AUSTIN, Texas — In the aftermath of the deadly attack in New Orleans on New Year’s Day, Gov. Greg Abbott announced this week that he is directing the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) to increase resources for an anti-terrorism task force. 

What You Need To Know

  • The boost in resources to the Texas Anti-Terrorism Task Force is in direct response to the attack in New Orleans, which left 14 people dead and about 30 injured

  • The attack was committed by Shamsud-Din Jabbar, 42, who lived in Houston, was a former Army soldier and said he was inspired by the Islamic State militant group

  • According to Abbott’s office, the governor issued a directive to DPS to focus on “prevention and protection of our local communities”

“Terrorism has no place in Texas,” said Abbott in a news release. “Law enforcement at all levels must aggressively collaborate to eliminate radicalization that can lead to terrorist attacks.”

The release said the boost in resources to the Texas Anti-Terrorism Task Force was in direct response to the attack in New Orleans, which left 14 people dead and about 30 injured. 

The attack was committed by Shamsud-Din Jabbar, 42, who lived in Houston, was a former Army soldier and said he was inspired by the Islamic State militant group. Police shot and killed Jabbar at the scene of the attack on Bourbon Street. 

According to Abbott’s office, the governor issued a directive to DPS to focus on “prevention and protection of our local communities.”

The prevention aspect of the directive focuses on DPS working with other federal, state and local agencies to identify and assess potential threats. 

Here are the directive’s prevention focuses:

  • DPS will work with FBI Field Offices to increase Anti-terrorism Joint Terrorism Task Force operations statewide.
  • DPS will increase the number of intelligence analysts assigned to investigate terrorism and mass attack threats and to provide analytical help to local jurisdictions.
  • DPS will work with federal agencies to identify, locate and assess potential threats from Special Interest Migrants.
  • DPS will work with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and local jurisdictions to expand the Bomb-Making Materials Awareness Program, enhancing information sharing between the private sector and law enforcement regarding suspicious purchases of materials that may be used to construct improvised explosive devices.
  • DPS will work with local partners in law enforcement, mental health and other fields to implement the Texas Behavioral Threat Assessment Intervention and Prevention Program Strategy.
  • DPS will provide training and education to Texas communities on the prevention of terrorism and targeted violence. 

On the protection side of the directive, the governor asked DPS to work with local law enforcement and officials when securing and coordinating large gatherings. 

Here are the directive’s protection and mitigation focuses:

  • DPS regions will work with local law enforcement partners on plans for securing special events and mass gatherings and will provide assistance including vulnerability assessments, threat detection technology, analytical support and security personnel as needed.
  • DPS will support local jurisdictions in planning and conducting mass casualty attack response workshops to improve the ability of Texas communities to detect, deter and respond to terrorist attacks.
  • DPS will develop a new exercise series focused on coordinating with private sector owners and operators of critical infrastructure to conduct workshops focused on detection of, deterrence of and response to physical attacks against critical infrastructure. 
  • DPS will expand the Texas Infrastructure Liaison Officer Program by offering additional certification and training opportunities in order to expand intelligence sharing, suspicious activity reporting and incident coordination with private sector partners.  
  • DPS will assess the vulnerability of the Capitol Complex to vehicle ramming and other types of potential terrorist attacks and will provide recommendations for Capitol Complex security enhancements to the Office of the Governor.

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