The United States Secret Service National Threat Assessment Center recently released its report examining 173 mass attacks committed in public places by 180 attackers between 2016 and 2020.  The report includes useful information that security professionals should use to fortify their threat mitigation plans.

Findings include:

•    Most of the attackers exhibited behavior that elicited concern in family members, friends, neighbors, classmates, co-workers, and others ahead of the attack, and in many cases, those individuals feared for the safety of themselves or others.

•    Many attackers had a history of physically aggressive or intimidating behaviors, evidenced by prior violent criminal arrests/charges, domestic violence, or acts of violence toward others.

•    Half of the attackers were motivated by grievances, and were retaliating for perceived wrongs related to personal, domestic, or workplace issues.

To read the complete report, visit https://www.secretservice.gov/newsroom/releases/2023/01/new-secret-service-research-examines-first-time-five-years-mass-violence