NCJ Number
217165
Journal
Studies Conflict and Terrorism Volume: 30 Issue: 1 Dated: January 2007 Pages: 41-73
Date Published
January 2007
Length
33 pages
Annotation
This article records incidents by non-state actors directed at the chemical industry and explores the strategic motivations prompting groups to target the chemical industry.
Abstract
Although the small number of non-state actor-initiated attacks on chemical facilities is heartening, the situation makes deriving significant motivational patterns and formulating conclusions challenging. Predicting the behavior of individuals who do not follow civil law and subvert civil norms is inherently difficult. Nonetheless, the historical record suggests that domestic political matters motivate targeting of chemical infrastructure. In the majority of cases, the corporate entity was the target, not the chemicals manufactured at the site. Policy to reduce the threat of a terrorist attack against industrial chemical facilities is being driven by incomplete and, in some case, incorrect assumptions. By incorporating motivations for targeting infrastructure, specifically chemical facilities, this article attempts to contribute to a more dynamic, complete risk assessment and to challenge the thinking underlying current policy. Notes