Texas Governor Greg Abbott (R) is taking strict measures to target "radical jihadists." Governor Abbott directed the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) to surge Texas Anti-Terrorism Task Force resources to combat radical jihadist terrorism.
The decision comes after Shamsud-Din Jabbar from Houston carried out a terror attack in New Orleans. The attack killed 14 people, and Jabbar was inspired by ISIS.
In a statement, the Texas governor affirmed that "terrorism has no place in Texas." "Law enforcement at all levels must aggressively collaborate to eliminate radicalization that can lead to terrorist attacks," he added.
According to a press release from Governor Abbott's office, the governor has ordered the Texas DPS to focus on the following prevention and protection efforts in Texas' local communities:
Prevention:
- DPS will work with FBI Field Offices to increase Anti-terrorism Joint Terrorism Task Force operations statewide.
- DPS will increase the number of intelligence analysts assigned to investigate terrorism and mass attack threats and to provide analytical assistance to local jurisdictions.
- DPS will work with federal agencies to identify, locate, and assess potential threats from Special Interest Migrants. (In the past 4 years, hundreds of immigrants who entered the country illegally were on the terrorist watch list.)
- DPS will work with the US Department of Homeland Security and local jurisdictions to expand the Bomb-Making Materials Awareness Program (BMAP), enhancing information sharing between the private sector and law enforcement regarding suspicious purchases of materials that may be used to construct improvised explosive devices.
- DPS will work with local partners from law enforcement, mental health, and other fields to implement the Texas Behavioral Threat Assessment Intervention and Prevention Program Strategy.
- DPS will provide training and education to Texas communities on prevention of terrorism and targeted violence.
Protection and Mitigation:
- DPS Regions will work with local law enforcement partners on plans for securing special events and mass gatherings and will provide assistance including vulnerability assessments, threat detection technology, analytical support, and security personnel as needed.
- DPS will support local jurisdictions in planning and conducting mass casualty attack response workshops to improve the ability of Texas communities to detect, deter, and respond to terrorist attacks.
- DPS will develop a new exercise series focused on coordinating with private sector owners and operators of critical infrastructure to conduct workshops focused on detection of, deterrence of, and response to physical attacks against critical infrastructure.
- DPS will expand the Texas Infrastructure Liaison Officer Program by offering additional certification and training opportunities in order to expand intelligence sharing, suspicious activity reporting, and incident coordination with private sector partners.
- DPS will assess the vulnerability of the Capitol Complex to vehicle ramming and other types of potential terrorist attacks and will provide recommendations for Capitol Complex security enhancements to the Office of the Governor.
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