TRAINING ACTIVITY
“WORK OF A TERRORIST?”
ACTIVITY DESCRIPTION
Provided with a series of scenarios, learners will participate in a class discussion to
decide whether the scenarios might be the action of a terrorist
Instructions:
 The instructor should explain that they will read off a series of scenarios that may
or may not be the work of a terrorist.
 After the scenario is read, ask for comments on whether the learners feel this is a
terrorist incident or not.
 Encourage debate among the students.
 Continue with the remaining scenarios.
KEY LEARNING POINTS
This learning activity will challenge the student to recognize potential acts of terrorism
that may not be blatant.
VARIATIONS

None
RESOURCES NEEDED



Easel board and markers.
Work of a Terrorist? Scenarios (examples attached).
Time: 15-30 minutes.
SOURCE
Unknown
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Work of a Terrorist?
Scenarios
1. On a Friday evening at 6:00 p.m., your community receives a call from a local
hospital that is undertaking emergency evacuation due to numerous people falling ill
for no apparent reason. Symptoms include blurred vision, muscular convulsions, and
profound tearing and nasal discharges.
Is this due to a terrorist attack?
2. You are called to the scene of a traffic accident involving a van. One of the
occupants has fled on foot after the accident. The second occupant was ejected
during the accident and is lying unconscious next to the vehicle. When you look in
the rear of the van you see a package that is approximately 12 inches x 12 inches x
8 inches. Next to the box are thick rubber gloves and a very thick and heavy apron.
Is this a sign of terrorism?
3. You are responding to a reported explosion at the multiplex
cinema located near a large shopping mall. The cinema building is
detached from the mall but located in the same parking lot. The
dispatch center has advised you of numerous reported injuries in
the lobby, while the other occupants are evacuate the building.
Is this a sign of terrorism?
4. At 9:00 a.m. on a Monday morning, the town emergency communications center
receives an emergency call from a bailiff at the local courthouse. The bailiff reports a
powdery material coming out of the ventilation system in the courthouse building.
While he investigates he finds two individuals pouring a white powder from a pint jar
into the air ducts. He places the subjects under arrest. While the bailiff questions the
subjects, they announce that everyone in the courthouse is going to die. They further
state they made the material themselves using beans and directions in a book. The
bailiff immediately evacuates all 150 people from the courthouse and calls the town
emergency number for help.
The town dispatcher sends two law enforcement officers, a fire truck, and an
ambulance to the scene. En route the report from the bailiff is provided to the
responders.
Is this a terrorist attack?
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5. At 11:00 a.m. on Friday the town emergency communications center receives and
emergency call from the principal at the local high school. The principal reports that
there is a fire in the boy's bathroom on the second floor of a two story school. All 900
students and teachers have been evacuated from the building.
The town dispatcher sends two law enforcement officers, two fire trucks, a ladder
truck, chief officer, and an ambulance to the scene.
Upon arrival the firefighters notice gray smoke coming from a side door/stairwell.
The firefighters enter the building with a hoseline, wearing self-contained breathing
apparatus' and structural fire fighting gear. When the ambulance arrives, they notice
multiple students are coughing, vomiting, squinting their eyes and tearing.
The two firefighters find no evidence of a fire in the bathroom and immediately exit
the building complaining of intense skin irritation. When they remover their SCBA,
they complain of burning eyes.
Does this indicate a terrorist attack?
6. At 10:00 a.m. your jurisdiction receives and emergency call reporting an explosion
with injuries at the college. The explosion is reported to have occurred in the
auditorium building where 500 students were attending a lecture.
While en route, additional emergency calls are received from the scene reporting
unspecified illnesses among the victims.
The first arriving units report several hundred students fleeing the vicinity of the
auditorium building. Several victims are down in the parking lot near the auditorium
suffering from convulsions and/or seizures. There is no apparent structural damage
to the building and no sign of fire.
Is this due to a terrorist attack?
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