Who: Religious leaders and community members collaborated with security experts from QSINT, SYNYO, and other consortium partners. What: A comprehensive Tabletop Exercise (TTX) was conducted to simulate risk management and crisis negotiation. Where: The training session was held in Rome, Italy. When: The event took place on 5 February 2026. Why: The exercise aimed to strengthen the ability of religious entities to identify threats and protect places of worship.

Within the framework of the VIRTUOUS project, a specialised Tabletop Exercise was implemented to address the evolving security needs of religious communities. The simulation focused on three primary operational risk scenarios: bladed weapon assaults, arson, and complex attacks involving firearms or car-ramming. These scenarios were developed based on previous project analyses to ensure high realism without causing emotional overload for the participants.

The exercise was structured into three distinct phases to provide a logical progression in skill development. In the initial phase, awareness was raised through the analysis of real-world video footage depicting past security incidents. This allowed participants to identify suspicious behaviours and understand the practical application of security principles in their everyday environments.

The second phase transitioned into operational planning, where participants were divided into groups representing Christian, Muslim, and Jewish traditions. Under the guidance of technical experts, these groups drafted risk assessment documents and security plans tailored to their specific religious contexts. This collaborative effort encouraged the exchange of best practices and highlighted the unique challenges faced by different places of worship.

The final phase of the training focused on negotiated crisis management and de-escalation techniques. Participants engaged in simulations involving individuals in states of agitation, learning how to prevent the deterioration of risky situations through communication. This practical approach was designed to equip religious leaders with the tools necessary to maintain safety while preserving the spiritual openness of their facilities.

References

QSINT. (2026). VIRTUOUS – T2.4 TTX Simulation Rome. Unpublished project deliverable.

Links

VIRTUOUS Project website: https://www.virtuous-project.eu

Keywords

security awareness, religious communities, risk assessment, crisis management, interreligious dialogue.

The VIRTUOUS project has officially launched its mission to enhance the active protection of religious buildings across Europe. By uniting 21 partners from 11 countries, the initiative develops innovative risk assessment tools and simulation-based training for religious leaders, volunteers, and first responders. This article introduces the project’s overarching goals, its unique BIM-based structure, and the specialised contribution of the research partner SYNYO.

The project with the title “VIRTUOUS: Vulnerability, Risk Assessment Tools and Training Exercises for the Active Protection of Religious Buildings” is funded by the European Commission (Grant Agreement Number: 101190700) through the Internal Security Fund (ISF). Over a total term of 36 months, the consortium – coordinated by Pompiers de l’Urgence Internationale (PUI) – will address the increasing sensitivity of religious targets in Europe. The project is planned with a significant allocation of person-months among a total of 20 partners, including research centres, SMEs, police forces, and religious entities.

The primary aim of VIRTUOUS is to present a holistic protection framework to stakeholders and the public. The project is divided into several implementation phases, starting with an in-depth analysis of historical attacks and emerging threats, moving toward the creation of Building Information Modelling (BIM) “digital twins” for simulations. These models will allow stakeholders to visualise vulnerabilities – such as CCTV blind spots or evacuation bottlenecks – without risking the physical integrity of historic sites.

SYNYO, a leading research organisation based in Vienna, plays a pivotal role in this structure. SYNYO is responsible for leading the development of the scenarios for the simulations and contributes its extensive expertise in security research. The organisation specifically focuses on translating analytical findings into realistic, evidence-based incident narratives that reflect behaviour patterns and technological trends. By acting as a bridge between technical modelling and social science research, SYNYO ensures that the project’s training materials are both operationally meaningful and scientifically robust.

The project is also being supported by a network of practitioners and security stakeholders to ensure that the developed tools reach potential user groups effectively.

Project objectives

The project pursues the following meta-goals to strengthen the resilience of religious sites:

• Identify high-probability attack types and architectural vulnerabilities through historical and trend analysis.
• Develop typological BIM models for Christian, Jewish, and Muslim places of worship to simulate incidents safely.
• Enhance the preparedness of religious leaders and staff through specialised training exercises and clear evacuation playbooks.
• Improve coordination between religious communities, local authorities, and emergency services through shared communication protocols.

Links

VIRTUOUS Official Website: https://virtuousproject.eu/

Keywords

vulnerability assessment, religious buildings, security training, SYNYO, ISF project, BIM technology, active protection