MSA Security Blog

Overview

Last week, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg and his Washington D.C. based gun-control non-profit both received threatening letters that preliminarily tested positive for ricin. The samples are currently undergoing conclusive testing at a lab in Maryland. The first letter was discovered at an off-site sorting facility on Friday afternoon. The second letter was opened on Sunday by the director of Bloomberg’s organization, Mayors against Illegal Guns. According to authorities, the letters contained the same threatening content that made reference to the gun-control debate. Inside the envelopes there was also an “oily pink-orange substance” that tested positive for ricin. Both letters were postmarked from Shreveport, LA on May 20. The letters were sent anonymously, and there was no return address. Additionally, New York Police Department (NYPD) Spokesman Paul J. Browne stated that there was something suspicious about the way the envelope sent to New York was addressed. At this time, none of the staffers who initially opened the letters are showing symptoms of ricin poisoning. However, three officials who later examined the letter exhibited minor symptoms that have since cleared up. They remain hospitalized as a precaution.

The MSA Research and Intelligence Analysis (RIA) Group yesterday reported that the investigation stemming from the arrest of Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, one of the two brothers suspected in the Boston Marathon explosions last week, has indicated that they had additional plans to attack Times Square in New York City. Details are continuing to emerge, but reportedly the plan was crafted spontaneously in the aftermath of the Boston bombing, possibly as the brothers tried to escape from police in a hijacked car.

On April 21, 2013, Michael O'Neil, President of MSA Security and Former Commanding Officer of the NYPD Counterterrorism Division, joined Ed Randall on the radio to talk about the Boston Marathon bombing and security issues in sports.

One suspect from Monday’s Boston Marathon explosions is dead and another on the run following a confrontation with law enforcement that began late last night in the Boston suburb of Watertown. They have been identified as ethnic Chechens, Dzhokhar A. Tsarnaev (19) and Tamerlan Tsarnaev (26).

Authorities have released additional information today following yesterday’s nearly simultaneous explosions at the Boston Marathon. Three individuals were killed in the attack. Two of the victims have been identified as Martin Richard (8) and Krystle Campbell (29), both from Massachusetts. At least 170 individuals were wounded in the attack, with 17 victims suffering critical injuries. Contrary to initial reports, there are no suspects in the bombing attack. A 22-year-old Saudi national, Abdulrahman Ali Alharbi, quickly became a person of interest after the attacks. He has since been cleared of any involvement and is now considered a witness.

At approximately 2:45pm, two explosions occurred almost simultaneously, roughly 10 seconds apart, causing extensive damage, injuring dozens and killing at least two.  The bombs exploded at the 4:08-hour mark of the Boston Marathon; the bulk of the casualties were among spectators on the north side of Boylston Street. Boston Police Commissioner Edward Davis reports a third explosion at the JFK Presidential Library, 3.2 miles to the south, with unknown casualties.  The reported explosion at the library may be a fire unrelateed to the explosions on Boylston Street.  Unconfirmed reports indicate there were three additional suspect devices.  Two of the suspect devices were found in the vicinity of the Grand Stand near the finish line.

On April 8, 2013, MSA Security President Michael O’Neil spoke at the Metropolitan Healthcare Safety & Security Directors bi-monthly meeting at Mount Sinai Hospital, a regional gathering of the International Association for Healthcare Security and Safety (IAHSS), on topics related to security and the healthcare industry.

A parcel bomb was sent to the offices of Italian newspaper La Stampa on Tuesday, but failed to detonate when opened, prompting an evacuation of the building as bomb disposal teams were deployed. “Inside there was a mechanical system, which did not function, but was capable of detonating a device,” La Stampa said on its website, which showed a photograph of the bomb in a type of hard case usually used for carrying CDs.

A New York Times article published on April 6, "In Shift, Police Advise Taking an Active Role to Counter Mass Attacks," provides well qualified information for individuals regarding preparations for active shooter incidents. This article, again, raises for discussion the importance of preparedness--on both individual and organizational levels--for active shooter threats.  MSA Security promotes many of the concepts in terms of survival of individuals through our Golden 15 Program.