Terrorism in time of the pandemic: exploiting mayhem

Kruglanski, Arie W.; Gunaratna, Rohan; Ellenberg, Molly; Speckhard, Anne

doi:10.1080/23779497.2020.1832903

Cited by 30 publications

(25 citation statements)

References 7 publications

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“…Due to terrorist groups use of online capabilities, the ability to recruit and mobilise individuals has increased through a greater ease in disseminating information to followers [14,91]. This has especially increased during the pandemic where more individuals have felt anxious, disempowered and alone and have found a sense of community and solace in like-minded groups where inciting violence either in a virtual or physical environment, has been more so attractive than possibly before the pandemic [92].…”

Section: Gender Findings and Interpretationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

An Explorative Study into the Importance of Defining and Classifying Cyber Terrorism in the United Kingdom

Correia

2021

SN COMPUT. SCI.

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Terrorism, crime, and war are all familiar notions; however, the way in which these have been altered through cyberspace is not yet fully, nor unanimously, understood through definitions, theories, and approaches. Although the threat level of terrorism in the UK has lowered to moderate, the threat posed by cyber terrorism has nonetheless heightened throughout the COVID pandemic due to the greater necessity and presence of technology in our lives. This research aimed to highlight the necessity for a unanimous cyber terrorism definition and framework and further aimed to determine what perceptions are held by the general public regarding cyber terrorism through a mixed methods approach. The literature review confirms that there is an absence of a unanimously agreed upon definition of cyber terrorism, and furthermore that the existing academic definitions are not compatible with UK legislation. In addition, the literature review highlights an absence of a cyber terrorism framework that classifies what kind of terrorist activity is cyber enabled or cyber dependent. Quantitative data from the online survey find a couple of significant effects implying the necessity for greater diversity amongst stakeholders which could potentially enhance the detection and prevention of terrorism in the UK. The qualitative data find that although there is some agreement amongst the sample population in views held towards cyber terrorism, some misconceptions are nonetheless present which could have implications on the general public’s ability to identify and report cyber terrorist activity. Overall, the findings from the literature review and the primary data collection aid in developing a cyber terrorism definition that is compatible with UK legislative definitions, and further aids in developing a terrorist activity framework that succinctly highlights the inextricable links between traditional, cyber enabled, and cyber-dependent terrorism.

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Section: Gender Findings and Interpretationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

An Explorative Study into the Importance of Defining and Classifying Cyber Terrorism in the United Kingdom

Correia

2021

SN COMPUT. SCI.

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“…In addition to the increasing use of the internet, the pandemic situation is filled with uncertainty, insecurity, and global challenges used by groups trying to implement their propaganda [18]. Propaganda is carried out by linking their propaganda messages with information about an epidemic virus and inciting violence.…”

Section: The Implication Of Covid-19 On Terrorism Radicalization and ...mentioning

confidence: 99%

The Transformation of the Forms of Terrorism During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Hasiana

Fathun

2022

KSS

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The present study analyzes the implications of COVID-19 on the different forms of terrorism. The authors discuss the two types of terrorist acts: (i) the radicalization, recruitment, and funding of terrorism and (ii) planning the place and target of the operation. The authors argue that the COVID-19 policies have failed to inhibit or stop terrorism in Indonesia. This is supported by the four cases of terrorism that took place in the country during the COVID-19 period. Since the purpose of this study was to identify and analyze the social phenomenon, a qualitative method was adopted for collecting the data. The authors conclude that while COVID-19 did affect the financing and operation of terrorism, it helped the terrorist groups to radicalize and recruit new members due to the increasing use of the Internet, people’s insecurities during the pandemic, and the radical narrative. Keywords: activities, COVID-19, terrorism, transformation

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“…1,2 Counter-terrorism experts, however, believe this is a short-term phenomenon, given clear indications that terrorists have been exploiting the socio-economic disruptions and distractions brought about by the pandemic. 3,4 Violent extremist groups have been capitalizing on anti-government sentiments and lockdown isolation to further their propaganda agenda and recruitment efforts, and experts predict a surge in terrorism activity in the near future. 5,6 This study aims to provide an epidemiological analysis of all terrorism-related mass-fatality events (>100 fatalities) sustained between 1970-2019, including historical attack strategies, modalities used, and target selection, to better inform health care responders on the injury types they are likely to encounter.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

50 Years of Mass-Fatality Terrorist Attacks: A Retrospective Study of Target Demographics, Modalities, and Injury Patterns to Better Inform Future Counter-Terrorism Medicine Preparedness and Response

Tin

Hertelendy

Hart

et al. 2021

Prehosp. Disaster med.

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Background: Terrorism-related deaths have fallen year after year since peaking in 2014, and whilst the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has disrupted terrorist organizations capacity to conduct attacks and limited their potential targets, counter-terrorism experts believe this is a short-term phenomenon with serious concerns of an escalation of violence and events in the near future. This study aims to provide an epidemiological analysis of all terrorism-related mass-fatality events (>100 fatalities) sustained between 1970-2019, including historical attack strategies, modalities used, and target selection, to better inform health care responders on the injury types they are likely to encounter. Methods: The Global Terrorism Database (GTD) was searched for all attacks between the years 1970-2019. Attacks met inclusion criteria if they fulfilled the three terrorism-related criteria as set by the GTD codebook. Ambiguous events were excluded. State-sponsored terrorist events do not meet the codebook’s definition, and as such, are excluded from the study. Data analysis and subsequent discussions were focused on events causing 100+ fatal injuries (FI). Results: In total, 168,003 events were recorded between the years 1970-2019. Of these, 85,225 (50.73%) events recorded no FI; 67,356 (40.10%) events recorded 1-10 FI; 5,791 (3.45%) events recorded 11-50 FI; 405 (0.24%) events recorded 51-100 FI; 149 (0.09%) events recorded over 100 FI; and 9,077 (5.40%) events recorded unknown number of FI. Also, 96,905 events recorded no non-fatal injuries (NFI); 47,425 events recorded 1-10 NFI; 8,313 events recorded 11-50 NFI; 867 events recorded 51-100 NFI; 360 events recorded over 100 NFI; and 14,130 events recorded unknown number of NFI. Private citizens and property were the primary targets in 67 of the 149 high-FI events (100+ FI). Of the 149 events recording 100+ FI, 46 (30.87%) were attributed to bombings/explosions as the primary attack modality, 43 (28.86%) were armed assaults, 23 (15.44%) hostage incidents, two (1.34%) were facility/infrastructure attacks (incendiary), one (0.67%) was an unarmed assault, seven (4.70%) had unknown modalities, and 27 (18.12%) were mixed modality attacks. Conclusions: The most common attack modality causing 100+ FI was the use of bombs and explosions (30.87%), followed by armed assaults (28.86%). Private citizens and properties (44.97%) were most commonly targeted, followed by government (6.04%), businesses (5.37%), police (4.70%), and airports and aircrafts (4.70%). These data will be useful for the development of training programs in Counter-Terrorism Medicine (CTM), a rapidly emerging Disaster Medicine sub-specialty.

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Terrorism in time of the pandemic: exploiting mayhem

Cited by 30 publications

References 7 publications

An Explorative Study into the Importance of Defining and Classifying Cyber Terrorism in the United Kingdom

An Explorative Study into the Importance of Defining and Classifying Cyber Terrorism in the United Kingdom

The Transformation of the Forms of Terrorism During the COVID-19 Pandemic

50 Years of Mass-Fatality Terrorist Attacks: A Retrospective Study of Target Demographics, Modalities, and Injury Patterns to Better Inform Future Counter-Terrorism Medicine Preparedness and Response

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