NCJ Number
224501
Journal
IALEIA Journal Volume: 18 Issue: 1 Dated: April 2008 Pages: 1-17
Date Published
April 2008
Length
17 pages
Annotation
This article explores the feasibility of a terrorist family suicide attack.
Abstract
Although suicide bombing is not a new terrorist tactic, the target selection and profile of the suicide terrorist continues to evolve. The broadening of the type of individuals involved in suicide operations is a result of a number of factors, including expanding social alienation, reduction in economic opportunity, a lack of effective response from moderate and mainstream Muslims in countering extremist Islamic ideology, and positive views of the “shahid” in Muslim society. A “shahid” is an individual who died or was martyred while fulfilling the religious obligation of “jihad” or Holy War. The incorporation of husband and wife teams, as well as the recruitment of children, unwitting pregnant fiancées, and willing pregnant women shows the extremes to which terrorist planners will go to recruit suicide bombers who will not raise suspicion at security checkpoints. The threat of a suicide team consisting of a mother, father, children, and extended family is a likely possibility sometime in the future. Intelligence analysts and law enforcement managers must be trained to break from preconceived notions of the profiles of individual suicide bombers. It is imperative that security personnel and procedures be attentive to more extreme and innocent-looking persons and tactics. 23 references