NCIER®
CONTACT US
Glossary October 15, 2026 • 1 min read

Complex Coordinated Attack (CCA)

Definition

An incident involving the killing or threatened killing of multiple unrelated individuals where there are: three or more attackers, a simultaneous attack on multiple sites, or an act of terrorism that overwhelms the local jurisdiction’s response capabilities and initiates a regional or statewide response.

Official Definition

Source: Active Shooter Incident Management: Instructor Guide, C3 Pathways, Inc., 2026.

Discussion

Aerial map of a Complex Coordinated Attack with Area Command linked to separate Incident Commands at a shopping mall, a hotel, and an office tower

A Complex Coordinated Attack (CCA) can overwhelm the resources of any geographic area. As such, it requires a higher level of coordination. The Area Command Team provides that coordination. Area Command is responsible for resources, intelligence, and public information.

Also called a Complex Coordinated Terrorist Attack (CCTA).

Author
John Nichols
Lead Instructor
Reviewed By
William Godfrey
Lead Instructor
Last updated:

Frequently Asked Questions

Any one of three conditions qualify. The attack involves (1) three or more attackers, (2) strikes multiple sites at once, or (3) is a terrorist act that overwhelms the local response.
Scale and strain on resources. A CCA can quickly exhaust local assets and may require a regional or statewide response.
Area Command manages resources, intelligence, and public information across all sites. Each site keeps its own Incident Commander who retains authority over that incident.
Because of the scale and possible drain on resources, CCAs may require response from beyond the original agency and their usual mutual aid partners. Emergency Management may be called upon to request resources based on their statewide emergency management plan.
Incident command runs the response at one site. Area Command oversees the response across multiple sites. Area Command sets priorities and assigns scarce resources between sites.
Back to Glossary

Related Terms

Topics

  • Unified Command
  • Incident Command
  • Active Shooter
  • Incident Management
  • C3 Pathways
  • NCIER
  • ASIM
  • Training
  • Multi-agency coordination

Top

Find the Perfect Training Class For You

Learn More