8 Signs of Terrorism

Certain activities, especially those at or near sensitive facilities; including government, military or other high profile sites or places where large numbers of people congregate, may indicate terrorist planning phases.  Suspicious activities of interest that should be reported to law enforcement are commonly referred to as the 8 Signs of Terrorism.

Surveillance:  Recording or monitoring activities. May include the use of cameras, note-taking, drawing diagrams or maps.

Elicitation:   Attempting to gain information about operations, infrastructure, or people by mail, email, phone or in person.

Tests of Security:  Attempts to measure reaction times to security breaches, penetrate physical security barriers, or monitor procedures in order to assess strengths and weaknesses. 

Acquisition of Supplies:   Purchasing or stealing explosives, weapons, ammunition, etc.  May include acquiring uniforms, decals, flight manuals, passes or badges.

Suspicious Person Out of Place: People who don’t seem to belong in the workplace, neighborhood, or in a particular building or area.

Rehearsal:  Putting people in position and moving them around according to their plan without actually committing the terrorist act.

Deployment:  People and supplies getting into position to commit the act.  This is a person’s last chance to alert authorities before the terrorist act occurs.

Funding:  Suspicious transactions involving large cash payments, deposits, or withdrawals are common signs of terrorist funding.