Las Vegas bar, nightclub workers educated on signs of a terror plot

A little over a month after the mass shooting at an Orlando LGBT nightclub — deemed the deadliest terror attack on U.S. soil since 9/11 — Metro on Thursday catered a presentation to staff of local nightclubs and bars, to deter something similar from happening locally.

Metro officers from the Southern Nevada Counter-Terrorism Center, a department that comprises local, state and federal authorities, gave tips on how to identify and alert police about possible attackers.

“We can’t do this alone," said Officer Mike Brambila, at the Gay and Lesbian Community Center of Southern Nevada, 401 S. Maryland Parkway. “We all have an obligation as members of this community to report suspicious activity.”

Indicators

Attackers are known to express strong ideologies in their workplace, place of worship, school and on social media, Brambila said, citing examples from the December attackers in San Bernardino and the man responsible for last month's Orlando shooting.

Speech, which is mostly protected by law, is not necessarily indicative of a possible attack, but combined with “extreme anti-government beliefs,” the “us vs. them” argument, and interest in traveling to conflict zones, could provide a better picture of a suspect’s intentions, Brambila said.

Signs of terrorism

Citizens should be aware of signs and not hesitate to contact police, Brambila said.

There is a misconception that tipsters could be perceived as being “snitches” or hold racist sentiments, he said. Suspicious activity applies to people of all genders, ages and races.

Take Amanda and Jerad Miller, who police labeled as domestic terrorists. The white married couple were responsible for the 2014 deaths of Metro officers Alyn Beck and Igor Soldo, and good Samaritan Joseph Wilcox. They had expressed anti-government sentiments prior to the shooting.

Surveillance

Before an onslaught, attackers will often case their targets, Brambila said. That was the case in Orlando, where Omar Mateen reportedly attended the Pulse nightclub several times before returning June 12 and gunning down 103 people, killing 49.

Information gathering

During surveillance, attackers could also try to ask questions relating to the security of the location, Brambila said. Examples include questions about security staff and exit and entrance information. "Normal people who go to a club or venue do not care about how many security guards there are."

Testing security

Brambila said that suspects could try to test security by pushing boundaries on where they can and can’t go. They might also test response times from authorities.

Metro Lt. Sasha Larkin interjected about technology's ongoing challenge, using Pokemon Go as an example, in which a suspect could walk around a location he is casing, getting into prohibited areas and claim ignorance because of distraction from playing the game.

Test Run

Before conducting an attack, a perpetrator might walk through the planned attack without carrying weapons or doing anything illegal, Brambila said.

The public should be aware of any suspicious behavior, even if it has reached the point where attackers have deployed their plan, he said. This is the last chance to alert police.

Southern Nevada targets

Las Vegas and its surroundings are attractive to possible attackers, Brambila said.

“If someone were to think like a terrorist thinks, this would be perfect place to commit a terrorist act,” Brambila said, adding that 15 of the largest 25 hotels worldwide are here.

Southern Nevada also has locations like McCarran International Airport, the Nellis and Creech Air Force bases and the Hoover Dam, Brambila said.

Counterterrorism center

The Southern Nevada Counter-Terrorism Center, one of three locations in the state, has yearlong resources available 24 hours a day, Brambila said.

Tipsters calling at any time should be able to reach an officer or a crime analyst. Intelligence gathering is crucial, Brambila said.

Say someone reports something suspicious, he said. There's a chance that someone else has provided information, making it easier for police to outline trends and figure out patterns.

“No one should be isolated, nobody should be shunned and nobody should feel separate from us (police),” Larkin said.

To report suspicious activity, call 702-828-7777, visit snctc.org or email [email protected]. Tipsters have the option to remain anonymous.