Mass Victim Attacks are surprise attacks that kill multiple innocent people simultaneously. It is a growing worldwide problem. Mass victim attacks are committed by diverse types of attackers noted by different motivations. For the purpose of this book, I define a mass victim attack in the following manner:
A mass victim attack is defined as a planned individual or multiple perpetrator violent assault against a group of people, using a single, multiple, or improvised set of weapons with the end result being the deaths of three or more innocent victims.
In the United States we have: (1) international terrorism, (2) domestic terrorism, (3) self-radicalized terrorism, (4) attackers with mental health issues, and (5) those attackers motivated by hate/bias. Although there are motivation differences, all mass victim attackers have one thing in common: They all attack multiple innocent people by surprise, with no mercy, and with the objective of slaughtering as many as possible in the shortest amount of time.
Mass victim attackers are dedicated to their killing plans—so much so that they are prepared to be killed or to commit suicide. I chose the term mass victim attacks because of the focus on the victim. We tend to think of those attacked as either being killed or wounded. However, there are other ways of being a survivor victim. Those who develop Acute Stress Disorder (ASD) or longer-term Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) because of being caught in a mass attack suffer as well. This book has a chapter devoted to such effects.
This book addresses the topic of mass attacks differently than other works. My focus is on victims and not a singular focus on the attackers. Analyzing all forms of mass victim attacks and attackers, I have focused on how people have survived such attacks. This first-time, universal focus on survival provides a guide for how to live through future mass victim attacks. Bombs, hijacked airliners used as weapons, semi-automatic guns and rifles, shotguns, knives, chemicals, biological agents, and even trucks driven into crowds have been used as weapons. Just as weapons have varied, the attackers themselves have been different.
The major feature of mass victim attacks is not weapons but the attackers’ intent to kill innocent victims in such a way as to strike fear into the hearts of all. Although all mass victim attacks are terrorizing, not all attacks are committed by terrorists. We must know the differences and similarities across attacker types. We must be better aware and understand the threat that we face today if we are to increase our chances of survival if the unthinkable happens—that is, being caught in a mass victim attack.
As an example, the deadliest international terrorist attack in the United States was the September 11, 2001, Al Qaeda attack in New York City and Washington, D.C. Forcefully gaining control of four airliners, 19 international terrorists worked as coordinated teams. Two hijacked airliners were flown into the World Trade Center Twin Towers, and one into the Pentagon. The fourth was a failure due to passengers fighting back, but it flew into the ground killing all aboard. The devastating attack resulted in 2,996 deaths with a minimum of 6,000 injuries.
Adam Lanza is an example of mental health issues. On December 14, 2012, 20-year-old Lanza shot his mother to death while she was sleeping and then drove five miles to Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut. Working alone, he was armed with two semi-automatic pistols, a rifle, and a shotgun. Forcefully entering the school by blowing out the windows adjacent to the front door of the school, he ended his own life about five minutes later. However, in that chaotic five minutes he managed to swiftly kill 20 children while they were hiding in vain under desks or in restrooms. All children were between the ages of 6 and 7, and all were shot multiple times. He also slaughtered six adults who were trying to protect the innocent children.
There are also mass victim attacks driven by hate and prejudice. On August 12, 2012, Wade Page armed himself with a semi-automatic pistol to kill Sikhs. Recognized as a white supremacist, his hate raged to the point of targeting a Sikh temple in Oak Creek, Wisconsin. He decided to act, approached the temple, and viciously killed six people and wounded four others—all members of the Sikh faith that he despised.
Self-radicalized terrorism is a more recent concern within the United States. Without being recruited, attackers choose to follow and model themselves after radical Islamic terrorism. Contact with an organized terrorist group could be present but is not necessary. All that is required is a self-proclaimed allegiance to the idolized group. Such attacks as the assault on the Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Florida, on June 12, 2016 (49 killed and 53 injured), and the attack on the Inland Regional Center in San Bernardino, California, on December 2, 2015 (14 killed and 23 injured), demonstrate the viciousness associated with these attacks.
Why did I write this book? I am a psychologist with analytical and operational experience. I have worked in the areas of individual, group, national, and international threat my entire career. I was a psychologist in the U.S. Secret Service, an intelligence officer in the CIA, and in contracted threat-analysis positions across many aspects of the military and most intelligence agencies.
I have headed up a behavior-analysis team that tracked terrorists and headed a threat team at the Pentagon throughout the 9/11 attack and following threat. I have escaped from an attempted kidnapping, and I have met and interviewed despicable killers. For 31 years, I have focused on the development of innovative technology to anticipate threat from all types of adversaries.1 These methods are currently in use within the U.S. government. This background has left me with knowledge that I am committed to share, knowledge that can help you to survive if the unthinkable happens—that is, being caught in a mass victim attack. By reading and studying this book, you will likely be more aware and prepared than you are now.
There are several key points to emphasize about how this book is presented. First, I have used repetition on purpose. There have been numerous mass victim attacks that have characteristics fitting into different sections and are used for emphasis. Second, key points to survival are repeated across the book with different examples to enhance learning and memory of important content. Last, the book is divided into three parts as described below.
PART I: THE TOP THREE THINGS YOU CAN DO TO STAY ALIVE
Escaping harm or death in mass victim attacks depends on more than one factor. Part I highlights the three major factors that can increase your chances of survival. Combined, these three points can replace fear of the unknown and sense of no control with what can be done to increase your chances of survival. These three factors are: (1) understanding past attacks to know how to survive, (2) recognizing warning signs, and (3) knowing how to react when caught in an actual attack. This important information will increase your situational awareness and better prepare you for the future.
PART II: ESCAPE, HIDE, STAY IN PLACE, OR ATTACK THE ATTACKER?
This second part of the book focuses on what to do to stay alive. Contrary to popular view, we do have options. Mass victim attackers use the element of surprise. Whether using a bomb, semi-automatic weapon, knife, vehicle, or any other form of weapon, the attacker strikes quickly and without mercy. Gender, age appearance, race, and even illness or disability is not considered. Because anyone in a selected target area can be a victim, we must know how to react. This part of the book covers the specifics of how and how not to respond in detail.
PART III: HOW TO SET UP YOUR PERSONAL PROTECTION PLAN
Part III is the final part of the book, which was written to assist you in establishing a personal protection plan. Tips are provided on how to focus on being prepared for specific types of locations visited based on your personal characteristics. Survival also includes coping with the effects of ASD and longer-term PTSD, as a result of being a victim of a mass attack. The book addresses all facets of survival, including surviving with long-term physical and psychological effects.