While this report is intended for the tourism and vehicle rental industries, the information contained therein is useful to remind subscribers of the need of continued vigilance and awareness of suspicious, pre-attack behaviors and indicators.

Tourism and Vehicle Rental Industries

18 July 2018

Vehicle Ramming Risks at Tourist or High Density Venues

The FBI’s Office of Private Sector (OPS), in collaboration with the FBI’s Honolulu and Washington Field Offices and the Hawaii State Fusion Center (HSFC) are providing this LIR to inform tourism and vehicle rental industry partners regarding vehicle-ramming risks at high pedestrian traffic and tourist locations. The vehicle-ramming tactic requires minimal skill and resources. Open source and FBI information indicates attackers used rental or stolen vehicles against high density and tourist settings. FBI and HSFC encourages private sector partners to inform their personnel to remain vigilant during high tourist seasons or while attending large-scale events. Tourism and vehicle rental staffs should report any suspicious activity to your security personnel, first responders, and/or law enforcement officials. These suspicious activities include but are not limited to any individual or group (these indicators should be observed in context and not individually):

• Rents vehicle on more than one occasion who may provide different names on the rental paperwork; 
  
  
• Provides incomplete information on paperwork; 
  
  
• Always use cash or credit card in another individuals’ name in transactions; 
  
  
• Casing and photographing areas of high pedestrian traffic or tourist areas; and
  
  
• Vehicle parked or slowly driving for excessive hours.
  

Prior Global Vehicle-Ramming Attacks

According to open source information, between 20 December 2015 and 23 April 2018, criminals and Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS) inspired individuals conducted approximately 10 vehicleramming attacks in the United States, Canada, and Europe. The attacks in Europe were predominantly ISIS-inspired; while, the vehicle ramming attacks in the United States included non-affiliated lone offenders. Rental vehicles were used in nine out of the ten attacks that caused death, extensive injury, and economic damage.

Attackers used rental vehicles or stolen trucks in the following recent attacks:

23 April 2018 – Toronto, Canada
31 October 2017 – Manhattan, New York
17 August 2017 – Barcelona, Spain
19 June 2017 – London, England
6 June 2017 – London, England
7 April 2017 – Stockholm, Sweden
19 December 2016 – Berlin, Germany
14 July 2016 – Nice, France

The FBI Honolulu Field Office, in coordination with the HSFC, and law enforcement have initiated successful outreach efforts to local vehicle rental vendors to provide suspicious activity training and establish clear lines of communication. FBI Honolulu and county police departments initiate routine engagement with rental vehicle vendors prior to outdoor events that attract large pedestrian crowds. 

Close coordination between rental vehicle venders, trucking companies, and law enforcement agencies are key to limit malicious acts against patrons and potential customers. As more outdoor events occur during the summer months, the FBI encourages rental vehicle vendors and trucking industries to contact their local FBI office to report suspicious activity

This LIR was created and disseminated from OPS’s Sector Analytic Unit. Direct any requests and questions to your FBI Private Sector Coordinator at your local FBI Field Office: https://www.fbi.gov/contact-us/field-offices

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