Terrorism and the Significance of April 20th

Terrorists often pick meaningful dates to schedule their attacks. The Madrid railway bombings occurred exactly 2 ½ years after the September 11^th attack. The original attack on the World Trade Center on February 26, 1993 was meant to occur on February 23^rd, the second anniversary of the date that the United States sent troops into Iraq. Even September 11^th is a significant date. On September 11^th, 1683, the King of Poland defeated the Turks at the battle of Vienna. In effect, when Osama bin Laden attacked America, he was symbolically reigniting the war that ended more than 300 years ago. The biggest terrorist anniversaries of the year, however, are April 19^th and 20^th. This date is extremely significant, especially to domestic terrorists.

April 19^th

April 19^th is a significant date to domestic extremists. People that don't see America as a good country will remember April 19^th as the date that the battles of Lexington and Concord started the American Revolution. Further pouring fuel onto the fire (literally), a fire broke out at the Branch Davidian compound in 1993, ending a 51-day siege. In 1995, Timothy McVeigh took out his anger on the American people by bombing the Alfred P. Murrah building in Oklahoma City.

April 20^th

April 20^th is also a significant day to domestic extremists and Neo-Nazis. Adolph Hitler was born on this day in 1889. It was also the day that Erik Harris and Dylan Klebold chose to attack Columbine High School in 1999. In 1985, The Covenant, The Sword, and the Arm of the Lord (CSA) compound was raided by the ATF. The CSA had connections to the Aryan Nations and the Ku Klux Klan. While unrelated to Neo-Nazis, April 20^th could be a significant date to Islamic extremists, as it is a possible date for Muhammad's birth.

Significance of Dates

Because terrorists like to attack on dates that are significant to them, it is important to be especially vigilant on these dates. Whether you work in security or are just an ordinary person going about your business, if you see something suspicious, it is important to report it. The National Terror Alert Response center says that you should not confront suspicious activity, but you should note the details when you see it. Not the number of people, their gender, age group, and description, what they are doing that looks suspicious, when and where they are conducting the suspicious activity, and what sort of equipment and vehicles they have. Report this information to the FBI at tips.fbi.gov.

Terrorists, as well as school shooters, usually plan their attacks. They may conduct practice runs, or test the security systems. They may be particularly interested in the location of security cameras, delivery times, and the times that security officers make their rounds. Prior to school attacks, shooters often tell others of their plans.

While terrorism is a real threat, there really is no need to panic. It is important to remain vigilant, especially around terrorist anniversaries, but your chances of being killed by terrorists are slim. More people die from drowning than from terrorism.

Sources:

Bergenfield, Matt Gloecker. "A Martyr Rises When McVeigh Dies (Letter to the Editor)". The Record (Bergen County, NJ), May 13, 2001, p. O3.

"Most Common Causes of Death Due To Injury in the United States." http://danger.mongabay.com/injury_death.htm

Personal experience as Force Protection Assistant, NSA Naples, 2000-2003.

"Suspicious Activity." National Terrorism Alert Response Center. http://www.nationalterroralert.com/suspicious-activity/

Wikipedia entries on February 23, April 19, April 20, 2004 Madrid Train Bombings, 1993 World Trade Center Bombing, and Battle of Vienna.