NCJ Number
225125
Date Published
2007
Length
18 pages
Annotation
This paper analyzes uncompleted suicide terrorist attacks based on interviews with perpetrators, along with an updated analysis of completed suicide attacks committed in Turkey between 1996 and 2005.
Abstract
Based on the interviews with 13 bombers who failed to complete their bombings, the study found that their recruitment was based either on peer pressure or pressure to fulfill the ideals of Islam. Also, most volunteered to be a suicide bomber, but in one case refusal to be a bomber led to his death. Training was provided for a majority of the bombers. This suggests that prevention efforts should focus on closing training camps; “street training” is more difficult to address. Another finding was that bombers had weak family ties, or the family was involved in terrorist activities. Thus, prevention and intervention must be at the family level. The majority of the bombers had a low rank in the terrorist organization, suggesting that prevention should address those at this level of involvement in the terrorist organization. The use of international contacts in recruiting suicide bombers indicates the importance of developing international cooperation in preventing terrorism. The first part of this research conducted a quantitative analysis of updated secondary data on suicide attacks, using updated data. The findings are enhanced with some aspects of suicide cases that are not included in the dataset from the statements of the 13 perpetrators of uncompleted suicide attacks. Data were collected from Turkish National Police records for 1996 to 2006. 29 references