OFFICIAL USE ONLY SPECIAL EVENT THREAT (U) America?s Party: New Year?s Eve 20 I 6-20 7 Las Vegas Strip and Downtown Las Vegas, Nevada I9 December 20 6 Federal Bureau Homeland of Investigation Security Of?ce of Intelligence and Analysis lA-0047-l7 (U) Warning: This document is OFFICIAL USE ONLY It is subject to release restrictions as detailed 'n the Homeland Secur'ty Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 482) and the Freedom of Information Act (5 U.S.C. 552). It is to be controlled. stored. handed transmitted distributed and disposed 0! in accordance with FBI policy for FOUO 'nformation and is not to be released to the public media or other personnel who do not have an authorized need-to?know without appropriate prior authorization. mte and local homeland security officials may share this docu'nent with authorized critical 'nfrastnicture and key resource personnel and private sector secur'ty officials w?thout further approval from FBI. (U) This predict contains US person 'nformation that has been deemed necessary for the iitended rec'pient to understand. assess. or act on the "Information provided it has been highl'ghted ii this docunent with the label USPER and should be handled in accordance with the rec'pient's 'ntell' and/or 'nformation handi edures. Other US information has been minimized Should you recpire the m'nimized US person information. please contactthe Production Branch at? OFFICIAL USE ONLY UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY (U) America’s Party: Las Vegas New Year 2017 Las Vegas Strip and Downtown Las Vegas, Nevada 31 December 2016 – 1 January 2017 (U) Scope Note (U//FOUO) This Joint Special Event Threat Assessment (JSETA) addresses threats to “America's Party: Las Vegas New Year 2017,” taking place on the Las Vegas Strip (Las Vegas Boulevard) and Downtown Las Vegas (Fremont Street Experience) on 31 December 2016. This JSETA does not include nonviolent civil disobedience tactics (for example, protests without a permit), which are outside the scope of federal law enforcement jurisdiction. (U//FOUO) This product is intended to support federal, state, local, tribal, and territorial government agencies and authorities in identifying priorities for protective and support measures regarding terrorism and other existing or emerging threats to homeland security. Information in this assessment is current and accurate as of 16 December 2016. (U) Key Findings (U//FOUO) As of 16 December 2016, the FBI and DHS have no information to indicate a specific, credible threat to or associated with the America’s Party New Year’s Eve celebration on the Las Vegas Strip and Downtown Las Vegas. There is some limited historical precedence for terrorists planning operations during holidays or releasing messaging highlighting specific events, such as New Year’s Eve and celebratory mass gatherings, none of which has ever materialized or gone beyond the aspirational stage. US-based supporters of the self-proclaimed Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) and homegrown violent extremistsa (HVEs) may be encouraged or inspired to act during this timeframe due to the symbolism and the large crowds attending New Year’s Eve events, as well as the media attention given to recent attacks in the West. Based on historical precedence during past New Year’s Eves, we expect to see an increase in threat reporting during this timeframe, much of which is likely to be of dubious credibility, vague in nature, uncorroborated, and often meant to intimidate. (U) An individual who recorded audio and video messages proclaiming his allegiance to ISIL and its leaders allegedly plotted to kill civilians at a Rochester, New York restaurant/bar on New Year’s Eve. He was charged on 30 December 2015 with a (U//FOUO) The FBI and DHS define an HVE as a person of any citizenship who has lived or operated primarily in the United States or its territories who advocates, is engaged in, or is preparing to engage in ideologically motivated terrorist activities (including providing support to terrorism) in furtherance of political or social objectives promoted by a foreign terrorist organization but whose actions are independent of direction by a foreign terrorist organization. HVEs are distinct from traditional domestic terrorists who engage in unlawful acts of violence to intimidate civilian populations or attempt to influence domestic policy without direction from or influence from a foreign actor. (U) Warning: This document is UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY (U//FOUO). It is subject to release restrictions as detailed in he Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 482) and 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 FBI policy for FOUO information and is not to be released to the public, media, or other personnel who do not have an authorized need-to-know wi hout appropriate prior authorization. State and local homeland security officials may share this document with authorized critical infrastructure and key resource personnel and private sector security officials without further approval from FBI. UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY 1 UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY attempting to provide material support to a terrorist group, according to open source news reporting. (U//FOUO) Al-Qa’ida in the Arabian Peninsula in November 2016 released the 16th issue of its English-language magazine, Inspire. This issue both praised previous attacks and reaffirmed the call for attacks in the West, despite the death of al-Qa’ida leaders. (U//FOUO) The FBI and DHS remain concerned about the sustained interest by terrorists and criminals in targeting mass gatherings. Al-Qa’ida, ISIL, and their affiliates remain intent on attacking Western targets and continue to call on individuals to conduct independent attacks in the United States using improvised explosive devices (IED’s) and small arms. Terrorist attacks in France, Germany, and Belgium, which resulted in significant casualties, have also heightened concern about similar attacks in the United States. To date, these attacks have focused primarily on soft targets, such as sporting events, music venues, shopping districts, and mass-transportation systems in European capitals. (U//FOUO) Unaffiliated lone offendersb and HVEs are of particular concern due to their ability to remain undetected until operational; their willingness to attack civilians and soft targets; their ability to inflict significant casualties with weapons that do not require specialized knowledge, access, or training; and their unpredictability, as witnessed in the Orlando, Florida and San Bernardino, California terrorist attacks. (U) Event Overview (U) On 31 December 2016, the four-mile Las Vegas Strip (Las Vegas Boulevard) will be closed to all traffic between Russell Avenue and Sahara Road around 1800 PST, when it turns into a pedestrian mall, with more than 330,000 visitors expected to participate.c At midnight, seven casinos will set off a choreographed fireworks display from the rooftops. The following casinos are involved in the fireworks show: (U) ARIA Resort and Casino (U) MGM Grand Hotel and Casino (U) Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino (U) Caesars Palace (U) Treasure Island (U) The Venetian (U) Stratosphere Casino Hotel and Tower b (U//FOUO) The FBI and DHS define a lone offender as an individual motivated by one or more violent extremist ideologies who, operating alone, supports or engages in acts of violence in furtherance of that ideology or ideologies that may involve influence from a larger terrorist organization or a foreign actor. c (U) Source: Web site; LasVegas-How-To.com; “New Years Eve 2016 – 2017 Las Vegas”; 2016; http://www.lasvegas-howto.com/new-year-in-las-vegas.php; accessed on 17 November 2016; LasVegas-How-To.com is an online Las Vegas travel guide. (U) Warning: This document is UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY (U//FOUO). It is subject to release restrictions as detailed in he Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 482) and 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 FBI policy for FOUO information and is not to be released to the public, media, or other personnel who do not have an authorized need-to-know wi hout appropriate prior authorization. State and local homeland security officials may share this document with authorized critical infrastructure and key resource personnel and private sector security officials without further approval from FBI. UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY 2 UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY (U) The fireworks show will last 8 minutes and 18 seconds and consist of more than 80,000 fireworks explosions. Over 330,000 spectators attended America’s Party 2016 and FBI Las Vegas anticipates a larger numbers this year. (U) The celebration at the Fremont Street Experience in Downtown Las Vegas is scheduled to begin at 1730 PST and will include 10 hours of non-stop entertainment and concerts by 13 tribute bands playing two stages. This area closes to the public at 1600 PST and reopens for ticketed guests at 1700 PST. (U) SEAR Level (U) America’s Party: Las Vegas New Year 2017 has been designated a SEAR II event. (U) Potential Threat Indicators (U//FOUO) Absent a specific, actionable threat to America’s Party 2017, we are providing indicators to aid law enforcement and first responders in identifying and mitigating threats. The totality of behavioral indicators and other relevant circumstances should be evaluated when considering any law enforcement response or action. (Note: behaviors associated with the below indicators can include constitutionally protected activities. The FBI does not initiate any investigative activity based solely on the exercise of First Amendment activities or on the race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, gender, sexual orientation, or gender identity of the subject, or a combination of only such factors.) (U//FOUO) Possible indicators of pre-operational surveillance or attack planning include: (U//FOUO) (U//FOUO) (U//FOUO) (U//FOUO) (U//FOUO) (U) Warning: This document is UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY (U//FOUO). It is subject to release restrictions as detailed in he Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 482) and 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 FBI policy for FOUO information and is not to be released to the public, media, or other personnel who do not have an authorized need-to-know wi hout appropriate prior authorization. State and local homeland security officials may share this document with authorized critical infrastructure and key resource personnel and private sector security officials without further approval from FBI. UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY 3 UNCLASSIFIEDHF OR OFFICIAL USE ONLY . . . . Please rep01t suspicious activities associated with any of the indicators listed above to the contact inf01mation in the text box below. (U) Report Suspicious Activity (U) The FBI encourages recipients of this document to report information concerning suspicious or criminal activii to the local FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF). The FBl's Las Vegas Field Of?ce can be reached at (U) Tracked by: (U) Warning: This document is OFFICIAL USE ONLY It is subject to release restrictions as detailed in he Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 482) and 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 FBI policy for FOUO information and is not to be released to the public, media, or other personnel who do not have an authorized need-to-Know wi hout appropriate prior authorization. State and local homeland security of?cials may share this document with authonzed critical infrastructure and key resource personnel and private sector security of?cials without further approval from FBI. OR OFFICIAL USE ONLY 4 CLASSIFICATION: OFFICIAL USE ONLY Office of Intelligence and Analysis Customer Feedback Form Product Title: (U) America?s Party: New Year?s Eve 2016-2017 Las Vegas Strip and Downtown Las Vegas, Nevada 1. Please select partner type: Select One Select One 2. What is the highest level of intelligence information that you receive? Select One 3. Please complete the following sentence: focus most of my time on:? Select One 4. 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