CHRISTCHURCH
Mosque gets weapons- detecting cameras Christchurch’s Al-Noor Mosque will be one of the first two mosques to implement an AIpowered active shooter detection platform to protect its worshippers and staff after the tragic 15 March mass shooting. The solution is the result of a partnership between Texas-based Athena Security and Qatar-based Al-Ameri International Trading to launch Keep Mosques Safe (KMS), an initiative designed to prevent active shooter situations at mosques through gun detection. Al-Ameri, along with Islamic charities and foundations, will finance the installation of Athena’s AI-powered gun and weapons detection platform in at least 20 mosques internationally, including in the US, the UK, New Zealand and Australia.
Co-founded in 2018 in Austin, Texas, by serial entrepreneurs Lisa Falzone and Chris Ciabarra, the company took out the Threat/Risk Management Systems category for their “AI Threat Detection and Safety Platform” at the 2019 Security Industry Association (SIA) New Product Showcase Awards. “The Keep Mosques Safe initiative helps worship spaces better protect themselves from extremists who wish to do them harm, by providing effective safety tools to prevent these horrific events,” said Falzone. Shagaf Khan, President of the Muslim Association of Canterbury New Zealand and the Al-Noor Mosques said of the gift: “It gives us great pride to have
Mr. Fahad A.B. Al-Ameri, CEO of Al-Ameri International
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‘brothers and sisters’ like Brother Fahad A.B. Al-Ameri and his respected family who have shown their solidarity with the Al-Noor Mosque. “After the tragic attack in the AlNoor Mosque, I reached out to pay my condolences to Brother Shagaf Khan, as many had done,” said Fahad A.B. AlAmeri, CEO of Al-Ameri International. “I was also committed to help support the New Zealand Islamic Community, and the search began for an intelligent system to prevent such incidents from happening again.” “I wish to thank each and every person at Athena and I hope for many more mosques to be protected by their system in the near future.” Lessons from school shootings According to Athena’s analysis of past events, it takes from 3 to 12 minutes for authorities to be alerted to an active shooter incident. Because these incidents are often over in five minutes, most attackers do their damage before police arrive. Additionally, mass shooting incidents typically generate a great deal of incorrect information. Many witnesses at the scene may telephone police and provide conflicting or unclear reports about the appearance and location of a shooter or shooters. It can then be difficult for police to form an accurate picture of unfolding events at the scene. Athena claims that its platform, which works with most existing surveillance camera systems, has
June/July 2019
