Hostage Negotiations in Lieu of Armed Assault
The failed attempt to rescue hostages during the 1972 Olympics in Munich Germany led to the unnecessary and terrible loss of lives of both hostages and captors. Ever since then, great efforts have been undertaken by law enforcement professionals and researchers to develop clear protocols to help insure the safety of all involved parties. Negotiations, one tactic among several, represents a non-violent alternative to armed assault that can be used to obtain the safe release of hostages and the capture of unharmed hostage takers. Drawing on my forty year career experience in California Corrections, this paper argues for the power of dialogue as an essential tool for the peaceful resolution of a crisis involving people, including hostage situations. Examining six notorious case studies of hostage situations from 1972 to the present, this work highlights a number of negotiation strategies. These six events exemplify both peaceful and tragic outcomes, making it clear that all too often the outcome corresponds directly to how effectively conflict-resolution and negotiation tactics are employed. Through analysis and critique of these case studies, this work makes evident that the attitude of the team leadership, as well as the amount of cooperation and coordination between the negotiation team and the assault team, proves critical to the peaceful resolution of a hostage situation and to the saving of lives.
Intelligence Requirements in Hostage Situations
Abstract “There is no shame to be defeated by superior forces, but there is no excuse for being surprised,” said a famous Chinese warrior. In law enforcement, there is no acceptable casualty rate. We do not want to be defeated by any force or by any means. By far, the best way to avoid defeat is to know when and where not to engage, as well as when to engage. In local law enforcement, we must play with the hand that has been dealt to us, because there is no other agency to handle the immediate situation. Intelligence is often the key to our success.
The Counter-Terrorism Handbook: Tactics, Procedures and Techniques
Terrorism: An Overview New Game Global War on Terrorism Meaning of Terrorism What Is Terrorism? Brief History of Terrorism Terrorism in the United Kingdom Modern Terrorist Groups Terrorism as a Political Statement The Nature of Terrorism Characteristics of Terrorism Financial Terrorism Terrorist Actions Other Terrorist Actions Intimidation and Threats Disinformation and Propaganda Assassination Common Elements of Terrorism Purpose of Terrorism Modern Terrorist Groups Why Terrorists Succeed Mobility Communications Security Democratic Legal System Access to Arms Vulnerability of Targets Counterterrorist Response Weapons of Mass Destruction Role of the Military Homeland Defense Implementation of Homeland Security Organizing Homeland Security Border and Transportation Security Emergency Preparedness and Response Science and Technology Information and Infrastructure Protection Task Force Initiatives Local Law Enforcement Capabilities Local Significance Private Sector Cooperation Terror Defense Planning Introduction to Risk Assessment Security Advisory System Structuring a Preincident Plan Information Gathering Targets Target Profiles Terrorists Target Analysis Organization Training Terrorist Tactics The Suburban Threat Risk Analysis Risk Avoidance Hostage/Kidnap Defense Bomb Defense Planning Bomb Incidents The Bomb Threat Rationale of Bomb Threats A Note of Warning Warning or Hoax? Taking a Bomb Threat Call Bomb Threat Decision Making Evacuation Options Evacuation Procedure Overview Putting Out the Message Planning Issues Bomb Threats and the Police The Bomb: Terrorist Weapon of Choice Types of Bombers Motivation of Bombers Hostage Situations A Rare Occurrence Who Takes Hostages? Panic Reaction Suicide by Cop Why Hostages Are Taken The Magic Triangle Munich, 1972 Deadlines Killing on Deadline Evaluation Responsibilities of the First Responding Officers The Mobilization Point Location of the Mobilization Point Decision Makers Evacuation Keeping Track of People Start Intelligence Gathering Inner Perimeter Tactical Units Communications First Response Review Summary Kidnapping Kidnapping as a Weapon Risks Involved Differences between Hostage Taking and Kidnapping Uses of Kidnapping Types of Kidnappers Post-Cold War Political Kidnapping Domestic Spousal Confrontation/Emotionally Disturbed Persons During and after the U.S. Operation in Iraq Private Industry's Role The Police Role Police Response to Residence or Workplace of Victim Response to the Kidnap/Extortion Threat "Do Not Contact the Police" McKidnapping Hoax Prevention Tactics What the Individual Can Do Journalists Do Not Have Exemptions What the Family Can Do One Man's Ordeal What the Corporation Can Do On Becoming a Victim Terrorism on Public Transportation Dorothy Moses Schulz Overview Where Are Terrorists Likely to Strike? Transit as a Target-Vulnerable and Attractive Overlapping Jurisdictions Complicate Response Efforts A Brief Case Study-Virginia Metro Incident Terrorists and Criminals Ride the Rails Freight Trains Are Also Targets International Rail Transit Terrorism Chechen Separatists Target the Moscow Subway System Gas and Arson Attacks Buses-Mobile Explosives and Hostage Sites Waterborne Terrorism Attacks and Hijackings Piracy-Updating an Old Crime to New Purposes Conclusion Weapons of Mass Destruction A Long History Definition of Weapons of Mass Destruction The Threat Today Aum Shinrikyo Incident U.S. Anthrax Attack Chemical and Biological Agents Transmission of Infectious Agents Chemical Agents Common Nerve Agents Blood Agents Blister (Mustard) Agents Choking/Lung/Pulmonary Agents Riot Control Common Terms Associated with Biological Agents Common Biological Agents: Class A Common Biological Agents: Class B Common Biological Agents: Class C Other Biological Agents Nuclear Weapons Response to a WMD Incident First Responders Federal Assistance Local Initiatives Protective Gear Requirements for WMD Response Domestic Terrorism Leaderless Groups and Lone Wolves Ecoterrorism Discovery Channel Hostages Other Ecoterror Groups Animal Rights Groups Animal Liberation Front Food Fights ALF Lone Wolf Islamic Lone Wolves Abortion Clinic Violence Antiglobalism Contemporary Homegrown Islamic Terrorists Non-Islamic Homegrown Contemporary Terrorists Early Homegrown Terrorists Using America as a Battleground Bomb Searches Overview General Concepts Building Searches Exterior Searches Interior Searches Search Teams Setting Up a Program Alternative to Search Teams Mechanics of the Search Room Search Common Bomb Placement Locations Precaution Vehicle Search Antipersonnel Car Bombs Vehicle-Borne Explosive Devices Aircraft Searches Preincident Executive Search Explosive Detection Canines Suspected Packages Energetic Materials and Explosive Devices Energetic Materials Explosives Defined Types of High Explosives Identifying Improvised Explosive Devices Firing Train Initiation Systems IED Packaging Characteristics of Military Ordnance Hostage Incidents What Is Involved Communicating with the Hostage Taker The Making of a Hostage Incident The Announcement Reaction of Law Enforcement Professionals The Application of Time Criminal Role Police Role Containment Evacuation and Intelligence Advances in Technology in Gathering Intelligence Why Police Do the Negotiating Postincident Crisis Intervention Teams Controlling the Environment Dynamics of Hostage Negotiation Gathering Intelligence of the Hostage Taker Words and Phrases A Note on Weapons Saying No The Art of Negotiation Courses of Action Rescue The Surrender and Suicide Ritual Thought Interruption Never Take a Weapon from the Hand of a Surrendering Perpetrator Special Qualifications Certification of Hostage Negotiators Transportation Terrorism Countermeasures Dorothy Moses Schulz Overview Tabletop Exercises Drills Public Information and Outreach Employee Information, Outreach, and Training Emergency Responder Information, Outreach, and Training Patrol by Uniformed and Plainclothes Police/Security Officers Behavioral Recognition Canine Teams Passenger and Baggage Screening Surveillance Technology Redesigning and Minimizing Station Furniture Crime Prevention through Environmental Design (CPTED) Protecting America's Ports Deterring Piracy Postblast Environment Getting Back to Normal The Incident Types of Explosions First Responders Search and Rescue Phase Command Post Operations Recovery Blast Damage Types of Building Collapses SAR Marking Systems Exterior Marking Investigative Phase Search Equipment Establishing the Parameters of the Investigation Preliminary Actions Seat of the Explosion Gathering Physical Evidence Examining Fragments Evidence Recovery Physical Evidence Postblast Investigative Process Mini Case Studies Hostage/Kidnapping Aftermath The Dangers Involved The Immediate Reaction of Victims Long-Term Reactions The Family Police Handling of the Incident The Stockholm Syndrome Transference When an Incident May End in the Use of Deadly Physical Force Ransom: To Pay or Not to Pay? Making the Payoff The Recovery Victimology Historical Background Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Courses of Action Immediate Postincident Reaction Longer-Term Reaction Returning to Normal Postincident Effects on Rescue Officers Surviving Hostage-Taking Situations Follow Instructions Try to Rest Escape? Should You or Shouldn't You? Be Observant Don't Be Argumentative Be Patient Get Rid of Items That Single You Out Interviewing Victims Frank Ochberg Intrusive Recollections Emotional Anesthesia: Constricting Life Activity Lowered Threshold for Anxiety and Arousal PTSD Is Not Always the Same Who Gets PTSD? Other Difficulties A Guide to Interviewing Timing Setting the Stage Eliciting Emotion Informed Consent Stages of Response The Humanitarian Role of the Investigator Secondary Traumatic Stress Disorder Role of the Commander Who's in Charge? Preincident: Developing Guidelines Makeup of the Team Maintenance of Manpower and Equipment Keeping Up-to-Date on New Developments and Strategies Evaluate and Update Liaisons with Other Agencies During the Incident: Intelligence Gathering Evaluate Alternatives Sharpshooters Chemical Agents Food Alcohol and Drugs Contain and Negotiate Impact of the Events on the Public Postincident Debriefing Formal Debriefing Evaluate New Developments and Outcomes Case History: Russian Theater Takeover Panic Reaction Who Negotiations at the Theater Tactical Preparations Sharpshooter Chemical Agents Rescue/Dynamic Entry Russian Hostage Litigation Theater Reopens Continued Terrorism The Command Post The Nerve Center Forward Command Post Mobilization Point Point of Negotiation Staffing the Command Post Bomb Incident Command Post Log and Situation Map Equipment and Supplies Communications Concealment vs. Cover Handling the Media Counterterrorism Command Center Appendix A: Government-Sponsored Terrorism Appendix B: Foreign Terrorist Organizations Index