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Terrorism in Canada: Recent Trends and Future Prospects

NCJ Number
167436
Journal
Gazette Volume: 58 Issue: 10 Dated: (1996) Pages: 18-22
Author(s)
J P Smythe
Date Published
1996
Length
5 pages
Annotation
Canada has experienced relatively few terrorist incidents, but the country has a variety of terrorist and extremist organizations that are committed to activities involving the threat or use of serious violence to achieve their political objectives.
Abstract
The three types of terrorist organizations in Canada are ethnic separatist and emigre groups; left-wing radical organization; and right-wing racist, anti-authority, single-issue groups. Canada has a low threat of domestic or international terrorism partly because its methods of exchanging intelligence nationally and internationally has resulted in preemptive measures and the successful prosecution of individuals associated with terrorist organizations. International terrorism is changing and now includes state-sponsored terrorism, faction-sponsored terrorism, issue-motivated terrorism, and crime-related terrorism. Tomorrow's most dangerous terrorists will be motivated by ethnic and religious hatreds rather than political ideology. The changing nature of terrorism indicates the continuing need for modifications of strategic and tactical approaches to dealing with it. Footnotes