Lessons Learned: An Examination of Major Security Incidents at Mass Gathering Events

Committee on Homeland Security

2025-07-22

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Source: Congress.gov

Summary

The House Committee on Homeland Security's Task Force on Enhancing Security for Special Events convened its inaugural hearing to assess security for upcoming high-profile events in the United States, including the FIFA World Cup, the nation's 250th birthday, and the Los Angeles Summer Olympics [ 00:21:16 ]

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. The hearing aimed to learn from historical incidents, identify current threats, and discuss legislative solutions to enhance preparedness and security posture across all levels of government [ 00:22:01 ]

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Themes

Lessons from Past Incidents

The committee highlighted several past events to underscore the importance of robust security measures. The 2013 Boston Marathon bombing revealed critical lessons in intelligence sharing and interagency coordination, leading to significant improvements in these areas . The 2024 Copa America final in Miami exposed issues with crowd management and unauthorized entry, prompting the implementation of a new three-tiered entry protocol and enhanced perimeter security [ 00:32:14-00:32:37 ]

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. In New Orleans, a vehicular terrorist attack on New Year's Day 2025, combined with a severe snowstorm, demonstrated the effectiveness of interagency coordination in stabilizing a scene and securing subsequent major events like the Super Bowl . The 2024 Kansas City parade shooting, a result of localized gun violence, emphasized the unpredictable nature of open-air events and the necessity for vigilant planning and rapid emergency response [ 00:50:51 ]

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. International examples like the 1972 Munich Olympics and 2015 ISIS attacks in Paris were also cited as stark reminders of the cost of complacency .

Emerging Threats and Security Challenges

A paramount concern raised by all witnesses was the growing threat posed by drones or Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS). The NFL reported a 4,000% increase in drone incursions at stadiums in five years, highlighting their potential for attacks or creating chaos . Local agencies currently lack both the authority and the technology to effectively detect and disable unauthorized drones . Other significant threats include vehicular terrorism, as seen in New Orleans , and persistent gun violence, exemplified by the Kansas City shooting . Human trafficking is also a concern with large international gatherings . The evolving landscape of threats also includes cyber attacks and acts by extremist or foreign-influenced actors .

Critical Needs and Solutions

Effective security for major events requires strong intelligence sharing, particularly through fusion centers, which have proven to be vital force multipliers . Enhanced interagency collaboration at all levels—local, state, and federal—is deemed essential for coordinated responses [ 00:32:02 ]

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. Adequate and timely funding is crucial for additional personnel, overtime, and investment in advanced technologies like AI for surveillance and FirstNet for reliable communication [ 00:35:38 ]

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. Law enforcement officials emphasized the urgent need for federal legislation to grant state and local authorities the power and necessary equipment to counter drones, citing Louisiana's new "We Will Act Act" as a positive step . Meticulous early planning, scenario-based drills, and continuous training are also key to preparedness [ 00:31:49 ]

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Tone of the Meeting

The meeting's tone was serious, urgent, and highly collaborative, reflecting the gravity of the security challenges ahead [ 00:21:46 ]

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. Speakers consistently emphasized the importance of resilience, partnership, and learning from past tragedies to ensure future safety . There was a clear acknowledgment of the significant challenges, coupled with a strong commitment from all participants to find effective solutions [ 00:31:31 ]

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. The discussion also conveyed deep appreciation for the efforts of law enforcement officers and a collective desire to empower them with necessary resources and authorities . A particular sense of urgency was expressed regarding the drone threat and the need for immediate legislative action to grant local law enforcement explicit authority to address it [ 00:55:26 ]

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Participants

Transcript

The Committee on Homeland Security Task Force on Enhancing Security for Special Events in the United States will come to order.  Without objection, the chair may declare the committee in recess at any point.  The purpose of this hearing is to assess historical incidents and attacks at sporting events and other mass gatherings in anticipation of upcoming high-profile international events that the United States will be hosting.   I now recognize myself for an opening statement.  I'd like to welcome everyone to this inaugural hearing of the bipartisan House Committee on Homeland Security's Task Force on Enhancing Security for Special Events in the United States.   In the coming decade, the United States will host millions of international travelers for several major national and international special events, including the FIFA World Cup, the celebration of the United States' 250th birthday in 2026, and the Los Angeles Summer Olympics of 2028.   Though these events present an opportunity to showcase everything that makes America great, we cannot forget that our adversaries and other violent extremists will view these events as targets for inflicting mass casualties and generating fear.   To that end, I am honored to chair the task force and lead the committee's efforts in investigating and conducting oversight of the security needs of these major national and international events.  Our goal is to develop and advance legislative solutions that will enhance our preparedness and security posture against all threats.  And I look forward to working with the ranking member of the task force, Ms.  Nellie Poe of New Jersey,   and with all the members assigned to this task force to empower state and local law enforcement and other first responders to carry out their missions.  As we prepare to secure the major events ahead, this task force must begin by learning from past failures, both here and abroad.
In the United States, we've seen deadly attacks at mass gatherings, the 1996 Olympic bombing in Atlanta,   and the 2025 New Year's Day attack in New Orleans.  Abroad, the 1972 Munich Olympics, which are still emblazoned in my mind, saw a terrorist murder nine, or sorry, 11 Israeli athletes after exploiting security gaps.  In addition, in 2015, ISIS launched coordinated attacks across Paris, killing 130.   These tragedies make clear the cost of complacency, and we owe it to the American people to confront these lessons and ensure we don't repeat them.  This hearing is the first step.  Today's historic focus will lead us to discuss and consider, like the instance of vehicular terrorism on January 1st of this year in New Orleans.   the crowd security breach at the Copa America final game at the Miami Hard Rock Stadium last year, and the Kansas City parade shooting early last year.  We will also discuss the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing, which occurred during my tenure as chairman of this committee.  And Commissioner Davis, it's great to see you again.  We worked well together   in our oversight and investigating the activities following that tragedy to find a constructive outcome so that something like that couldn't happen again.  So we look forward to hearing from our witnesses on these challenges, what we can do better.  More importantly, we want to know what more Congress and the federal government can do to strengthen security ahead of these major events.  One clear lesson from the past attacks is the need for strong intelligence sharing.   Our state and local law enforcement rely on timely information from the federal intelligence community, especially our fusion centers.
With rising tensions in the Middle East and the threat of Iran-backed actors operating inside the United States, raising awareness and coordination is critical to stopping potential attacks before they happen.   Earlier this month, Congress passed and the President signed into law supplemental funding for the World Cup and the Los Angeles Olympics, which will be used in part to enhance information sharing.  That same information sharing is critical in stopping human trafficking, which we see, unfortunately, all too well at these events.  With millions of international visitors expected, criminal networks will look to exploit.  We also face a growing threat from drones.   According to the NFL, there were over 2,800 drone incursions at stadiums during the 2023 season, a 4,000% increase from just five years prior.  With minimal skill, bad actors can use these drones to launch attacks or create chaos.  Yet most state and local agencies lack the authority to respond.  We need to equip federal agencies   so they can help the state agencies and close the gap to make these events safe.  We have a lot of work to do ahead of these events.  I hope this hearing is a strong first step to ensure the incidents we discussed today will never happen again, and that the United States remains a global leader in providing safe and secure experiences for citizens and visitors alike.  And with that, I now recognize the ranking member of the task force, Ms.  Poe, for her opening statement.   Thank you.  Thank you, Chairman, and good afternoon to you, sir.  I am so very pleased to be leading our bipartisan task force with you today for our first hearing.  Before I start, I want to express my deepest sympathy to the victims of the attack in Los Angeles over the weekend.
I pray for everyone's recovery.   This tragedy, which injured more than 30 people, demonstrates how important it is for law enforcement to have plans in place to prevent, mitigate, and respond to threats, including threats that may arise outside of venues.  This task force has a deeply important mission as our country prepares to host some of the world's largest gatherings and celebration over the next

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