SOUTH JERSEY (KYW Newsradio) — FBI and local officials will hold an information session in Burlington County this week on what houses of worship can do to keep their congregations safe in the case of violent, hateful attacks.
Mosques, synagogues, churches and temples should always have emergency plans in place to protect their congregants, according to FBI Newark Division Supervisory Senior Agent Arthur Durant III.
“The heads of houses of worship should ask themselves, if various events were to happen, is there a plan, and is that plan shared with their members?” he asked. “Has someone inspected their facility and the practices for potential vulnerabilities?”
Durant said this information session is not about any immediate threat, but rather about always being prepared.
Although the total number of attacks on U.S. houses of worship is unclear, according to recent FBI statistics, 3.6% of reported hate crime incidents in 2022 occurred at houses of worship, and religion-based hate crimes accounted for 25% of all reported hate crimes last year alone.
“Houses of worship are sacred places for many Americans. People understandably have a difficult time trying to comprehend why someone would intentionally cause damage or harm at these places,” Durant said. “Very simply, we want to protect all houses of worship, and we want people to be safe and we want people to feel safe.”
The FBI, along with state and local partners, will touch on a variety of topics, some of which may be uncomfortable but are necessary, Durant said, “such as active shooter situations, building security and available grants for houses of worship and hate crime overview, particularly at the federal level.”
At a glance, houses of worship can implement the following specific security measures to protect their facilities:
— Develop and maintain an emergency response plan for various scenarios (e.g., active shooter, medical emergency, fire).
— Share the emergency plan with all members and ensure everyone knows what to do in case of an incident.
— Conduct regular inspections of the facility and practices to identify and address potential vulnerabilities.
— Provide training and awareness sessions for staff and members on how to respond to different types of emergencies.
— Encourage vigilance and awareness among members, and report all incidents or suspicious activities, no matter how minor.
The Interfaith Protecting Houses of Worship session will be held on Thursday, Sept. 25 at 6 p.m. at Delaware Valley Baptist Church in Willingboro. It’s presented by the FBI Newark Division, the Burlington County Prosecutor’s Office, the Department of Homeland Security, and the Willingboro Township Police Department.