NCJ Number
120258
Date Published
1985
Length
44 pages
Annotation
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) defines a criminal act as an incident of terrorism if it consists of the unlawful use of force or violence to coerce a government or the civilian population in furtherance of political or social objectives.
Abstract
In 1985, there were seven terrorist incidents perpetrated in the United States, causing two deaths and ten injuries. Jewish extremists carried out four bombings, while two Puerto Rican terrorist groups and the Red Guerrilla Resistance were responsible for the remaining attacks. The attacks were directed against private residences, commercial establishments, government facilities, and military personnel. The report compares 1985 and 1984 incidents by target, type, and group and provides statistics on domestic terrorist events between 1981 and 1985. Summaries of domestic terrorist groups responsible for terrorist incidents in 1985 details the background of each organization and its previous activities. Suspected terrorist incidents and documented instances in which terrorist attacks were prevented are described. In order to accurately portray the trends and dimensions of the terrorist problem in the United States, the report includes a section on criminal acts committed in support of or as a result of terrorism, but which do not inherently meet the terrorism definition (for example, a bank robbery perpetrated to finance a terrorist group). Major international terrorism accomplishments were law enforcement activities against anti-Castro, Irish, anti-Honduran, and Sikh terrorists. In the domestic arena, successful actions were taken against members of the New Afrikan Freedom Fighters; the United Freedom Front; the May 19th Communist Organization; the Covenant, the Sword, and the Arm of the Lord, and the EPB-Macheteros. In 1985, the Hostage Rescue Team (HRT) was on call to respond to domestic terrorist incidents; the HRT participated in two FBI investigations. Revised statistics from previous publications are included.