Introduction
The Westgate Mall, located in the Westlands of Nairobi, Kenya, was attacked on September 21, 2013 by a group of terrorist insurgents. This attack ended after four days of horrible bloodshed, with around 70 individuals dead with countless others injured, to include some of the President’s actual family. The attack was by carried out by the terrorist affiliate of Al Qaeda, named Al-Shabab (Kabukuru, 2013). This location was targeted because of the symbolism the mall had of a growing economic base that nation had been investing in (Kabukuru, 2013). “Westgate Mall is a neat illustration of Kenya's commercial and private sector success. With world-class chintzy cafes, jewelry shops, casinos, luxury goods and lifestyle outlets, banks, forex bureaus and a high-end supermarket, Westgate had it all under one roof” (Kabukuru, 2013). The attack was apparently provoked from tensions growing over a Kenyan led occupancy of Somalia. Al Shabaab was looking to make a statement to the leaders of the Kenyan government, which was that they wanted the occupancy of land between the border of Kenya and Somalia to end (Kabukuru, 1). This attack could also be linked back to promises of retaliation from what is referred to as “Operation Linda Nchi” ( Margolin, 2013). Operation Linda Nchi, was a coordinated effort in 2011, between Kenya, Somalia, and Ethiopia against Al Shabaab in southern Somalia. Whatever the motivation for this brutal attack the community of Nairobi Kenya is still recovering.
Preparedness
Unlike most terrorist attacks the Kenyan government actually had some prior knowledge of an attack threat on the mall as indicated by Al Shabaab (Kabukuru, 2013). This is not Kenya’s first situation of a terrorist attack from Al Shabaab,...
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...sk, where tourism, a large part of the Kenyan economy, is projected to fall for the next few years, straining the recovery process. In the final realm of the emergency management cycle mitigation is the least successful in this case. Steps before and after helped to start the country in the right direction with policy drafts and proposals, but all this is lacking in implementation. Although much has been done to help Kenya, such as international aid, at current the situation has changed little since the attack in September 2013.
In concluding the analysis of this event, the Westgate Mall attack is an example of a fledgling emergency management system that is moving in the right direction, but still lacks the proper tools to adequately manage and facilitate the five areas of emergency management: Preparedness, Protection, Response, Recovery, and Mitigation.
ABSTRACT: Terrorists were very active long before September 11. This essay reviews the 1988 downing of Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland and the March 1995 gas attack in the Tokyo subway. The results of these terrorist acts, who carried them out, how they were carried out, and what can be done in the future to prevent such incidents from happening again are all investigated.
Retrieved from http://www.terrorismanalysts.com/pt/index.php/pot/article/view/268/540 White, J. R. (2014). Terrorism and homeland security (8th ed.). Belmont, CA: Wadsworth.
Haddow, G. D., Bullock, J. A., & Coppola, D. P. (2014). The disciplines of emergency management: Preparedness. Introduction to emergency management (Fifth ed., ). Waltham: Elsevier.
AAB claimed two more attacks in Egypt after the first bombing. Spanning only a few months apart, the assailants targeted popular tourist and resorts areas. In April 2005, a suicide bomber detonated his vest in Cairo’s main bazaar; followed by the bomber’s sister and wife opening fire on a tourist bus then killing themselves (Winter, 2011, p. 884). In July 2005, the Sinai Peninsula was hit aga...
Historical Significance: The September 11th, 2001, attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, orchestrated by Al-Qaeda and Bin Laden, were the events that launched the U.S. War on Terrorism. Al-Qaeda’s attack on the United States was carried out by members of radicalized Islamic groups, whose objective was to spread jihad against the secular influence of the West. This tragic event provided the historical b...
This problem is a direct result of the “gray areas” that make it difficult to tell the difference between a common crime and a political crime. It combines the two acts into one, blurring the line of distinction (Anderson). The government being attacked sees it as a common criminal attack on its sovereignty, while the terrorist sees it as a legitimate means to an end. The government behind which the terrorist is trying to...
Local, State and Federal government have unique roles which would allow the flow of communication and resources to transition smoothly during each stage of progression. The local and state level (first responders) are the most important source as they can assess, coordinate and notify the next available resources of what is needed. State and local governments are the front runners of planning for and managing the consequences of a terrorist incident using available resources in the critical hours before Federal assistance can arrive (Managing the Emergency Consequences of Terrorist Incidents, July 2002). A Terrorist Incident Appendix (TIA) was designed to mirror an Emergency Operations Plan in relations to terrorist incidents. The TIA consists of six phases: Initiation, Concept Development, Plan Development, Plan Review Development of supporting plans, procedures and materials and Validation of plans using tabletop, functional, and full scale exercises. The TIA should be compared to those plans of existing Emergency Operation Plans (EOP) in place at the local and state level. Comparing plans before and incident allows time for comparison and revision of the various functions which will prevent disconnects to ensure coordination and
Every city and state has specific details in their emergency response plan, and in order ensure aid and support, “state and local governments must adopt the NIMS to receive federal preparedness assistance through grants, contracts, and other funding” (Sauter & Carafano, 2012, p. 245). Sauter and Carafano (2012) noted, “The NIMS attempts to ensure interoperability among federal, state, and local assets. It establishes procedures for managing operations; conducting training; and setting requirements standard terminology, and common procedures” (p. 245). The National Incident Management System (NIMS) model are applied and utilized for premeditated or unexpected incidents.
Herman, E. & Sullivan, G. O.1989. The Terrorism Industry: The Experts and Institutions That Shape Our View of Terror. New York: Pantheon.
When developing a plan for a specific emergency it important to utilize all accessible resources, ensuring to not make the same mistakes that have occurred during past events. In Aurora, the local police department already established a set plan to respond to active shooters however it was focus more
This Emergency Operations Plan addresses Dixie High School planned response to extraordinary emergency situations associated with all hazards including natural disasters, technological emergencies and biological incidents. It is the principle guide for mitigating emergencies and incidents; ensuring protection of life, health, safety and property and aiding in the recovery operations to ensure that the school returns to pre-emergency operation. This plan is intended to facilitate coordination with local first responders and establish a framework for an effective system of comprehensive emergency management.
Another incident occurred on October 23, 2014 by a suspected Islamic convert in Queens, New York. The suspected Islamic convert critically wounded two NYPD officers with a hatchet. Islamic terrorist groups carefully choose their targets due to specific missions and objectives. Acts of terrorism are based on modernization, cultural conflict, and religion (Sauter & Carafano, 2012). Terrorists are creative in their attacks and is willing to explore different methods of inflicting fear and disrupting the economy. One of the many focal targets of terrorist groups are crowded civilian areas such as businesses and eateries. We often take for granted how serious terrorist attacks can be, and in most cases we fail to take preventive measures and implement emergency plans. Sauter and Carafano (2012) states, “Small business owners often believe that if disaster strikes they’ll be back in operation after two or three days. But experience shows that’s unlikely” (p. 431). The destruction of the Twin Towers carried out by Islamist extremists caused major disruption to the economy, caused mass causalities, inflict psychological fear to society, and destroyed countless large and small businesses in the lower Manhattan area of New
The country faces various health challenges including a high burden of communicable diseases (such as HIV/AIDS that is responsible for 29.3% of all deaths, malaria and Tuberculosis) and non-communicable diseases (Government of Kenya, 2011). Health services are provided by government, missionaries, ...
Terrorism has many forms, and many definitions. “Elements from the American definitional model define terrorism as a premeditated and unlawful act in which groups or agents of some principal engage in a threatened or actual use o...
Kenya is a very important country in the world basically due to its strategic location in the East African region. It is a country that has had an interesting political walk that despite the challenges it has faced, it has managed to pull through though with an interesting history to tell. There have been different regimes in the country since it acquired its independence. Worth noting is that these regimes have come into power through different ideologies and they have guided the country in different directions. The country was colonized by the British and acquired its independence in the year 1963. Notably, Kenya is considered to have been a colonial invention which had to contend with the colonialists.