“LAURIN Security memo for journalists.docx” opened and ctrl+a – copy – paste right into the block. This is the result.
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Stockholm 2011-11-23
Fredrik Laurin
Translated by Google translate
Table of content
# Checklist – four hours to departure 3
* Typical threat situations: 4
* Cultural update – BEFORE you go 5
# Checkpoint – you get stopped 8
* The driver/fixer is attacked. 9
* Drive as fast as you can? 10
* When fired at, you can determine by the sound how close the bullets are 10
* If you are shot at in a car 10
* If you are shot at on foot 11
* If you are shot at in a building 11
* Tear gas/Molotov cocktails/Riots: 11
* Some clues if you get kidnapped: 13
* Always eat – even if it does not taste good 14
* Contact with the outside world 14
# Checklist – four hours to departure
- Security check
- Who’s POC (point of contact)?
- Interpreter/fixer
- Transport to the hotel
Bring:
- Grab-bag
- Medical plan/insurance
- Embassy contacts
- Satellite phone/other mobile
- Safety vest?
# Risks and threats
- Illness/infection
- War
- Riots
- Terrorist
- Södertälje – trial 2011-11-23 – Bandidos currently threaten reporters – TV4 decides not to give photo/reporter cred.
- Bergsjön and the Gbg riots – riots – also a very serious situation. Shooting – stone throwing – rushes.
It’s normal behavior to avoid threats – but as a journalist that is often where you go = you have to accept that the violence exists. And that it can be directed at us. That mindset is very important.
A total of about 15,000 people are abducted each year in the world – known kidnappings. Mexico City has 40-50 kidnappings a day.
Express kidnappings – that you take someone and hold them for a few days before, for example, emptying a bank card or getting a quick ransom – are getting more and more common. Very common in South America and now also in Southern Europe. Also occurred in Sweden.
As journalists we see a shift in paradigms – we are no longer safe with the press card – many times the opposite. In Muslim countries, for example.
We can also be interesting kidnapping victims due to media companies being perceived as rich.
Reporters Without Borders (RSF) reports:
2008 2009 2010 2011
Dead journ 60 76 95 59 so far
Abused 673 537
- BUT, in general, traffic is the most lethal danger – beyond all comparison Checking the driver and seat belt and a hospital care plan (good insurance) when you crash is the best investment.
- The central question – who in the team has the right to say “No, we are not going there today?”
Stefan Borg, reporter at TV4, applies the rule “the most coward/afraid decides”. Good rule = precautionary principle.
Typical threat situations:
* ATM
A big problem nowadays is that people are robbed/”Express kidnapped” (you are held for 6 hours and forced to empty the account several times) at the ATM. South America and Southern Europe very common.
40 – 50 kidnappings daily in Mexico City alone, often linked to ATMs.
- Think TEAM – don’t go there alone
- Radiate security
- Use ATM during the day.
* Taxi
- Hilton’s taxi is better than the one you find on the street – they have filtering of those who are allowed to stand there and the drivers want to come back.
- Always go with locked doors – to become the target for a “quick grab” at a red light stop is a big threat.
* Military/Police
- Checkpoints/police checks
- Follow the instructions! Otherwise you risk that the situation escalates.
# Before you travel
* Travel planning
Report to “Point of Contact”
POC – accepted abbreviation for the person/position responsible for the contact with the reporter on the field.
Tickets, times, hotel reservations
- Communication routines
- HOW do we communicate primarily (cell phone) and secondarily (local SIM/Satellite phone/Hotel)
- How often do we communicate? One or three times daily?
- WHO is POC? When is the right time to get alarmed after no contact?
- Make it a habit to submit an text/phone report every time the plane lands/starts. Leaving/coming back to the hotel.
- Log the contacts – make sure people at home consistently text or email each other after each communication.
- WHEN the last contact was made and WHERE you were then is crucial to know, in order to minimize the area you should search in.
* Cultural update – BEFORE you go
- How do you express greeting/respect/humility?
- What applies to ranking/rules for gender/age/hierarchies?
- You may not get hurt if you talk to a woman, but she may be lynched.
- Sexual relationships/Alcohol – problems!
- What about the dress code? Are shorts and a tshirt ok? Do you stand out? What do people wear in town?
* Do the risk analysis!
- Which are hotspots where to go?
- What is the conflict about – who are the players?
List all threats – place them in a graph according to degree of THREAT and degree of CONSEQUENCE.
THREAT
CONSEQUENCE
Map all possible threats:
- Traffic
- Crime
- Terror
- War
Consequences:
- You die
- You get injured
- You can’t do the job
- You (or your employer) suffer economic loss
Think about how consequences can be reduced:
- Protection?
- Escort?
- Wait another day?
- Choose another place?
# Protection
* Safety vest?
- Wear it UNDER the clothes. You stand out with a vest and helmet. You can become a target for a sniper or a mob. In 99% of the cases you see people with vests, they are journalists.
- Light vest – protects you from a gun shot or stab wound
- Heavy vest (must have ceramic plates) weighs 12 kg – no one wears it for a long time – protects you from automatic fire.
* Embedded with the army/security company escort?
+ Do not stop at checkpoints/police checks, short time in “danger zone”
– Targets for IED (bomb) and VBIED (Vehicle Born Improvised Explosive Device – car bomb)
* Local fixers/body guards
+ can go under the radar
+ high mobility
– no armor protection – exposed to SAF (Small Arms Fire)
– may be affected by bribes/police/warlords/checkpoints
– dangerous in traffic
# Grab-bag
- The bag you should ALWAYS carry. And is it the ONLY thing you bring if the situation gets dangerous.
- You must manage with the content WITHOUT having to return to the hotel and your luggage.
- Can be a small separate bag that you put in the large bag during the flight and then always carry with you. Or you make a kit that you have in your regular daypack.
- Water/food- 24 h
- Satelllite/cell phone
- First aid kit
- Knife (locally purchased) – or sharp credit card (be able to cut a seat belt)
- Flashlight
- Tshirt /underwear
- Money (Make sure it’s not just USD 100 banknotes. If you have to bribe someone, you want to start with small amounts and be able to up your game. You can’t “downsize”.)
- Three wallets:
- The ordinary one
- Grazing money – a wallet with banknotes in different denominations and not too little – and a couple of plastic cards that you can sacrifice – such as old credit cards and patient cards.
- Backup – a money belt or similar where you have about USD 1000 in different denominations – enough to get you to a border, pass it and get a plane ticket out of there.
- Documents:
- Phone numbers: Embassies (your own and ”friendly” ones).
- Medical contacts Dr On Call in Sweden
- Hospital contact in the country
- Letter of Recommendation “To Whom It May Concern” (Stamps/Signed by IMPORTANT people)
- Insurance documents
- Extra passports, if possible. In Sweden you can have up to seven. Countries which stamps’ can cause you problems when passing other borders: India/Pakistan, Israel/Arab countries, Iraq/Afghanistan/Thailand, USA
# On site
- Be suspicious – you can be the target.
- Do all journalists live in the same hotel? Is it a target in itself?
- Stay with a family! Can be a protection that you are a source of income.
- Avoid routines – do not leave the hotel the same time, the same way every time – vary as much as possible.
- Get local and alternative communications – satellite phone? Local SIM card for extra phone – Hotel phone – Scratch cards.
- Test the communications. Leave the new local numbers to POC.
- Get the address/phone number of the best local hospital.
- Report carefully to POC – preferably with text/email etc which is thus logged.
- Be met at the airport – transport to the hotel the first day is worth it.
- Do not leave the hotel without your grab-bag
- Be prepared to wait – always carry water, food, cigarettes or whatever you need – dehydration is the most common problem.
* Hotel
- Get a room at the back – floor 2-4. If there is an explosion, it will be on the front side. You want an escape route, but not that it’s too easy to enter your room by climbing in from the outside.
- Never have meetings/interviews in your hotel room – it’s your private zone. Do not show what you have – do not show your private things – you provide information about yourself. Stay under the radar. Do not be gullible. Meet people in the lobby or in another room.
* Street smart
- Media vest/”TV” taped car windows? Might be a good idea – but find out! Do not do it casually. Are journalists welcome – by everyone? The media are no longer perceived as friendly by everyone.
- Who is your lifeline/local friend – the one who will help you when there is a crisis? Appoint him/her mentally and perhaps formally – pay? Ask for warnings etc.
- Cultivate friendships. Drink tea for ten minutes a day with people even if they are boring – they can become your lifeline.
- Plan the day – submit reports to POC. Change plans – but always have a plan!
- Sunglasses – use to disarm – put them on before approaching someone and TAKE THEM OFF to signal “I look you in the eyes, I have honest intent”.
- Shield yourself – put on a hood over blonde hair etc. Sunglasses can do the trick.
* Bribery – be prepared
- Try to bribe by giving compensation for a service – ask for something – directions, toilet – payment becomes a natural way to bribe.
- Always use small denominations – the denomination you start in can’t be smaller next time.
- Alternatives are: Bottled water/food portions/scratch-cards (phonecards)/cigarettes
* Fixer
- They are seriously threatened. Think in advance. They can agree on things they should not do just to make money.
- (All Danish interpreters in Iraq were offered to fly home with the Danes toghether with their families and everyone received a residence permit.)
- Do not trust ANYONE – but try to trust the fixer. And communicate that you trust him/her.
- NEVER pay in advance – except possibly a small amount for expenses. Postpay – when you are at home – with a bonus for a job well done – is your best life insurance.
* Car
- Find out how long TIME a trip takes – kilometers are irrelevant.
- Is there fuel?
- Drivers you can talk to are a priority before local knowledge.
- Bring a lot of bottled water – more than for yourself. Checkpoints/bribe/gift
- Tape “TV” if it is the right thing to do – but check first.
- Go for a drive in the city with the driver BEFORE he is hired. Force him to put on a spare tire – otherwise no deal – it shows how he drives and if he has tools/can get off wheel nuts etc. Otherwise, it is the flat wheel in the evening on the country road that will cause the big problem.
- Decide a strategy with the driver of what to do if you are stopped – drive right through – stop – What is OK and what is not OK? When it happens, you will NOT have time to discuss strategies.
- Check the seat belt – accident is the most likely cause of death/injury.
- If you have to get into a car in the event of an accident, for example – hit a window with a stone/hammer/pointed-heavy object. Hit the tip in one of the CORNERS of a side window – in the middle the stone just bounces.
# Checkpoint – you get stopped
* Before you go out:
Who is in command?
- Who is the boss/the person who communicates with the driver/interpreter?
- Woman/man – does it matter? Who has the impact – the most powerful is in charge.
- Who has settled with the interpreter/driver – who has the most credibility to give orders?
- Should the photographer film – then the reporter must devote himself to the road/surroundings/driver
Is it good to be a journalist here?
- If not – create a legend – and practice it!
- What are you doing in the area?
- Where are you heading?
- Make up your roles in advance – wear a ring if you are going to be married.
- Lie as little as possible – it is difficult to keep track of lies.
* Scenarios:
Is it a regular or irregular checkpoint? Can be very difficult to determine. Acquire local knowledge. Uniforms – but what kind of shoes do they wear? Bare feet or boots? Government or robbers? Can determine whether to take a chance on driving through a checkpoint or stop.
* At a checkpoint
- Be prepared, you will be hurried, stressed, get tunnel vision and may not be able to make quick decisions, may not be able to be rational.
- Take control of the driver. No playing tough, no radio, FOCUS. “I pay you. YOU drive as I say. SLOW DOWN. Otherwise there will be no money. ”
- The guys outside are nervous about being run over – ot that you carry a car bomb.
- SLOW SPEED. Speed is key – it is important not to scare those at the checkpoint.
- The car lights off – do not dazzle. Interior lighting on – hands visible.
- Follow instructions – be polite and forthcoming – cooperate.
- If a weapon is aimed at you – follow orders immediately! You have very little to oppose with.
- Wear ID documents around your neck – you don’t want to fumble around and worry about already stressed soldiers/criminals. If possible, leave a copy of the passport etc. instead of the original.
- Be cocky? Can pay to be respected – to a limit. It is important not to just back down. To show that you have your own will.
- Only fight if you have a chance to win – and this is usually very rare.
* Threatening situation
- Create DISTANCE to the problem – it gives you time – and the opportunity to think and find solutions.
- Assume that an uncertain situation is serious – AVOID it:
- cross to the other side of the street.
- call and ask your friends to meet you BEFORE the situation explodes.
* The driver/fixer is attacked.
- Local driver/fixer arrested – other ethnic group or similar – he helps foreigners etc. Should you intervene or not?
- You could claim that he is YOURS. That YOU have bought him/paid for him and that you want him back. Can pay-off to offer money for him.
- It is important to become a party in a negotiation, that you have your own agenda that is credible to those you negotiate with. You can not know why they do not like the driver/interpreter – but you can have your own agenda and your money can make a difference.
- Confront them, but be smart- it’s his country – his conflict. Try to understand why he is the target – or if it is you who is.
* The group is divided
- If you get divided – communicate – in your language – what happens, what have they told you both?
- Give each other information – shout – it can be crucial to find the other then. It also affects the staff at the checkpoint – you know if you speak to each other – they do not know what you say if you speak a language they don’t understand.
- It can be completely normal in a Muslim country, for example, for a woman to be examined separately from the man. Even if she is taken away by a man to a secluded area it may be normal.
- Communicate that you belong together/are married/are together. Culturally, it is often more difficult for a man to approach another man’s woman if he is present.
- Make a plan for it in advance – wear a ring, or buy rings. Show the rings.
- Women can often benefit from making traditionally female outbursts – shouting – crying.
* Escape
- Go back to where you came from – you know what you have behind you – but not what you have in front of you.
- Drive carefully – try to take it easy – despite the stress. Having an accident on the way from a checkpoint, or hitting someone on the road can be the last thing you do.
* Drive as fast as you can?
- Extreme solution – but may be the only right thing if you are shot at. But then you have to be clear that this is what needs to be done and give clear orders on how the driver should drive. You have to get through, it is not possible to stop once you have started crashing a checkpoint .
# Weapons
- Not always smart to show/say that you are unarmed as some NGOs do – can invite robbery.
- Difference between shielding – not being seen and being protected – not being able to be hit.
- Read what is said in local UN/NGO reports.
* Various abbreviations
IED Improvised Explosive Device Bomb
VBIED Vehicle-Born Improvised Explosive Device Car bomb
SBW Short Barrel Weapons Hand guns
LBW Long Barrel Weapons Kalashnikovs
RPG Rocket propelled branched Rocket guns
IDF Indirect Fire Artillery/grenade launcher
- AK 47 Kalashnikov is the world’s most common weapon.
- Shoots 600 m efficiently – 1200 max and 200 meters with precision.
- Sandbags give limited protection if they are not three layers – wrapped
- A car is a good protection OUTSIDE the car but useless INSIDE the car.
- The protection is good at the front wheelhouse, the tires protects against ricochets and the engine block against direct fire.
- Bricks give poor protection – a fire burst of 4-5 seconds pulverizes a brick and then you shoot right through.
- A door is no protection.
- A heavy safety vest can handle a Kalashnikov at ten meters and up.
* When fired at, you can determine by the sound how close the bullets are
- “Crack” – sound from the bullet that blows the sound barrier = 10 – 20 meters away – ok.
- “Buzz” – sound from the bullet in the air – no sound bang – CLOSE.
- “Thump!” – the bullet hits the ground – CLOSE.
* If you are shot at in a car
a. Drive fast.
b. If it is not possible – abandon the car immediately – cars always catch fire.
c. Bring your grab-bag.
* If you are shot at on foot
a. Take immediate protection.
b. Make yourself small – stay in shelter.
c. If you have to move – the jump ice floats method – jump/crawl from cover to cover.
* If you are shot at in a building
a. Do NOT look out. – if you must – in that case do it from the SIDE of the window and look obliquely.
b. If a bomb goes off – leave the scene immediately. A bomb nowadays almost always has a “come on bomb” – number two that explodes when everyone arrives after the first – it is not uncommon for the come on bomb, no two to arrive in an ambulance or similar that is always given free passage to the scene of the accident.
* Tear gas/Molotov cocktails/Riots:
- What is the wind direction? GO AGAINST the wind.
- Good shoes are crucial in case of fire/petrol bombs.
- No synthetic clothing – super underwear etc. – can cause severe burns when they melt into the skin. COTTON!
- Always stay in the outskirts of a crowd/demonstration. In the middle you will not be able to escape a rush/stampede.
# Stress
Mikael Bergquist, ex NIS police since 1992.
Mental risk preparation is a must to cope with situations of stress/panic and to get the least possible trauma afterwards.
You also become better at handling the situation because you can handle stress better if you are prepared and then maybe you can handle/talk yourself out of the situation in a different way than if you are panicking/paralyzed by fear.
• It pays to be prepared.
• Risk management can be learned.
• Information is crucial.
The body’s question is: Fight or flight?
Today we have a much larger stress surcharge than 200/20 years ago. (Social media did not exist 20 years ago – now everyone has to check FB all the time.)
Stress increases, stress thresholds are lowered. The mental balance decreases, which greatly affects how you handle the situation.
High stress levels = poor conditions to cope with more stress – cope with stressful situation.
What happens when you lose control is that emotions take over rational thinking and thoughts rush – usually in an irrational track that leads to panic and/or passivity. And that you lose energy.
Passivity is often bad – think rape or a checkpoint situation where your own proactivity and possible rational interventions can determine the outcome.
What YOU can influence is your own coping of the situation. Your behavior also affects others involved, your opponents and those you are there with. And if you MUST act – you can act more rationally if you can control your stress.
We are designed for low stress for long periods, but can take an enormous amount of stress during short periods and can then gather a lot of power. Mothers can literally lift smaller cars if their children are trapped under them.
It is important to lower the stress level – alcohol is an all too common, but bad method. It means that you are not alert.
An important factor is recognizing stress. The most common signs – which are the same for almost everyone are:
- Fear, anxiety, worry
- Irritation, anger
- Heart palpitations
- Shivering
- Internal confusion – difficult to prioritize
- Slow thinking
- Tunnel vision
- Vomiting, urinating or pooping.
All are completely normal and do NOT affect your ability to handle the situation = You CAN drive the car from there even if you shit yourself.
In the emergency situation, it is best to be aware of the signals and take them seriously and meet the stress – for example by deep breathing according to a learned pattern.
Be aware of your signals of increased stress and take them as a trigger to do something.
STOP:
- Stay
- Think
- Get orientated
- Plan
Information is the best cure for stress.
Courage is to be afraid but still dare to challenge the fear.
Challenging fear is the recipe for success in dealing with threats when they come.
Ex: former pilot from the defense who much later became afraid of flying on regular flights. Stress increased to significant and very negative levels.
He analyzed the “Worst case scenario” and came to these conclusions:
- Successful outcome – he survives – everything will be fine.
- Bad outcome – crash – he dies – biggest problem: “My wife will break down if I die” – that was what created the stress.
By discussing the issue with his wife – who did not at all agree that she would break down if he disappeared – and make re-prioritizations – for example in what is important in life and reviewing insurance, etc. – a proactive strategy towards constructive solutions – the potential problems caused by a plane crash suddenly became manageable – and the stress subsided.
* Stress must be managed afterwards.
Everyone needs to deal with the trauma afterwards:
- information on reactions/effects
- peer support (Active listening. Do not talk – listen 80/talk 20 – ask open-ended questions – summarize emotions – experiences – mindmap – get an overview.)
- relief (debriefing)
- professional help (psychologist) it is professional to accept professional help!
# Kidnapped
Stefan Mellström, ex police officer for 24 year, negotiation coordinator.
Involved in, among other things, the kidnappings of Fabian Bengtsson and Erik Westerberg.
(Westerberg tells himself in this interesting P3 Documentary:
http://sverigesradio.se/laddahem/podradio/SR_p3_dokumentar_100328080022.mp3)
* Motives:
- Money
- Politics
- Yield
- Information
- Revenge
The Swedish government does not pay ransoms. But the French, Italian and Spanish governments do – among others. Swedish companies instead have (secret) very expensive insurance for their employees that covers the ransoms.
– Being kidnapped/hostage is NOT FUN – your worst day in freedom is probably better than a day as a hostage. In other words – do not end up in the situation. DO the risk analysis.
• HOSTAGE – you are sitting on the bank/boat/plane
• KIDNAPPED – you are in an unknown place
• SELECTED TARGET – YOU are the target – Daniel Pearl – most dangerous
* Some clues if you get kidnapped:
- The mindset must be: “I will get out of here – I will get on that plane – I will get out of here”.
- Profile yourself against the hostages – create a relationship – try to be liked – it is harder to hurt someone you know and like.
- Talk in WE-terms with the kidnappers/guards
- Tell them about your interests – become human
- Try to stay calm – do not challenge the kidnappers
- Be one in the crowd – the middleman – do not stand out
- Be prepared that you may be separated – it creates a lot of anxiety.
- Do not play hero – you have minimal space. Follow the rules – but make demands – on medicine, food, hygiene.
- Do not remove blindfolds – yours or anyone else’s – there are reasons why they do not want you to have seen them. You do not want to be a witness.
- Keep a low profile, don’t tell you are a journalist if you don’t have to – if you are one of many in a bus, for example.
- Do not agitate – you can not convince anyone in this situation.
- Never start negotiating yourself – trust that the environment does something.
- You can rather aggravate the situation because your knowledge is limited.
- Maintain the relationship with others hostage.
- The hostage situation is most dangerous in the beginning – and during the release.
- Your situation can only get better if you realize:
- That it can take time – a long time. And set yourself up for it – it can only get better.
- Accept that someone else has control over your life – it will be easier than if you fight back.
- Your privacy will be challenged
- You will have strong reactions – death anxiety
- You may be insulted and subjected to violence.
- You can be blindfolded for a long time
- You can lose time and perception of space
* Create a daily routine
- Keep it tidy
- Play games – plan your escape – for the brain
- Poke your teeth – exercise – keep hygiene
- Do not stare, do not lie, do not manipulate, do not whisper.
- The kidnappers are paranoid.
* Always eat – even if it does not taste good
- You need the energy
- You do not know when you will get food next time
- It’s rude to say no
* Make notes/leave tracks
- Note the behaviors of the kidnappers.
- Smells, voices, sounds
- Leave your own tracks. Attach hair, bloodshed (DNA) – proof that you have been there.
* Contact with the outside world
- The proof that you have contact with a professional is that they only ask things you can answer yes or no to – you should not be tempted to say more than you have to.
* Rescue missions
You will be treated like a prospective kidnapper.
- The task force does not know who is who
- Lie down/arms outwards
- Do not rush out
- Do not hold anything in your hands
- Do not receive anything from the hostages (weapons or similar)
- You will need medical care afterwards – everyone does.
# Business
* 2Secure
50 employees – Sthlm/Gbg/Malmö
Stefan Mellström, co-owner, ex police 24 years, negotiation coordinator.
Mikael Tärnlund, 18 years in the army, then UK security company with assignments in Iraq 2.5 years and then Afghanistan 2.5 years.
Background checks, IT security, security managers “for hire”.
mt@2secure.se 0761 462 458
* Medical Solutions
“Dr On Call” when traveling. TV4 has a contract with them. You can call when you are out 24/7 and get advice on diarrhea or injuries.
# Identity details
* Sound test
Read and record the same text as a writing test
You leave samples that can be analyzed when needed.
* Handwriting test
The following paragraphs should be written to provide a rich writing profile. The text should be written down with the sample printer’s most commonly used style. Use an ink pen.
“To do as you are told sometimes requires that you be forced to do internal violence on yourself. We may not always agree with what the leader or the decision-maker says.
By forcing someone to say yes or no, we sometimes kill initiative in people. You can then become confused and unsure of where you are in your opinion.
In the end, you may want to contact experts for advice – and then good advice can be expensive. But money is not the main thing.
The important thing is to find a solution with courage, tricks and help so you feel free, which we Swedes are used to. We have always been neutral, run our own business and rarely have we been involved in conflicts, committed to coalitions or felt kidnapped in our opinions.”
