Jeff Spoerndle, Vice President of BEST Crowd Management, who has led efforts to ensure training is provided to employees on emergency response in a high-threat situation, discusses the potential threat of domestic violent extremism at large events and critical safety considerations for venues. 

Though extremism is not a new concept, the rise in radical and extremist ideals and incidents in recent years, puts this risk on the radar of security leaders across all market sectors. How can enterprise security professionals follow and stay on top of the threat of extremism and radicalism? With a strong understanding of their organization’s risk profile, security leaders can thwart potential incidents related to extremism that could potentially harm individuals, company assets, brand reputation or more.

The Department of Homeland Security will allocate $1.8 billion in grants to state and local jurisdictions to protect against terrorism and other disasters, with at least $77 million specifically going toward combatting domestic violent extremism.

Some 200 individuals have been charged with federal offenses connected to the siege at the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021. Among them are at least 15 examples of family affiliated extremism. These instances include: five sets of husbands and wives; two cases of fathers and sons, mothers and sons, brothers, and cousins; and an instance of father/daughter and brother/sister participation. Although of a different strain and less serious offenses—none specifically terrorism nor involving murder —such kin-connected radicalism is neither a new phenomenon nor one unique to the United States or elsewhere. 

Reporter Jeffrey Decker takes Security readers through the physical security at this year’s 2021 Presidential Inauguration, as well as comparing and contrasting the security measures with previous inaugurations.