Active assailant incidents: Incidents are often over before law enforcement arrives, usually within:

• A. 5-10 minutes
• B. 10-15 minutes
• C. 15-20 minutes
• D. 20-30 minutes

Answer: (B)

Active assailant incidents unfold quickly, so the window to act is very short. In many real-world events, the entire incident is resolved within about ten to fifteen minutes, often before law enforcement fully engages. This quick end happens because people react immediately—escaping, hiding, or fighting back—and because once responders arrive, coordinated actions can rapidly end the threat. Understanding this helps reinforce why the guidance emphasizes rapid, decisive actions to get to safety or to disrupt the attacker if you’re trained and it’s necessary. While some events can be shorter or longer, the typical pattern fits roughly ten to fifteen minutes.