NCJ Number
129291
Date Published
1984
Length
94 pages
Annotation
This document examines the Italian terrorist phenomenon and the security measures developed in response at both the governmental and private levels during 1968 to 1982.
Abstract
It is estimated that 14,613 acts of terrorist criminality were committed between 1968 and 1982 by highly structured organizations and by occasional groupings of individuals. Five major patterns emerge from the study of Italian terrorist formations that have been part of the Communist ideological component since 1970: (1) rigid clandestinity accompanied by selective actions; (2) simultaneous political action and armed struggle; (3) spontaneous and sporadic actions; (4) interorganizational and/or combined operations; and (5) auxiliary support. In response to terrorism, Italian legislation, intelligence and law enforcement, and public opinion have brought about a decrease in terrorist incidents. Italian terrorist organizations of all ideologies have suffered unprecedented setbacks throughout 1982, while terrorist actions have dramatically dwindled during the same year to the point of becoming almost negligible in the first quarter of 1983. 45 references and appendix