ways in which potential targets can protect themselves against such attacks.
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How To Protect Yourself from Fire While Traveling
Fire is a killer. To be more specific, inhaling smoke created by fires causes most fire-related deaths. Globally, far more people die in fires than are killed in criminal or terrorist attacks. We have also seen terrorists and criminals use fire as a weapon to deadly effect. Whether the result of an accidental or natural wildfire, or an intentional manmade disaster, fire is deadly. Performing a hotel safety check, having some easy-to-carry items, and knowing what to do in case of a fire will give you the best preparation to survive.
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Gauging the Jihadist Movement 20 Years After 9/11
“While much attention has been paid of late to homegrown far-right and far-left extremists, jihadist terrorism has not disappeared—it merely evolved. So, as the world marks the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, it behooves security professionals to take stock of the jihadist movement today, forecast where the movement is headed, and consider the implications of ongoing terrorist activity.”
READ MORE >Taliban Continues Rapid Offensive in Afghanistan
The Taliban’s rapid push to take over Afghanistan in a matter of days means many remaining organizations should ensure they still have a way to leave the country. While groups that operate generally in the Middle East may not be nearly as impacted, Scott Stewart explains to Security Management what steps such organizations still within Afghanistan should take to diminish their risk of being trapped in-country.
READ MORE >The Balancing Act Behind Sporting and Entertainment Venues Opening to the Public
As events cautiously open up to the public, security teams are faced with an unforeseen element of protection — personal health and safety. Event security teams are forced to weigh the benefits of increased security measures with the goals of the venue’s event, making it enjoyable, profitable, and well-attended. TSG President Frank Rodman discusses these complexities with the host of The Ontic Center for Protective Intelligence Podcast, Fred Burton.
READ MORE >Virus Be Damned: Tokyo’s Games Must Go On
The 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan, was originally postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, while Japan’s medical community still has concerns that the Olympics may be a superspreader event and among strong public opposition, the Tokyo Summer Games will begin this July. Howard Snyder, TorchStone’s Asia Specialist, details the pressures behind the decision to give the 2020 Summer Games the green light in Asia Times’ Virus be damned: Tokyo’s Games must go on.
READ MORE >Premier Sports Network partners with TorchStone Global to protect athletes from rising security threats
Premier Sports Network is a private networking platform exclusively for sports professionals that ensures professional athletes receive needed support of their personal lives. Professional athletes around the globe and their families are increasingly targets of crime, racial attacks, or social media abuse. TorchStone Global’s partnering with PSN allows sports leagues to provide the highest quality protection for their players as well as full advantage of TorchStone’s extensive experience and proactive risk management approach.
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