The SALAM Project

Was an honor presenting to Islamic Schools Association of Canada.

Connect with Red Tree Consulting for more information on how to get grant money for security needs.

There are dozens of basic strategies to protect a mosque. Here are some of them.

Republishing some in relation to the Ajax Masjid Quba incident:

Basic Security Operating procedures for mosques:

Staff sign in people at front. Shoppers Drug Mart, synagogues, banks all have this. Team of 3 works well.

If someone has questions about Islam, like the France stabber, have them fill out a visitor form and the mosque can get in touch with them for an information session or Open House.

Ensure your team watches for people trying to survey the site.

Aggressive/hostile/threatening individual? One person talks to them and keeps asking questions, don't try and escalate the situation, think Customer Service. The other person discreetly calls police or backup.

Suspicious person?
Note shoes, clothing, hair, behaviour, wording, height, start and endtimes. Review and preserve camera footage after to confirm details.

Leon H Smith also has a wealth of knowledge around security.

Mosques and Schools need to understand that there were several factors that saved 140 children in the San Diego terror attack:

- Having a full-time, armed security guard who was highly committed. He had a radio to provide early warning to initiate a lockdown, and the school was actively utilizing this radio system.

- The other 2 brothers also took action and drew the shooters out before being martyred. Police arrived seconds later.

- The school had a rehearsed lockdown and evacuation procedure, with a muster point so that parents could be reunited with their children. "Red-Team" exercises are essential. The shooters were moving through the school and were unable to get access to the children due to the lockdown.

- Fencing around the mosque and school limited the access points the shooters had.

- Police were already looking for the shooters, given the mother had called 911. They were searching a nearby mall and high school. There was a 4 minute response time to the mosque. The martyrs had bought enough time that the shooters were forced to flee ahead of the police arrival.

- Always employ multiple layers in your defense strategy.

SALAM Project

Amin Abdullah chose to warn the school via radio instead of reach for his gun. His actions saved the lives of at least 300 schoolchildren inside.