The Rapid Release of Intelligence in Critical Incident Management: Attacks from West Texas to Christchurch, New Zealand

The Christchurch, New Zealand, terrorist attacks exemplify the kind of multi-site incidents previously seen in Mumbai, Paris, and London’s train and bus attacks. These initial events are often linked to subsequent assaults in nearby neighborhoods, communities, or even across the globe, carried out by coordinated groups or individuals who target similar populations. The IACP Terrorism Committee has been studying these high-profile events and examining the role that brief, confirmed, rapid, and structured intelligence can play in containing such attacks. In this session, we will discuss the Christchurch attack in detail and offer recommendations on what structured intelligence to release, when to release it, and how to share it with your law enforcement partners in the immediate aftermath of an event—especially when resources are limited.