THE PROTECTION OF VULNERABLE TARGETS INCLUDES SUCH VITAL PUBLIC ESTABLISHMENTS AS TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS, HOSPITALS, INDUSTRIAL PLANTS, AND FACILITIES WHICH ARE DANGEROUS IN THEMSELVES (E.G.,, EXPLOSIVE FACTORIES). ALTHOUGH SO FAR WEST GERMANY HAS EXPERIENCED FEWER TERRORIST ATTACKS THAN MANY OTHER COUNTRIES, THE INDUSTRIAL NATIONS ARE BECOMING FAVORITE TARGETS FOR ALL TYPES OF RADICAL, INTERNATIONAL GROUPS. THIS TERRORIST PREFERENCE IS DUE TO (1) MODERN MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION WHICH PERMIT TERRORISTS TO OPERATE OUTSIDE THEIR NATIVE COUNTRY; (2) EXCELLENT MEDIA EXPOSURE; (3) MORE SOPHISTICATED, EASILY TRANSPORTABLE TERRORIST WEAPONS; (4) THE VULNERABILITY OF INDUSTRIAL NATIONS TO SABOTAGE; AND (5) CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS AND CIVIL LIBERTIES IN MANY INDUSTRIAL NATIONS WHICH RENDER COMBATING TERRORISM DIFFICULT. IN CLASSIFYING 'VULNERABLE TARGETS,' THE FOLLOWING CRITERIA ARE SUGGESTED: IMPORTANCE OF THE TARGET, LOCATION, AND DEGREE OF VULNERABILITY. AS PART OF THE LONG-RANGE PREPARATIONS FOR AN EMERGENCY, THE POLICE SHOULD ESTABLISH CONTACTS WITH SUPPORTING AGENCIES LIKE HOSPITALS, FIREFIGHTERS, AND PRIVATE SECURITY AGENTS. PREPARATION SHOULD ALSO INCLUDE A SITE VISIT, FAMILIARITY WITH THE INTERNAL ORGANIZATION OF THE PROTECTED ESTABLISHMENT (PERSONNEL MAKE-UP, WORKING HOURS) AND THE DETERMINATION OF STRATEGIC POINTS FOR POLICE DEPLOYMENT. IN THEIR TACTICAL CONSIDERATIONS, THE POLICE SHOULD CONCENTRATE ON SMALLER CRISES AND TERRORIST ATTACKS SINCE IN A LARGE NATIONAL EMERGENCY THE ARMED FORCES WOULD TAKE OVER THE PROTECTION OF VULNERABLE TARGETS. --IN GERMAN. (SAJ)