Recent analysis from the Department of Homeland Security provides an indication of how AQAP’s Inspire Magazine has targeted critical sectors and with what frequency specific sectors have been mentioned over the publication’s fourteen editions. Transportation Systems, Government Facilities, and Commercial Facilities are the critical infrastructure Sectors most frequently identified in the Inspire publications. As DHS notes “Physical attacks on these Sectors could result in casualties, economic disruptions, public sector and government operational impacts, and enhanced security measures.”
Commercial facilities, which would include the types of targets selected by the Paris attackers, are frequently highlighted as targets making appearances in 5 of the 14 issues.
The open source analysis (OSINT) notes that the hybrid attacks are most commonly called for, followed by improvised explosive devices and vehicle-borne IEDs.
