OFFICIAL USE ONLY 6 April 2016 Foreign Fighters May Have a Preference for Smaller Airports Two recent terrorism-related arrests?along with guidance found in widely distributed terrorist literature?highlight a possible foreign fighter preference for traveling through smaller airportsi in the United States, likely based on perceived security enhancements at larger airports. Terrorists may continue to choose smaller airports in adherence to guidance found in social media and online forums; this guidance highlights smaller airports as preferred, more attractive departure points for foreign fighter travel. (U) Recent Arrests The recent arrests of two individuals charged with ?Providing Material Support to a Designated Foreign Terrorist Organization? highlight a possible preference by active and/or aspiring foreign fighters to travel through smaller airports in order to avoid the perceived tighter security at larger airports. In both instances, the subjects were attempting to travel to the Middle East with the intent to enter Syria and support the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL). - On 15 January 2016, federal agents arrested a Woodbridge, Virginia, resident as he attempted to travel to Amman, Jordan, from Richmond International Airport (RIC). According to the criminal complaint, the passenger told a confidential source that he would start ?researching flights, possibly out of RIC, to avoid what he believes to be stricter law enforcement scrutiny at large airports.?1 - On 8 August 2015, federal agents arrested two Mississippi residents as they attempted to travel to Istanbul, Turkey, from the Golden Triangle Regional Airport in Columbus, Mississippi. According to the criminal complaint, one of the subjects commented to an identified ISIL recruiter, ?We live in a small town with a very small airport that doesn?t have much, if any, security. That?s one US weakness small town airports have poor funding and less educated staff so it is easier to get through.?2 It is unclear how foreign fighters define a ?small airport;? note that the airports in question may not be considered ?small airports? according to TSA definitions. OFFICIAL USE ONLY (U) Warning: This document is OFFICIAL USE ONLY It contains information that may be exempt from public release under the Freedom of Information Act (5 U.S.C. 552). It is to be controlled, stored, handled, transmitted, distributed, and disposed of in accordance with DHS policy relating to FOUO information and is not to be released to the public, the media, or other personnel who do not have a valid ?need-to-know? without prior approval of an authorized TSA official. No portion of this report should be furnished to the media, either in written or verbal form. OFFICIAL USE ONLY FIELD INTELLIGENCE NOTE (U) Terrorist Guidance Recent terrorist publications recommend traveling through smaller airports in an effort to avoid what is TU SURVIVE perceived to be a more robust security presence at larger airports, and in one instance to avoid technology deployed at TSA checkpoints. - In March 2015, ISIL produced an eBook titled How to survive in the West-A Mujahid Guide A Mumnm mum 2015. The publication recommends that a traveler "w (U) should ?leave through a smaller and quieter airport How to Survive in the which has less security checks and less security We? officials.?3 - In December 2014, al-Qa?ida in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) released the 13th issue of Inspire magazine. The publication dedicated an entire chapter to the construction of a hidden bomb, providing specific recommendations on how to get the device through airport security. Inspire authors recommend avoiding whole-body imaging technology, warning, ?The type of bomb we are presenting can be detected by these machines. Note that these machines are NOT found in all airports, in most cases they are not used in local airports. Through this large loophole, you can pass through many American airports.? 4 ?Hidden Bomb? in AQAP's Inspire, issue 13 (U) Outlook Recent arrests in Mississippi and Virginia, along with increasing rhetoric found in various extremist publications, highlight a possible shift emerging in tactics, techniques, and procedures regarding foreign fighter travel. Homeland-based active or aspiring foreign fighters perceive a lack of education, training, and equipment at smaller US airports. TSA-OIA assesses with moderate confidence that foreign fighter travel through smaller US airports will continue and is worth monitoring for the foreseeable future. OFFICIAL USE ONLY (U) Warning: This document is OFFICIAL USE ONLY It contains information that may be exempt from public release under the Freedom of Information Act (5 U.S.C. 552). It is to be controlled, stored, handled, transmitted, distributed, and disposed of in accordance with DHS policy relating to FOUO information and is not to be released to the public, the media, or other personnel who do not have a valid ?need-to-know? without prior approval of an authorized TSA official. No portion of this report should be furnished to the media, either in written or verbal form. OFFICIAL USE ONLY FIELD INTELLIGENCE NOTE TSA security personnel are reminded to remain vigilant and to follow standard operating procedures. Homegrown violent extremists who hte? '"d'camrs attempt to.travel through smaller airports may Knee Protection Solar Chargers exhibit Indicators commonly displayed In foreign Knives Compass . 5 . fighter travel. Gloves Electronics Binoculars First-Aid Kits Flashlights Lanterns The TSA Office of Intelligence and Analysis (TSA-OIA) prepared this FIN. For dissemination questions, contact the TSA-OIA Production Management Branch, Production@tsa.dhs.aov. (U) Tracked by: HSEC-9 (U) Source Summary Statement This Field Intelligence Note is based primarily on review of US District Court criminal complaints and terrorist publications found in open sources. has moderate confidence in the information obtained from the criminal complaints and terrorist publications. Further insight and information regarding foreign fighter travel patterns would better inform our assessment and could alter our confidence level. 1 (U) US District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, Criminal Complaint; (U) United States of America v. Joseph Hassan Farrokh; Case Number 1:16-mj-24; 20160116 2 (U) US District Court for Mississippi, Criminal Complaint; (U) United States of America v. Jaelyn Delshaun Young and Muhammad Oda Dakhlalla; Case Number 20150808 3 (U) Open source AQAP information; (U) Inspire, issue 13 article, ?The Hidden Bomb;? 20151201; Source is an open source terrorist propaganda magazine distributed online to various web forums. 4 (U) Open source ISIL information; (U) How to Survive in the West Mujahid Guide; 20150301; Source is an ISIL propaganda piece published online. 5 (U) Open source ISIL information; (U) Hijrah to the Islamic State - What to Packup Who to Contact Where to Go Stories More!; 2015; Source is an ISIL propaganda piece published online. OFFICIAL USE ONLY (U) Warning: This document is OFFICIAL USE ONLY It contains information that may be exempt from public release under the Freedom of Information Act (5 U.S.C. 552). It is to be controlled, stored, handled, transmitted, distributed, and disposed of in accordance with DHS policy relating to FOUO information and is not to be released to the public, the media, or other personnel who do not have a valid ?need-to-know? without prior approval of an authorized TSA official. No portion of this report should be furnished to the media, either in written or verbal form. TSA PRODUCT FEEDBACK SURVEY INSTRUCTIONS: Product Title: Stakeholder or Partner (Select one): How satisfied or dissatisfied are you with this transportation security information overall? (Select one) How satisfied or dissatisfied are you with the following aspects of this transportation security information? (select one) Very Satisfied Somewhat Satisfied Neutral Did you find this transportation security information valuable (select one)? 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