What to do in an active shooter situation or a complex attack

In this article, we are going on a journey in the world of active shooters and complex attacks.

This information is relevant for you as this method of attack can affect you personally when working and travelling abroad.

Although the chances of getting into such a situation are very slim, many travellers are worried. What can you do when you are caught in such a situation?

 

First; the term active shooter implies that guns are used, but often also knives or improvised weapons are utilised. Instead of active shooter, the terms active aggressor and lone wolf attack are also used.

The goal of the aggressor is to make as many casualties as possible.

Often this is done for a political goal, but also revenge, hatred, psychopathologic behaviour and other reasons can drive an aggressor.

We make a distinction between a complex attack and an active shooter. Let us start with the first one, the complex attack.

 

Complex attack

Before we get into definitions, first we look at some recent attacks and a video explaining the modus operandi of aggressors.

What is a complex attack? Below you will find some examples of complex attacks:

  • 2023 Pearl Beach Hotel, Mogadishu, Somalia
  • 2022 Hote, Harar, Ethiopia
  • 2021 Afrik Hotel, Mogadishu, Somalia
  • 2020 Humanitarian Aid Facility, Ngala, Nigeria
  • 2019 DusitD2 Hotel, Nairobi, Kenya
  • 2018 Save the Children compound, Jalalabad, Afghanistan
  • 2017 Club Reina, Istanbul Turkey
  • 2016 Club Pulse, Orlando USA
  • 2015 Bataclan Paris, France
  • 2015 Hotel in Sevare, Mali
  • 2015 Resort of Sousse, Tunisia
  • 2015 Corinthia Hotel, Tripoli, Libya
  • 2015 Park Palace, Kabul, Afghanistan

In this video, you see the chaos during the complex attack on the Dusit hotel complex in Nairobi.

Although the situation during a complex attack is very chaotic, the attacker works according to a plan.

To understand how the attackers operated during this attack, please watch this video:

 

To sum up, a complex attack often involves:

  • Multiple teams,
  • at multiple locations,
  • attacking at the same time,
  • and employing one or more weapon systems: firearms, explosives etc.,
  • intended to result in large numbers of casualties.

A complex (coordinated) attack is different from an active shooter attack. Although active shooters are often a part of a complex attack.

The main differences with active shooter attacks are that they often work alone and with limited preparation.

There is also a variation in weapon systems in a complex attack, often the attack starts with explosives, after the explosions, the attackers can use rifles and hand grenades.

The explosions can be a tool to get access to a gated and guarded building and simultaneously maximise confusion. This will increase their opportunity to kill as many people as possible and hinder the effort of the police to intervene.

Complex attacks often result in extreme chaos. It will take time, for the bystanders but also for the armed forces, to understand the situation.

What to do in case of a complex attack? For the answer, we first have to go to the active shooter situation.

 

Active Shooter

In the video below you will learn what to do in an active shooter situation.

The instruction video below is developed and courteously shared by the security team of World Vision.

The instruction film can be graphic. Please keep in mind that this video is staged and the “victims’’ are actors. Everything you see is fake, it is not a documentary.

 

In the video, they mention three actions:

  • Get Away (Run)
  • Find Cover (Hide)
  • Defend Yourself (Fight)

 

What to do first?

Active shooter attacks are unpredictable and evolve quickly in very violent situations. Your number one priority is survival and to survive you must act.

You have limited time to decide on your next action. Make yourself a small target, get down on the floor and use a few seconds to assess the situation. Then decide; run, hide, or fight and do it.

Do not overthink the situation. The aggressor is moving, there will be chaos and you might not know all the routes to safety. Accept that you must decide with limited information. Also mentally accept that you must change your plan on the go when the situation changes.

If you are in doubt if you are in an active shooter situation, just start walking away from the location the sound came from. You might be wrong; it was not a gun, but something fell to the ground. No harm done and return. If it is a shooter situation, you have a head start.

Below we will look at the pros and cons of the three different actions.

RUN

Your first option is to get away from a situation as fast as possible. The simple reason is that when you are out of weapon range, you cannot be harmed, and you will be safe.

When you have a chance to escape, this is probably your best option.

Pro:

  • Most survivors have run.
  • Distance between you and the attacker will keep you safe.
  • You can warn the police/military.
  • You can get medical aid if needed.
  • A moving target is more difficult to hit with a gun.

Con:

  • When you encounter the attacker, you often have no cover to hide

Suggestions:

  • Have an escape route in mind when entering a room or building.
  • Leave your belongings behind.
  • If others choose to stay, you can still go.
  • Help others escape when possible.
  • Keep your hands visible to the police or military.
  • Keep running until you are safe.

HIDE

When it is impossible to escape, you can hide. The attacker may not have a lot of time and will look for open doors and skip locked doors.

Pro:

  • As long as the attacker does not find you, you are safe.
  • Attackers are often (but not always!) under time pressure, they may not have time to search for people.
  • You can communicate with the outside world, warn the police, and text them your location.

Con:

  • As you are locked in a static situation, it is not easy to improve your situation.
  • When they find you, fighting will probably be the next action.

Suggestions:

  • Lock or barricade doors.
  • Turn off the lights.
  • Move away from windows and doors.
  • Silence cell phones.

Fight

We end with the last resort, fighting. When you are cornered and you cannot escape or hide, fighting the aggressor is your last resort.

Although this is your last option, the conclusion that you must fight can come up almost instantly, as we will see below. If you decide to attack, go all in and monster all your force. You will probably get one chance. Use that chance.

A good example is the attack on the Thalys (high-speed train) from Amsterdam to Paris in 2015. The active shooter wanted to attack the train passengers to kill as many Americans as possible. He was carrying several guns and a knife. He shot one passenger, and then his gun jammed. At that moment several passengers attacked the gunman. He was forced to the ground and later arrested.

One of the passengers who had attacked the terrorist stated: “I’m not going to be the guy who dies sitting down.” “If you’re going to die, try to do something about it. This is a statement of someone without run or hide options.

There was no escape or hiding in the moving train. The passengers took decisive action and without hesitation attacked the aggressor. This saved their lives and the lives of the other passengers.

Youtube, Active Shooter train

 

Pro:

  • Attackers are not always mentally prepared for a counterattack.
  • The fight gives others the chance to flee.
  • If you succeed, the attack might be over.

Con:

  • You can get seriously injured or even killed.

Suggestions:

  • Fight as a last resort and only when your life is in imminent danger
  • Attempt to incapacitate the shooter
  • Act with physical aggression and throw items at the active shooter

To the rescue

Most active shooter and complex attacks are reported to the police quickly. It will not take long before the armed forces arrive. The first wave of police and military will try to contain and end the active shooter situation. Their priority is not to help you, their priority is finding and stopping the aggressor. This means that you are a low priority for them.

It is important to understand that the officers are confronted with many people in disarray. Often running toward them. One of these people might be the aggressor and not flying to safety but attacking them.

When you encounter the police or the army, you are not safe but in a very dangerous situation. They are focused on finding the aggressor. They might confuse you for the aggressor. You must be prepared to be treated as an aggressor until they are sure you are innocent.

When the police or military arrive:

  • Remain calm and follow instructions
  • Put down any items in your hands (i.e., mobile phones, bags, jackets)
  • Raise your hands and spread your fingers
  • Always keep your hands visible
  • Avoid quick movements toward officers such as holding on to them for safety
  • Avoid pointing, screaming, or yelling
  • Do not stop to ask officers for help or direction when evacuating
  • REMEMBER: the police and military have one priority, finding the aggressor. Do not expect help from them, and make sure you are not mistaken for the aggressor.

Conclusion:

Active shooter situations and complex attacks evolve extremely quickly. You don’t have a lot of time to assess the situation. Make yourself a small target, get down on the floor and use a few seconds to decide to run, hide or fight. As the situation is very dynamic, do not dwell too long on the perfect decision. You do not have all the information and the aggressors will be moving around. It is hard to predict their movements.

After your decision, keep assessing the situation and be mentally prepared to change it. When you are running and an aggressor pops up in front of you, you might need to hide or fight. Be ready to change your actions as the situation progresses. Remember, your survival is your priority.

PS, if you want to train your reaction to an active shooter situation, you might consider joining a HEAT training course.