Skip to content
Report if suspicious.

Enhance CT Awareness

From overseas experience, to combat terrorism effectively not only relies on the efforts of law enforcement agencies, but also requires the support and participation of members of public.

There were some overseas examples in which the civilians identified suspicious circumstances in daily lives, alerted the law enforcement agencies and eventually stopped terrorist attacks from taking place.

Thus, the general public should possess sufficient CT awareness and report promptly upon discovering any terrorism-related suspicious incidents, so as to facilitate the prevention of and fight against terrorist activities.

Be Alert for Terrorist Activities

Terrorist activities can be summarised into four categories represented by an acronym “SPOT”. Terrorism-related activities include:

  • enhance-02-icon01

    Support
    Examples

    • Recruit and promote for terrorist/extremist groups

    • Provide funding or venue for terrorist/extremist groups

  • enhance-02-icon02

    Preparation
    Examples

    • Purchase or store unusual amount of chemicals, electronic parts or flammable liquid

    • Purchase or manufacture weapons, firearms or explosives

    • Research, learn, test or discuss tactics for attack

    • Conduct reconnaissance, such as taking picture/videos of the access routes and security facilities (e.g. CCTV)

  • enhance-02-icon03

    Online Materials
    Examples

    • Publish attack guidelines or weapon manuals, spread extreme hatred ideologies, advocate the use of extreme violence

  • enhance-02-icon04

    Terrorist Ideologies
    Examples

    • Express support for terrorism

    • Possess or display terrorism-related items (including flags and propaganda materials such as posters and videos)

Moreover, ICTU has prepared some examples of suspicious activities for specific industries' reference:

Moreover, ICTU has prepared some examples of suspicious activities for specific industries' reference:

  • Show unusual interests in the security measures or procedures

  • Loiter or stay at the same location without legitimate reasons

  • Conduct surveillance, such as taking pictures/videos of the access routes and security facilities (e.g. CCTV)

  • Cover up identity, such as using forged identity documents, stealing staff permits or uniform

  • Trespass into restricted area without authorization

  • The buyer is not in any relevant business

  • Request or purchase for chemicals with unusual amount or concentration

  • Unfamiliar with the nature and regular use of the product

  • Unwilling to disclose the purpose of the purchase

  • Insist to retrieve a large amount of product immediately

  • Insist to settle the payment by cash

  • Refuse to provide proof of identity and personal data

  • The quantity of luggage is disproportionate to the number of guests or period of stay

  • Emission of abnormal fumes or irritating smell from the room

  • Reject housekeeping service despite a prolonged stay

  • Insist to settle the payment by cash

  • Refuse to provide proof of identity and personal data

  • Usually visit at midnight or unusual time

  • Frequent visits to the same storage cubicle by different persons

  • Emission of abnormal fumes or irritating smell from the storage cubicle

  • Storage of weapons, firearms, explosives, chemicals, electronic parts or flammable liquid

  • Insist to settle the payment by cash