Report examines public mass attacks in 2018

The Department of Homeland Security recently released its annual report on Mass Attacks in Public Spaces (MAPS).

Last year there were 27 targeted attacks in the United States in public spaces in which three or more persons were harmed. A total of 91 people were killed and 107 were injured.

The majority of the attacks involved firearms with half of the gunmen committing suicide. Half of the attacks were motivated by a grievance, while two-thirds of the assailants had mental health issues.

“Since our founding after the horrible attacks on September 11, we have often utilized the special resources within the Secret Service to better protect our public spaces,” Kevin K. McAleenan, acting Secretary of Homeland Security, said. “This is because the Secret Service has the most experience at protecting public spaces, and they remain the best at it in the world. Secret Service’s multidisciplinary methodology involves coordination and partnership between law enforcement and others, including workplace managers, school administrators, local officials, and the mental health community.”

McAleenan attended an event Tuesday with Secret Service Director James Murray and Dr. Lina Alathari, chief of the National Threat Assessment Center.

The event included a two-hour seminar attended by police departments, public safety professionals, federal agencies, and others.