The New Year’s Day attack in New Orleans, where a driver intentionally drove a pickup truck into a crowded Bourbon Street celebration, killing 15 and injuring over 30, highlights the enduring and adaptive nature of terrorist threats.
The assailant, killed by police during a firefight, had an ISIS flag and multiple improvised explosive devices (IEDs) in his vehicle. Vehicle-based attacks have become a favored tactic for extremists due to their simplicity, accessibility and ability to cause widespread devastation with minimal planning or resources. These attacks are particularly difficult to prevent, as they often exploit everyday objects — vehicles — as weapons.
High-profile incidents in 2017, including attacks in New York, Tel Aviv, Paris, Barcelona and Charlottesville, highlight how this method has been repeatedly used to target vulnerable public spaces. Pedestrian zones, outdoor gatherings and other soft targets continue to be at risk, reinforcing the urgent need for enhanced physical security measures such as barriers, bollards and improved surveillance.
Equally critical is addressing the digital environments that foster extremist ideologies. Online platforms often serve as breeding grounds for radicalization, where individuals are exposed to violent propaganda, recruitment efforts and operational guidance. Strengthening digital countermeasures, alongside public space security, is essential to mitigating the risks posed by this evolving threat.
Recent events in Europe, such as the vehicle-ramming attack at a Christmas festival in Germany, highlight the global nature of this threat. Experts have also observed mimic waves, where tactics, methodologies and even attacker profiles are mirrored across regions. These patterns emphasize the importance of local security measures being informed by international trends to effectively counter evolving threats.
Islamist extremism remains a persistent danger
While national security efforts increasingly focused on the threat posed by white supremacist groups, the New Year’s Day attack in New Orleans — featuring an ISIS flag and improvised explosive devices (IEDs) — is a sobering reminder that Islamist extremism remains a pressing and persistent danger. The methodologies employed by groups like ISIS are highly sophisticated, leveraging digital platforms to radicalize individuals globally and incite acts of violence.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Foreign Fighter Task Force has detailed the polished media strategies ISIS uses to spread propaganda, recruit individuals and inspire lone actors. The group effectively exploits social media to provide operational guidance and encourage attacks with minimal coordination. These tactics enable extremists to use everyday tools — such as vehicles or improvised devices — with devastating results.
The methodologies employed by groups like ISIS are highly sophisticated, leveraging digital platforms to radicalize individuals globally and incite acts of violence.
In May 2018, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) released its Soft Targets and Crowded Places Security Overview Plan, which underscores the significant vulnerability of soft targets — such as crowded events lacking robust security measures — to malicious actors. These locations are often exploited by a range of perpetrators, including foreign terrorist organizations, domestic criminals and lone actors, who seek to inflict harm and disrupt infrastructure.
The report highlighted the pressing need for comprehensive prevention, protection and mitigation strategies to address these risks. Among its key recommendations were enhanced physical security measures, such as barriers to counter vehicle-based attacks, improved emergency response plans and community awareness initiatives.
To effectively address the threat to soft targets, a multifaceted approach is essential. Strengthening physical security measures — such as installing barriers, restricting vehicle access and enhancing protective infrastructure — is a critical first step in reducing the opportunities for attacks. However, physical defenses alone are insufficient.
|RELATED: New Orleans barriers to prevent vehicle attacks were in the process of being replaced
Equally important is tackling the digital dimension of this threat. Online spaces where radicalization thrives must be actively monitored to disrupt the spread of extremist ideologies. Social media platforms need to enhance their capabilities to detect and remove terror-affiliated content swiftly. At the same time, law enforcement agencies require advanced tools and strategies to track, infiltrate and dismantle these digital networks. By combining robust physical safeguards with proactive digital countermeasures, communities can better protect vulnerable spaces and mitigate the risks posed by evolving threats.
Listen to Kyle Shoberg and Mark Redlich discuss the New Orleans vehicle ramming attack and the complexities of special event planning and response on this episode of the SHOTS Fired podcast:
Strengthening public spaces and communication
Exercises are crucial for identifying gaps in preparedness and ensuring multi-jurisdictional interoperability operates at its highest level. These drills allow agencies to test their coordination, communication and response capabilities, uncovering weaknesses that could hinder effective action during a crisis. However, robust operational readiness must also extend to public communication, which remains a critical but often overlooked component of crisis management.
The recent New Orleans attack highlights the challenges of delivering timely and credible information to the public. In the critical first hours, federal authorities contradicted state and local officials by initially stating that the attack was not terror related. Such discrepancies can create confusion, erode public trust and hinder emergency response efforts. This misstep underscores the importance of federal agencies aligning closely with their state and local counterparts, who often have a more accurate and immediate understanding of the situation on the ground. Better coordination and unified messaging are essential to ensure that information shared with the public is consistent, accurate, and delivered without unnecessary delay.
Public awareness is a vital tool in preventing and responding to attacks. An informed and vigilant community can serve as a force multiplier for law enforcement efforts, enhancing situational awareness and aiding in rapid intervention. A prime example of this is the swift capture of Ahmad Khan Rahimi following the 2016 Chelsea bombing.
An informed and vigilant community can serve as a force multiplier for law enforcement efforts, enhancing situational awareness and aiding in rapid intervention.
By quickly sharing critical information, including Rahimi’s description and the details of his vehicle, the NYPD and New Jersey State Police empowered the public to assist in the manhunt. Within hours, tips from alert citizens led to his apprehension, demonstrating the power of timely and transparent communication in mobilizing community support.
This case highlights the importance of leveraging public awareness as part of a broader security strategy. Promptly disseminating credible information through traditional media, social platforms and emergency alert systems can significantly improve the likelihood of apprehending suspects and preventing further harm.
The global fight against evolving threats
While many people can easily identify symbols associated with white supremacist extremism, indicators of Islamist radicalization — such as the black ISIS flag or specific behavioral warning signs — are less commonly understood. To address this gap, it is critical to renew and expand initiatives like “See Something, Say Something.” These programs must ensure that both the public and private security agencies are equipped to recognize and report potential threats from all forms of extremism, providing the knowledge and tools needed to act effectively.
As security threats evolve, the principle of “thinking globally, acting locally” remains central to maintaining safety. By learning from international incidents and tailoring those lessons to local needs, communities can bolster their defenses against the dynamic and pervasive risks of vehicle-based and other forms of attacks. Achieving this requires constant adaptation, vigilance and collaboration among public, private and community stakeholders to ensure that public spaces remain safe and accessible for everyone.
CISA offers vehicle ramming mitigation guidance
The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) offers comprehensive guidance on mitigating the risk of vehicle-ramming incidents. CISA’s resources focus on preventive measures, including physical barriers, vehicle access restrictions and environmental design strategies, as well as preparedness efforts like training, drills and risk assessments. By combining these tools with community engagement and awareness, organizations can enhance public safety and reduce vulnerabilities to vehicle-based threats. For more details, visit the CISA Vehicle Ramming Mitigation page.
CISA Vehicle Ramming Action Guide by Lexipol_Media_Group on Scribd
