2011 Frankfurt airport shooting illustrates terrorism's 'evolving threat'

By Sgt. Daniel ColeJanuary 28, 2014

The Army is spotlighting the evolving threat as its current antiterrorism theme to educate members of the U.S. forces community against what they describe as a more innovative, opportunistic method of planning and carrying out attacks than people may consider conventional terrorist methods.

Antiterrorism experts say the evolving threat often centers on a "lone wolf" attack, a recent form of terrorist attack involving individuals who work on a much smaller scale and without specific guidance from organized terror groups to assault local targets. These smaller-scale attacks require less planning and coordination, and create fewer indicators that could alert others that an attack is imminent.

On March 2, 2011, one such "lone wolf" targeted a group of U.S. Airmen on a bus parked at Frankfurt Airport. The attacker approached an Airman standing outside the bus, engaged him in conversation, then shot and killed him. Entering the bus, he killed the driver and wounded two other Airmen. He then held his pistol to the head of a fifth Airman, but when the weapon jammed the attacker fled the scene. He was quickly subdued by an Airman, a civilian airport employee and German police officers.

Antiterrorism officials say the airport shooting shows how the evolving threat is transforming terrorism with a shift away from the traditional "al-Qaida type attacks." Because these smaller events require much less planning and attract less attention, the experts say, they can be carried out in a more nonchalant manner that gives the attacker greater opportunity to target members of the U.S. forces community.

In spite of the nature of these smaller attacks, USAREUR antiterrorism officials say there are still ways people can lower their risk of becoming victims of terrorism.

"Countering the evolving threat requires more individual efforts through continual vigilance, reporting suspicious activity, and practicing individual protective measures," said Jessica Bittle, a force protection specialist in USAREUR's Antiterrorism Division.

Some simple ways people can protect themselves include:

* Be aware of their surroundings and the actions of others around them

* Reporting suspicious behavior

* Not dressing or acting in a way that makes them stand out from local citizens or brands them as Americans or members of the U.S. forces community

* Removing stickers and other items from their vehicles and belongings that indicate they are Americans or members of the U.S. forces community

* Not wearing uniforms while traveling on public or commercial transportation (except taxis).

For more information and resources for combating terrorism, personal protective measures and reporting suspicious activity, visit the USAREUR vigilance web page at www.eur.army.mil/vigilance or the USAREUR Antiterrorism Division's "Stay Safe" Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/StaySafeAntiterrorism