Recommendations to citizens in case of a Terrorist Attack

The purpose of these recommendations is to help citizens properly navigate and act in extreme and emergency situations as well as to ensure the creation of conditions for the investigation of crimes. Any person must accurately behave and act in extreme situations and psychologically be ready for self-defense.

DETECTING A SUSPICIOUS OBJECT THAT MAY BE AN EXPLOSIVE DEVICE

Lately, there have been frequent cases of citizens discovering suspicious objects that may turn out to be explosive devices. Such objects are found in transport, on staircases, near apartment doors, in offices and public places. How to behave when they are found? What actions to take?

If the discovered object should not, in your opinion, be in this place, do not disregard this fact.

If you find a forgotten or ownerless item on public transport, please interview people nearby. Try to find out whose item it is. If the owner is not identified, immediately report that to the driver.

If you find an unknown object near the entrance of your house, ask your neighbors, perhaps it belongs to them. If the owner is not identified, immediately report the finding to the nearest police station.

If you find an unknown item in the institution, immediately report the finding to the administration or security.

In all these cases:

• do not touch, move or open the detected object; 
• specify the time of object detection; 
• try to do everything possible to get people to move as far as possible from the object;  
• be sure to wait for the arrival of the operational investigation team (remember that you are a very important eyewitness); 

Remember: the appearance of an item can obscure its real purpose. The most common household items are used as camouflage for explosive devices: bags, packages, boxes, toys, etc.

Parents are responsible for the life and health of your children. Explain to your children that any object found on the street or in the entrance can be dangerous.

Do not take any action on your own with suspicious objects that may turn out to be explosive devices. This can lead to their explosion, numerous victims and destruction.

OBTAINING INFORMATION REGARDING EVACUATION

An evacuation message can be received not only in the event of an explosive device detected and the elimination of the consequences of a terrorist act, but also because of fire, natural disaster, etc.

After receiving a message from authorities or law enforcement agencies about the beginning of the evacuation, remain calm and clearly follow their commands.

If you are in an apartment, follow these steps:

• Take personal documents, money, valuables; 
• Disconnect electricity, water and gas;
• Provide assistance in the evacuation of the elderly and seriously ill people;
• Be sure to close the front door with a lock. This will protect the apartment from possible penetration of marauders; 

Try not to panic, tantrum and rush. Leave the building in an organized manner.

Return to the abandoned premises only after the permission of the responsible persons.

Remember that the life and health of many people will depend on the consistency and clarity of your actions.

BEHAVIOR IN THE CROWD

• Avoid large crowds; 
• Don't join the crowd, no matter how much you want to look at the events taking place; 
• If you find yourself in a crowd, let it carry you, but try to get out of it; 
• Inhale deeply and spread the arms bent at the elbows slightly to the sides so that the chest is not compressed; 
• Try to stay away from tall and large people, people with bulky items and large bags; 
• Try to stay on your feet by any means; 
• Don't keep your hands in your pockets; 
• While moving, raise your legs as high as possible and do not rise on tiptoes; 
• If the situation has become threatening, immediately without hesitation free yourself from any burden, especially from a bag with a long belt and a scarf; 
• If you drop something, do not bend over to pick it up; 
• If you fall, try to get to your feet as quickly as possible. When doing this, do not lean on your hands as they might be crushed or broken by the crowd. Try to stand on your soles for just a moment. Having found support, sharply push off the ground with your feet; 
• If you can't stand up, curl up in a ball, protect your head with your forearms and cover the back of your head with your palms; 
• if you are in a crowded room, determine in advance which places are most common in an emergency situation (passages between sectors in the stadium, glass doors and partitions in concert halls, etc.), pay attention to emergency exits and mentally make your way to them; 
• The easiest way to hide from the crowds is in the corners of the hall or near the walls but it is more difficult to get from there to the exit; 
• If you panic, try to remain calm and able to assess the situation soberly; 
• Do not join the protesters for the sake of interest. First, find out if the rally is sanctioned and what the speakers are campaigning for; 
• Do not join unregistered organizations. Participation in the activities of such organizations may result in criminal penalties; 
• During riots try not to get into the crowd as a participant or spectator. You can fall under the actions of special forces soldiers.

HOSTAGE

Any person can be held hostage by criminals. At the same time, criminals can achieve political goals, obtain a ransom, etc.

In all cases, your life becomes a bargaining chip for terrorists.

Seizure can occur in transport, in an institution, on the street, in an apartment.

If you are held hostage, we recommend folow the rules:

• unexpected movement or noise can be violently rebuffed by terrorists, do not allow actions that may provoke terrorists to use weapons and lead to human casualties;
• be prepared for terrorists to use blindfolds, gags, handcuffs or ropes; 
• endure hardships, insults and humiliation, do not look criminals in the eyes (for a nervous person, this is a signal for aggression), do not behave defiantly; 
• do not try to disarm the bandit or break through to the exit or window; 
• do not resist if you are forced to leave the premises, saying that you are being taken hostage; 
• if children are with you, find a safe place for them, try to protect them from accidental bullets, if possible, be near them;
• if necessary, fulfill the requirements of criminals, do not contradict them, do not risk the lives of others and your own, try not to allow hysteria and panic;
• in the event that medical attention is needed, speak calmly and briefly without irritating the bandits, do not do anything until you get permission.

REMEMBER: YOUR GOAL IS TO STAY ALIVE

Be attentive, try to remember the signs of criminals, the distinctive features of their faces, clothes, names, nicknames, possible scars and tattoos, features of speech and demeanor, topics of conversation, etc.

Remember that having received a message about your capture, the special services have already begun to act and will do everything necessary to release you.

During the operation of the special services for your release, strictly stick to the following requirements:

• lie on the floor face down, cover your head with your hands and do not move;
• in any case, do not run towards the intelligence officers or from them, as they may mistake you for a criminal;
• if possible, stay away from door openings and windows.

If you are taken hostage, remember that your own behavior may affect the way you are treated.

• Remain calm and self-controlled. Determine what's going on
• The decision to resist or refuse to do so must be balanced and consistent with the danger of superior terrorist forces.
• Don't resist. This can lead to even more cruelty.
• Be attentive. Concentrate your attention on sounds, movements, etc.
• Do some mental exercise.
• Get ready for extreme living conditions: 
  • inadequate food and living conditions;
  • inadequate toilet facilities.
• If possible, be sure to follow the rules of personal hygiene.
• If you have any health problems, make sure you bring the necessary medications with you, inform the guards about your health problems, and if necessary, ask for medical assistance or medication.
• Be prepared to explain if you have any documents, phone numbers, etc.
• Don't let your consciousness faint. Develop a program of possible exercise (both mental and physical). Train your memory constantly: remember historical dates, the names of people you know, phone numbers, etc. Exercise as much as the strength and space of the room allows.

Ask the guards if you can read, write, use personal hygiene products, etc.

If you were given the opportunity to talk to relatives on the phone, control yourself, do not cry, do not shout, speak briefly and to the point. Try to contact the guards. Explain to them that you are human too. Show them pictures of your family members. Don't try to deceive them.

If the guards do not make contact, talk as if to yourself, read poems in an undertone or sing.

Be sure to keep track of the time by marking the days gone by with matches, pebbles, or dashes on the wall.

If you find yourself locked in a room, then try to get someone's attention. To do this, break the window glass and call for help, if there are matches, light the paper and bring it closer to the fire detector, etc.

Never lose hope of a good outcome. Remember, the more time passes, the more chances you have of salvation.

USE OF AIR TRANSPORT 

If possible, try to take a seat by the window at the rear of the aircraft.

Minimize your registration time.

Stay close to any cover and exit.

Study neighboring passengers, pay attention to their behavior.

Discuss with family members what to do in a typical aircraft hijacking situation.

Avoid visiting retail and food outlets outside the airport security zone.

Immediately report unclaimed baggage or suspicious activity to aircraft crew or security personnel.

In the event of an attack on the airport:

• Use any cover available..
• Fall even in the mud, don't run
• Cover and turn your head away from the attacking side.
• Do not assist the security forces if you are not completely sure of the effectiveness of such actions.

IN CASE OF TERRORIST HIJACKED AIRCRAFT

Imagine possible capture scenarios and your possible behavior in doing so. Do not panic, do not jump up, stay in the chair. Do not argue with terrorists, do not provoke them to use weapons. If you have special training, do not try to neutralize terrorists, keep your neighbors from doing this as well.

Accept the humiliation and insults that terrorists may subject you to.

Avoid anything that can draw attention to you.

If among the passengers there are crying children or sick moaning people, do not express your displeasure, keep yourself in control. Any outburst of negative emotions can break down an already tense atmosphere.

Do not drink alcoholic beverages.

Whatever happens, do not try to intercede for the crew members. Your intervention can only complicate the situation.

Never be outraged by the actions of the pilots. The crew is always right. The flight attendant's order is the law for a passenger.

Don't trust terrorists. They can say whatever they want, but they only pursue their own interests.

Behave with dignity. Think not only of yourself, but also of other passengers.

If you saw that one of the crew members left the plane, in no case draw the attention of other passengers to this fact. The actions of the crew can be noticed by terrorists.

If possible, be prepared by the time of the start of the special operation to leave the plane.

If a rescue operation is undertaken, try to take a position so that the terrorists cannot grab you and use you as a human shield: fall down, or hide behind the back of the chair, hugging your head in your hands and stay there until you are allowed to get up.

Note: Security forces can mistake anyone moving for a terrorist.

Leave the plane as quickly as possible. Don't stop looking for personal items.

Be prepared for the fact that you have to answer the questions of the investigators, and remember in advance the details of what happened. This will help the investigation and save your own time.

ACTIONS WITH A THREAT OF A TERRORIST ACT

Always be in control of the situation around you, especially when you are at transport facilities, cultural, entertainment, sports and shopping centers.

If you find forgotten things, without touching them, inform the driver, employees of the facility, the security service, and the police. Do not try to look inside a suspicious package or box.

Do not pick up ownerless things, no matter how attractive they look.

They may contain explosive devices (in beer cans, cell phones, etc.). Do not kick objects lying on the ground in the street.

If suddenly the security forces and law enforcement agencies began to act, do not show curiosity, go the other way, but do not run, so that you are not mistaken for an enemy.

In the event of an explosion or the start of shooting, immediately fall to the ground, preferably under cover (curb, stall, car, etc.). Cover your head with your hands for more safety.

Having accidentally learned about the impending terrorist attack, immediately report it to the law enforcement agencies.

If you become aware of an impending or committed crime, immediately report it to the FSB or the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

Source: Official Website of FSB