Anti-Terrorism Information
Find information on emergency planning in the DOJ Emergency Preparedness Manual
The United States Attorney's Office leads a multi-agency Anti-Terrorism Advisory Council (ATAC). The ATAC, formerly known as the "Anti-Terrorism Task Force (ATTF)," was created at the direction of the Attorney General less than a week after the tragic events of September 11, 2001. The Northern District of Georgia's ATAC has three objectives:
- coordinating anti-terrorism initiatives;
- initiating and supporting anti-terrorism training programs; and
- facilitating terrorism information sharing. The ATAC meets as appropriate to share information, to discuss relevant projects, and to conduct specific training.
The Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF) is assigned operational responsibility for investigating suspected terrorist activity. The JTTF is a team of state and local law enforcement officers, FBI Agents, and other federal agents and personnel who work shoulder-to-shoulder to investigate and prevent acts of terrorism. The task force pools multi-agency expertise and insures the timely collection and sharing of intelligence absolutely critical to prevention efforts. The Atlanta JTTF is housed and supervised by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). It is a fully operational anti-terrorism unit. A member of the JTTF can be reached 24-hours a day, 7 days a week, at 404-679-9000.
In the aftermath of the terrorist attacks on September 11, Congress passed the USA Patriot Act to give law enforcement better tools to protect America. The Act was passed with wide, bipartisan support. The Patriot Act does three principal things: First, it closes the gaping holes in our ability to investigate terrorists. Second, the Patriot Act updates our anti-terrorism laws to meet the challenges of new technology and new threats. Third, the Patriot Act has allowed us to build an extensive team that shares information and fights terrorism together. For more information on the USA Patriot Act, please visit the Department of Justice website www.lifeandliberty.gov.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has tips for being prepared in the event of a terrorist attack. This information is available at the DHS website, www.ready.gov.
The Eagle Eyes program is an anti-terrorism initiative that enlists the eyes and ears of Air Force members and citizens in the war on terror. The program reveals some typical activities in which terrorists engage to plan their attacks.
How You Can Help Anti-Terrorism Efforts in the Northern District of Georgia
Preventing terrorist acts requires all of us to be both diligent and proactive in identifying suspected terrorists. Members of the public are an invaluable resource in our effort to safeguard citizens and their property. The law enforcement community is doing all it can to keep us safe. You can help by offering your full support and cooperation should your assistance be needed in an interview, request for documentation, or request for information. You and your family are encouraged to stay attuned to your surroundings. If you see activity that you think is suspicious and possibly linked to terrorism, please report it promptly to your local law enforcement agency or to the FBI in Atlanta at (404) 679-9000.