2RHPZ
06-26-2004, 02:38 AM
N.J. Police Hear Israeli Methods For Dealing With Suicide Bombers
POSTED: 9:49 am EDT June 25, 2004
UPDATED: 12:46 pm EDT June 25, 2004
PRINCETON, N.J. -- The threat of suicide bombings is woven into the daily lives of Israelis, from the private security guards on post in front of every shop to preschool children being taught evasive techniques.
"You see on a talk show two 11-year-old girls talking about their ambition to become suicide bombers instead of talking about Paris Hilton," Israeli police Commander Shmuel Zoltak said of Palestinian militant groups that recruit youngsters for the attacks.
While Israel faces a near-constant stream of suicide bombings, security officials there said they have one advantage over New Jersey police trying to prevent similar attacks.
"We know where our problem comes from," said Simon Perry, a brigadier general with the Israeli Police and Ministry of Public Safety. "Your problem is more complex."
Israeli police experts shared their experiences as part of the state police effort to prepare New Jersey law enforcement agencies for the possibility of suicide bombings.
The Israelis said they use threat assessments, close coordination of the various emergency response agencies, and repeated practice drills to keep suicide bombing casualties to a minimum.
Perry said nine out of 10 suicide bombing plots aimed at civilian targets are foiled, but said that percentage is not considered a great success. He said 17 suicide bombers were stopped from carrying out attacks in the past month alone.
"But if we miss the 18th one, it's a failure," Perry told the crowd of about 400 police officials attending a seminar at Princeton University.
The idea for Thursday's session came after New Jersey State Police Superintendent Col. Rick Fuentes visited Israel last year as part of a law enforcement exchange program.
"As a result, we changed the way we do business," Fuentes said, referring to security measures implemented by the state police.
The Israeli officials also heard reports from the state police on homeland security measures taken in New Jersey. In addition, they got a look Wednesday at the weapons, trucks and other equipment at the state's disposal for fighting terrorism.
Thursday's seminar was the first coordinated by the Washington, D.C.-based Jewish Institute for National Security Affairs. Others are scheduled to be held in Washington and San Francisco.
Steven L. Pomerantz, former assistant director of the FBI and an adviser for the Jewish institute, said police in the United States must get prepared for suicide bombings.
"I don't want to say it's inevitable, but it's a real threat," Pomerantz said.
New Jersey police attending the seminar were shown graphic photos of suicide bombings that were carried out at restaurants, on buses and at other public places in Israel. They also heard stories of Israeli police subduing suicide bombers or clearing areas before detonation.
Civilians in Israel join police in being alert for suspicious packages and other potential problems, Perry said. About 200,000 checks were done by the Israeli bomb squad in 2001.
Yoram Hessel, the former head of global operations for the Israeli intelligence agency Mossad, said gathering information on the groups that seek to conduct terrorist acts was another key to success for that country's relatively small police force.
"We have a high degree of prevention on the basis of intelligence," Hessel said.
Atlantic City police Capt. Rich Halvorson, commander of the bomb squad unit, said that hearing about the tactics and strategies used by Israel will help police departments in New Jersey.
"We've all been taught lessons through other countries and Israel is a good teacher for our police," Halvorson said. "Training is the most important part of it."
POSTED: 9:49 am EDT June 25, 2004
UPDATED: 12:46 pm EDT June 25, 2004
PRINCETON, N.J. -- The threat of suicide bombings is woven into the daily lives of Israelis, from the private security guards on post in front of every shop to preschool children being taught evasive techniques.
"You see on a talk show two 11-year-old girls talking about their ambition to become suicide bombers instead of talking about Paris Hilton," Israeli police Commander Shmuel Zoltak said of Palestinian militant groups that recruit youngsters for the attacks.
While Israel faces a near-constant stream of suicide bombings, security officials there said they have one advantage over New Jersey police trying to prevent similar attacks.
"We know where our problem comes from," said Simon Perry, a brigadier general with the Israeli Police and Ministry of Public Safety. "Your problem is more complex."
Israeli police experts shared their experiences as part of the state police effort to prepare New Jersey law enforcement agencies for the possibility of suicide bombings.
The Israelis said they use threat assessments, close coordination of the various emergency response agencies, and repeated practice drills to keep suicide bombing casualties to a minimum.
Perry said nine out of 10 suicide bombing plots aimed at civilian targets are foiled, but said that percentage is not considered a great success. He said 17 suicide bombers were stopped from carrying out attacks in the past month alone.
"But if we miss the 18th one, it's a failure," Perry told the crowd of about 400 police officials attending a seminar at Princeton University.
The idea for Thursday's session came after New Jersey State Police Superintendent Col. Rick Fuentes visited Israel last year as part of a law enforcement exchange program.
"As a result, we changed the way we do business," Fuentes said, referring to security measures implemented by the state police.
The Israeli officials also heard reports from the state police on homeland security measures taken in New Jersey. In addition, they got a look Wednesday at the weapons, trucks and other equipment at the state's disposal for fighting terrorism.
Thursday's seminar was the first coordinated by the Washington, D.C.-based Jewish Institute for National Security Affairs. Others are scheduled to be held in Washington and San Francisco.
Steven L. Pomerantz, former assistant director of the FBI and an adviser for the Jewish institute, said police in the United States must get prepared for suicide bombings.
"I don't want to say it's inevitable, but it's a real threat," Pomerantz said.
New Jersey police attending the seminar were shown graphic photos of suicide bombings that were carried out at restaurants, on buses and at other public places in Israel. They also heard stories of Israeli police subduing suicide bombers or clearing areas before detonation.
Civilians in Israel join police in being alert for suspicious packages and other potential problems, Perry said. About 200,000 checks were done by the Israeli bomb squad in 2001.
Yoram Hessel, the former head of global operations for the Israeli intelligence agency Mossad, said gathering information on the groups that seek to conduct terrorist acts was another key to success for that country's relatively small police force.
"We have a high degree of prevention on the basis of intelligence," Hessel said.
Atlantic City police Capt. Rich Halvorson, commander of the bomb squad unit, said that hearing about the tactics and strategies used by Israel will help police departments in New Jersey.
"We've all been taught lessons through other countries and Israel is a good teacher for our police," Halvorson said. "Training is the most important part of it."