Food corporations with refrigeration plants that utilize ammonia as the coolant could be targeted by individuals seeking to cause mass casualties. A well-placed vehicle-borne IED (VBIED) has been proven to be a potent weapon of destruction, and in places like Syria, VBEIDs have been paired with other things like chlorine tanks to magnify the lethal effect. Just because we have not had any VBIEDs in the United States since Timothy McVeigh set one off in Oklahoma City in 1995 does not mean we don’t have to be aware.
The situation in the Middle East, particularly in places like Iraq, Syria and Yemen, continues to “evolve,” meaning it is anyone’s guess how things will turn out. The Islamic State (ISIS) is being pressed hard, and reports coming out of Europe indicate former ISIS fighters are returning to their countries of origin as ISIS’ territory shrinks and the battlefield becomes more lethal. Nevertheless, ISIS continues to place trained fighters abroad and encourage and mentor sympathizers around the world. Some terrorists might return to the United States from the war zone, while others might be groomed in place, never leaving the United States before they emerge as a threat.