Terrorism in Present Day Mr. Epps U.S. and World Affairs

Key Terms terrorism - the use of violence and threats to intimidate or coerce, especially for political purposes. international terrorism – Perpetrated by individuals and/or groups inspired by or associated with designated foreign terrorist organizations or nations (state-sponsored). https://www.fbi.gov/investigate/terrorism --for example, the December 2, 2015 shooting in San Bernardino, CA, that killed 14 people and wounded 22 which involved a married couple who radicalized for some time prior to the attack and were inspired by multiple extremist ideologies and foreign terrorist organizations. http://www.dictionary.com/browse/terrorism

Key Terms domestic terrorism - Perpetrated by individuals and/or groups inspired by or associated with primarily U.S.-based movements that espouse extremist ideologies of a political, religious, social, racial, or environmental nature.  https://www.fbi.gov/investigate/terrorism --for example, the June 8, 2014 Las Vegas shooting, during which two police officers inside a restaurant were killed in an ambush-style attack, which was committed by a married couple who held anti-government views and who intended to use the shooting to start a revolution.

Key Terms Boko Haram – Nigeria-based militant group with links to al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) that is responsible for thousands of deaths in northeast and central Nigeria over the last several years including targeted killings of civilians.  https://www.state.gov/j/ct/rls/other/des/266565.htm

Key Terms Al-Qaida – global organization founded by Usama bin Laden; responsible for the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks Islamic State – a global Sunni terrorist group led by Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, self-proclaimed caliph Al-Shabaab – terrorist group primarily in Somalia; responsible for maritime hijackings and kidnappings

Key Terms Abu Sayyaf – terrorist organization located in the Philippines, primarily in the southern Philippines; associated with Islamic State; responsible for kidnappings and murder state sponsor of terrorism – countries that support and promote terrorist organizations and activities; Iran was the foremost state sponsor of terrorism in 2016 https://www.state.gov/j/ct/rls/crt/2016/272228.htm

Why turn to terrorism? Whether domestic, international or state-sponsored, people use terrorism because they believe it is the best way to achieve personal, group, religious or country goals

Terrorism in Today’s World The total number of terrorist attacks in 2016 decreased by 9% and total deaths due to terrorist attacks decreased by 13%, compared to 2015. This was largely due to fewer attacks and deaths in Afghanistan, Syria, Nigeria, Pakistan, and Yemen. Twenty-six percent of all deaths in 2016 were perpetrator deaths, up from 24% in 2015. https://www.state.gov/j/ct/rls/crt/2016/272241.htm

Terrorism in Today’s World In several countries, including the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Iraq, Somalia, South Sudan, and Turkey, terrorist attacks and total deaths increased in 2016. In addition to Boko Haram in West Africa, the most active of the Islamic State affiliates were located in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Egypt, Libya, and Yemen. https://www.state.gov/j/ct/rls/crt/2016/272241.htm

Terrorism in Today’s World Although terrorist attacks took place in 104 countries in 2016, they were heavily concentrated geographically. Fifty-five percent of all attacks took place in five countries (Iraq, Afghanistan, India, Pakistan, and the Philippines), and 75% of all deaths due to terrorist attacks took place in five countries (Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria, Nigeria, and Pakistan). https://www.state.gov/j/ct/rls/crt/2016/272241.htm

Summary/Concluding Activity What factors in Iraq, Afghanistan, India, Pakistan, and the Philippines promote or enable terrorism? What factors in Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria, Nigeria and Pakistan led to 75% of all deaths due to terrorist attacks?

Terrorism in Today’s World Islamic State (IS) was responsible for more attacks and deaths than any other perpetrator group in 2016. In particular, IS carried out 20% more terrorist attacks in Iraq, and caused 69% more total deaths in Iraq, compared to 2015. Beyond Iraq and Syria, IS and perpetrator groups that have pledged allegiance to IS carried out attacks in more than 20 different countries. https://www.state.gov/j/ct/rls/crt/2016/272241.htm

Terrorism in Today’s World The number of attacks in which victims were kidnapped or taken hostage continued to decline in 2016; however, the number of kidnapping victims and hostages continued to increase. Like in 2015, this was primarily due to a small number of attacks involving exceptionally large numbers of victims. https://www.state.gov/j/ct/rls/crt/2016/272241.htm

Terrorism in Today’s World In 2016, a total of 11,072 terrorist attacks occurred worldwide, resulting in more than 25,600 total deaths and more than 33,800 people injured. These casualty figures include more than 6,700 perpetrator deaths and 1,600 perpetrator injuries. In addition, more than 15,500 people were kidnapped or taken hostage. https://www.state.gov/j/ct/rls/crt/2016/272241.htm

Terrorism in Today’s World On average, there were 923 terrorist attacks, causing 2,135 deaths, injuring 2,818 people, and involving 1,295 hostages or kidnap victims per month, worldwide in 2016. There were 2.4 deaths and 3.3 people injured per attack, including perpetrator casualties. https://www.state.gov/j/ct/rls/crt/2016/272241.htm

Terrorism in Today’s World Of the 25,621 people killed in terrorist attacks in 2016, 6,755 (26%) were perpetrators of terrorist attacks. Perpetrators killed themselves intentionally in suicide attacks, unintentionally while attempting to carry out attacks, or were killed by security forces or victims responding to attacks. https://www.state.gov/j/ct/rls/crt/2016/272241.htm

Bombing/Explosion, 54% https://www.state.gov/j/ct/rls/crt/2016/272241.htm

Terrorism in Today’s World The lethality of terrorist tactics varied considerably. On average, attacks in which hostages were taken were by far the deadliest in 2016 – both kidnappings and barricade incidents resulted in seven deaths per attack. The tactics that were least likely to be deadly were unarmed assaults (79% nonlethal) and facility or infrastructure attacks (97% nonlethal). https://www.state.gov/j/ct/rls/crt/2016/272241.htm

Terrorism in Today’s World The use of vehicles to drive into targets, either as the sole weapon or in combination with other weapons, remained extremely rare in 2016. Vehicles comprised 0.13% of all weapons used in 2016 – they were used in 14 attacks, down from 29 attacks in 2015. However, the lethality of these attacks increased 296%, as they resulted in more than 110 deaths in 2016, compared to 28 in 2015. https://www.state.gov/j/ct/rls/crt/2016/272241.htm

Summary/Concluding Activity Why do terrorist conduct kidnappings? What measures should be taken to prevent terrorist from conducting kidnappings?

Terrorism in the United States Between 2001 and 2009, there were 91 homegrown terrorist attacks of all kinds against the United States, while there were 380 international terrorist attacks against the United States. The two most prevalent U.S. targets of international terrorism were businesses (26.6 percent) and diplomatic offices (16.6 percent). http://www.heritage.org/terrorism/report/terror-trends-40-years-data-international-and-domestic-terrorism

Terrorism in the United States The two most prevalent U.S. targets of domestic terrorism were businesses (42.9 percent) and private citizens and property (24.2 percent). The preferred method of attack against the United States for international terrorists was bombings (68.3 percent), while the preferred method for domestic terrorists was arson (46.2 percent). http://www.heritage.org/terrorism/report/terror-trends-40-years-data-international-and-domestic-terrorism

Terrorism in the United States Domestic terrorism cases since 1980: 1978-1995 - Three people die and 23 others are wounded after a string of mail bombings carried out by Ted Kaczynski. "The Unabomber," as he is also known, is serving eight life sentences for murder. He was not charged with terrorism, but the string of bombings is considered to be a terror case. http://www.cnn.com/2013/04/18/us/u-s-terrorist-attacks-fast-facts/index.html

Terrorism in the United States February 26, 1993 - A bomb explodes on the second subterranean level of Vista Hotel's public parking garage, below the 2 World Trade Center building. Six people are killed, and more than 1,000 people are treated for injuries. Six suspects are convicted of participating in the bombing. The seventh suspect, Abdul Rahman Yasin, is still at large. http://www.cnn.com/2013/04/18/us/u-s-terrorist-attacks-fast-facts/index.html

Terrorism in the United States April 19, 1995 - A bomb rips through the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, killing 168 people and injuring almost 700. Timothy McVeigh is convicted on federal murder charges in 1997, and he is executed in 2001. http://www.cnn.com/2013/04/18/us/u-s-terrorist-attacks-fast-facts/index.html

Terrorism in the United States November 5, 2009 - Major Nidal Hasan goes on a shooting rampage at a military processing center at Fort Hood, Texas, killing 13 and wounding 32. Hassan is convicted of 13 counts of murder and 32 counts of attempted murder. He is given the death penalty. Hassan is not charged with terrorism, but the rampage is considered by many to be a terror incident. http://www.cnn.com/2013/04/18/us/u-s-terrorist-attacks-fast-facts/index.html

Terrorism in the United States October 31, 2017 - Eight people are killed and almost a dozen injured when a 29-year-old man in a rented pickup truck drives down a busy bicycle path near the World Trade Center in New York. The suspect has been identified as Sayfullo Habibullaevic Saipov. Authorities found a note near the truck used in the incident, claiming the attack was made in the name of IS, a senior law enforcement official said. http://www.cnn.com/2013/04/18/us/u-s-terrorist-attacks-fast-facts/index.html

Summarizing/Concluding Activity Why were businesses, private citizens and property the top three targets in domestic terrorism? Why were businesses and diplomatic offices the two most prevalent U.S. targets of international terrorism?