Atlas of Terrorism

• NCJ Number: 77883
• Journal: Assets Protection Volume: 6 Issue: 2 Dated: (March/April 1981) Pages: 26-36
• Author(s): Anonymous
• Date Published: 1981
• Length: 11 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

Terrorist organizations and operations around the world are analyzed and catalogued.

Abstract

A graph shows the number of international terrorist incidents for each year from 1968-79 (total incidents: 3,336), and another illustration shows the geographic distribution of the attacks over this same period. The geographic distribution of 1,348 international terrorist attacks directed against U.S. targets is also shown for this period. Significant variables of international and transnational terrorism are listed under the following categories: group characteristics (e.g., size and organization, credo/ethos, and foreign links), event characteristics (e.g., location of incident, nature of act, and outcome), local environmental characteristics (e.g., homogeneity of the population and societal inequities), and global environmental characteristics (e.g., technological advance and political environment). A chart of major terrorist groups shows each group's primary location, parent county or territory, ethos (e.g., nationalist, radical left, etc.), whether the group has significant transnational links and significant support from State actors, the known or suspected transnational or international terrorist acts committed by the group, and a brief narrative description of each group. International terrorist groups are also listed by country. In a report released in 1980 by the Central Intelligence Agency, over 370 terrorist organizations operating in 63 countries were identified. Figures show that the number of attacks declined worldwide in 1979, and there were fewer attacks on U.S. citizens and property. Officials and businessmen, especially persons who are symbols of Western power and wealth, are still the primary targets. While assassination attempts have increased in recent years, bombings are the most preferred type of terrorist attack, accounting for nearly 40 percent of all attacks.