How to Recover After an Active Assailant Incident

Following a significant terrorist attack that severely disrupted operations, an international NGO confronted an urgent reality: their existing crisis management and security protocols were not equipped to support the return to long‑term organizational stability. Recognizing this vulnerability, the NGO turned to Crisis24 to help stabilize the situation and pave the way for sustainable recovery and resilience. Over the following weeks and months, the focus shifted from immediate response to strategic rebuilding. 

Crisis24 deployed Response Consultants to the incident location to conduct comprehensive debriefings with those directly affected. These sessions served two purposes: to provide psychological support and to extract critical insights to build an after-action review. The information collected was methodically relayed to the NGO’s leadership team, setting the foundation for improved mitigation strategies.

To address the profound psychological impact on employees, Crisis24’s specialist nurse developed tailored mid and longterm trauma counseling programs. These programs were designed to recognize individual needs, support emotional recovery, and foster an environment where staff felt safe returning to their roles.

With personnel support underway, the next step was to ensure the organization could return to function effectively. Consultants worked closely with the NGO’s leadership to review their business continuity plans. This included assessing operational limitations, evaluating resource availability, and reinforcing areas where redundancy was insufficient. Following the review, policies were updated, gaps were addressed, and new frameworks were introduced to create more reliable structures for future crises. 

Practice Embeds Long-term Organizational Resilience 

Building resilience requires practice. During the recovery phase, lessons learned were implemented and communications strategies were refined. To cement the reviewed response plans, Crisis24 developed improved training programs for all decision-making teams, with an emphasis on active assailant scenarios and crisis response protocols. These sessions ensured that leaders and teams alike understood their roles, responsibilities, and decision paths during high pressure situations, ultimately paving the way for strengthened organizational capabilities.  

Through comprehensive support spanning trauma care, operational continuity, and longterm preparedness, the NGO emerged from the incident stronger than before. Their enhanced policies, improved training, and fortified crisis management capabilities positioned them to weather future disruptions with greater confidence and resilience.

This case underscores a vital truth: recovery is an investment in the future. Organizations that embrace structured, holistic recovery strategies not only survive major incidents; they evolve into more agile, prepared, and resilient versions of themselves. 

Learn more about Crisis24’s four-phased approach to active assailant threats.