Recent Terrorist Attacks Research Articles

Vapor Pressure and Toxicity Prediction for Novichok Agent Candidates Using Machine Learning Model: Preparation for Unascertained Nerve Agents after Chemical Weapons Convention Schedule 1 Update.

The recent terrorist attacks using Novichok agents and subsequent operations have necessitated an understanding of its physicochemical properties, such as vapor pressure and toxicity, as well as unascertained nerve agent structures. To prevent continued threats from new types of nerve agents, the organization for the prohibition of chemical weapons (OPCW) updated the chemical weapons convention (CWC) schedule 1 list. However, this information is vague and may encompass more than 10 000 possible chemical structures, which makes it almost impossible to synthesize and measure their properties and toxicity. To assist this effort, we successfully developed machine learning (ML) models to predict the vapor pressure to help with escape and removal operations. The model shows robust and high-accuracy performance with promising features for predicting vapor pressure when applied to Novichok materials and accurate predictions with reasonable errors. The ML classification model was successfully built for the swallow globally harmonized system class of organophosphorus compounds (OP) for toxicity predictions. The tuned ML model was used to predict the toxicity of Novichok agents, as described in the CWC list. Although its accuracy and linearity can be improved, this ML model is expected to be a firm basis for developing more accurate models for predicting the vapor pressure and toxicity of nerve agents in the future to help handle future terror attacks with unknown nerve agents.

Penetration of Energized Metal Fragments to Porcine Thoracic Tissues.

Energized fragments from explosive devices have been the most common mechanism of injury to both military personnel and civilians in recent conflicts and terrorist attacks. Fragments that penetrate into the thoracic cavity are strongly associated with death due to the inherent vulnerability of the underlying structures. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of fragment-simulating projectiles (FSPs) to tissues of the thorax in order to identify the thresholds of impact velocity for perforation through these tissues and the resultant residual velocity of the FSPs. A gas-gun system was used to launch 0.78-g cylindrical and 1.13-g spherical FSPs at intact porcine thoracic tissues from different impact locations. The sternum and rib bones were the most resistant to perforation, followed by the scapula and intercostal muscle. For both FSPs, residual velocity following perforation was linearly proportional to impact velocity. These findings can be used in the development of numerical tools for predicting the medical outcome of explosive events, which in turn can inform the design of public infrastructure, of personal protection, and of medical emergency response.

The Effects of Rising Terrorism on a Small Capital Market: Evidence from Tunisia

ABSTRACT The purpose of this paper is to shed light on the impact of the rising terrorist threat on the performance of a small capitalization market – the Tunisian stock market-. Using an event study methodology as well as conditional volatility, we investigate the impact of recent terrorist attacks in Tunisia on the general index TUNINDEX and sector indices. Our main findings are as follows. First, we find that terrorist attacks negatively affect the Tunisian stock market. However, the decline – considerable in certain cases- is short-lived: the market recovers from terrorist shocks in one day. Second, Oil and Gas, Insurance and Telecommunications, are the most affected sectors. Third, different terrorist tactics have varied effects on the stock market that leads us to conclude that attack type, weapon type, target type, and severity of the attack may determine the market’s reactions.

The “Great Replacement” conspiracy: How the perceived ousting of Whites can evoke violent extremism and Islamophobia

Increased immigration and demographic changes have not only resulted in political pushback, but also in violent attacks against immigrants. Several recent terrorist attacks committed by White supremacists invoke rhetoric around a deliberate attempt to make Whites extinct and replace them with non-Western immigrants. Yet, while it is widely acknowledged among extremism researchers that this perception of orchestrated extinction or replacement has tremendous potential to lead to violent extremism, its consequences have not yet been directly examined. Using the Scandinavian context (e.g., Denmark and Norway), in two correlational studies and one experiment, we provide evidence that this perception is associated with the persecution of Muslims, violent intentions, and Islamophobia. Further, we demonstrate that these associations are mediated by symbolic threats. Conspiracy beliefs that one’s group is being replaced seem to drive hostile intergroup attitudes. We discuss the societal implications of this finding (i.e., generating fear, polarization, and hostile public opinion towards immigrants).

The Impact of Terrorism on Capital Markets

This work aims to analyze the impact of terrorism on the countries' capital markets and in the transport industry. To this end, eight recent terrorist attacks in the European Union have been studied and compared to two older similar attacks in the same region. The stock indices used in this study relate to the country's main index where the attack occurred and the FTSE Euro 100, S&P 500, and Dow Jones Singapore indices, representing the European, American, and Asian markets respectively. The results of this work are relatively discrepant since it was not possible to identify concretely the pattern of a terrorist attack on the capital markets. However, when we look at both time horizons studied, the results point to a greater capacity for market recover over time on terrorism.

Stackelberg production-protection games: Defending crop production against intentional attacks

Inspired by recent terrorist attacks on cereal production fields in Iraq, we introduce and study two types of Stackelberg games. In these games, the leader wants to maximize its production (e.g., cereal), while the follower tries to destroy this production as much as possible. In the first model, the leader can protect its production by spreading his production resources over multiple regions. In the second model, the leader can also decide to allocate some extra protection resources to the regions. For both games, we are interested in a follower’s and leader’s optimal strategy. We characterise optimal strategies for the follower and present two linear time algorithms (one for each game) that find an optimal strategy for the leader.

The Nexus between Organized Crime and Terrorism: Policy Responses from the European Union and the Council of Europe

This chapter addresses policy responses to the crime-terror nexus adopted by the European Union and the Council of Europe. First we examine the patchwork of European Union legal instruments and policy documents to understand how they deal with the crime-terror nexus. The nexus has historically been present in EU policy regarding money laundering and terrorist financing. In light of recent terrorist attacks, the EU’s attention on the nexus has been increasing, most notably regarding the trafficking of firearms. Nevertheless, the EU has not identified the crime-terror nexus as a policy priority and lacks a comprehensive and coherent approach. The Council of Europe has identified the nexus as a self-standing policy issue, and has recently adopted guidelines on the nexus.

Composites based on conductive polymer with carbon nanotubes in DMMP gas sensors – an overview

A number of recent terrorist attacks make it clear that rapid response, high sensitivity and stability are essential in the development of chemical sensors for the detection of chemical warfare agents. Nerve agent sarin [2-(fluoro-methyl-phosphoryl) oxypropane] is an organophosphate (OP) compound that is recognized as one of the most toxic chemical warfare agents. Considering sarin’s high toxicity, being odorless and colorless, dimethyl methylphosphonate (DMMP) is widely used as its simulant in the laboratory because of its similar chemical structure and much lower toxicity. Thus, this review serves to introduce the development of a variety of fabricated chemical sensors as potential sensing materials for the detection of DMMP in recent years. Furthermore, the research and application of carbon anotubes in DMMP polymer sensors, their sensitivity and limitation are highlighted. For sorption-based sensors, active materials play crucial roles in improving the integral performances of sensors. The novel active materials providing hydrogen-bonds between the polymers and carbon nanotubes are the main focus in this review.

Norwegian Emergency Medicine Systems' Training and Equipment for Penetrating Injuries: A National Survey-Based Study.

Recent terror attacks led the Norwegian government to develop a procedure for emergency and law enforcement services cooperation during Active Violent Incidents (AVI, abbreviated PLIVO in Norwegian). To address further national initiatives to improve preparedness for mass casualty events and penetrating injuries among emergency medical services (EMS) in Norway, training and equipment status were mapped. All EMS regions in Norway were invited to participate in an electronic nation-wide survey about practical medical training in PLIVO scenario training and specific training in hemorrhage control and penetrating injuries. Ninety percent (842/938) had attended at least 1 PLIVO training scenario. Of these, 76% (642/938) reported only evacuation training during the exercise, while only 20% (168/938) had practiced hemorrhage control. Eighty-one percent (760/938) respondents reported that they were equipped with tourniquets and 91% (853/938) were equipped with gauze to pack wounds. However, only 52% (487/938) and 48% (450/938) reported practical training in tourniquet application and wound packing, respectively, while 30% (280/938) reported that they had no training or only theoretical education in tourniquet application. Supervised practical training on penetrating thoracic injuries was reported by <20%, and <50% reported practical training in needle decompression of a tension pneumothorax. Enhanced focus on training in hemorrhage control and penetrating injuries is needed. This supports the recent decision from the Norwegian government to strengthen the training for EMS in AVI (PLIVO) exercises, by focusing on medical procedures in addition to evacuation training. Although the estimated response rate is 17%, we believe the large number of respondents still make the results valuable.

Changes in the perception of immigration, integration, multiculturalism and threats of Islamic radicalism in certain EU member states

The 2015 immigration crisis became a driving force for movements and parties that negate the current political order, including those that do not conceal their xenophobic slogans and ideas. In retrospect, there are more and more signs that the decision to accept the uncontrolled refugee influx was more an expression of wishful thinking than a rational decision, taking into account the actual political situation. Thus, Europe finds itself in a dangerous situation with far-right movements on the one hand, and radical Islam on the other. Each of these formations legitimises its existence and methods of operation by the existence of the other side, trying to polarise society and create a situation that will somehow force citizens to opt for one of the two options. Paradoxically, Chancellor Merkel’s decision to admit immigrants significantly increased the risk of such a scenario, hence the perception of Islamic and right-wing extremism by the German authorities as posing an equal threat to state security. However, it was only the recent terrorist attacks in October and November 2020 in France and Germany that changed the political narrative.

Memories of a Death Threat: Negative Consequences of Unconscious Thoughts About a Terrorist Attack on Attitudes Towards Alcohol.

Based on the terror management health model (TMHM), we examined the impact of terrorist attacks as reminders of death on implicit alcohol-related attitudes, including the moderating role of conscious death-related thoughts and alcohol-based self-esteem (ABS). With an online experiment (N = 487), we analyzed how thoughts and memories about a recent terrorist attack unconsciously (with a delay task) and consciously (without a delay task) affected implicit alcohol-related attitudes. We found that such thoughts increased the death-thought accessibility. While no main effect of the salience of the terrorist attack on alcohol-related attitudes existed, respondents with low ABS had more positive attitudes, when unconsciously thinking about the attack as compared to the control group. Respondents with high ABS in the delay task had lower alcohol-IAT scores. Overall, this study provides evidence that thoughts about terrorism that can be provoked through media affect alcohol-related attitudes. Such attitudes may cause negative health consequences through health-related decisions.

Attitudes towards refugees and Muslim immigrants in Iceland: The perceived link to terrorism

In the past few years, millions have been forced to leave their homes seeking refuge in other countries, most displaced from Muslim majority countries. The inflow of refugees and recent terrorist attacks in Europe may have reinforced prejudice against Muslim immigrants in Europe. Research on these issues is almost non-existent in Iceland. Using a random sample of 3.360 individuals in late 2019 and a survey-based experimental design, we address several questions related to attitudes towards Muslim immigrants and refugees in Iceland. Our results indicate that just over half of the population is willing to accept more refugees than is currently done and does not want to limit the proportion of Muslims among them. Notwithstanding, about 44% of the public believe that the risk of terrorism will increase if Iceland accepts more immigrants from Muslim majority countries. Political orientation and education are associated with attitudes toward refugees, an association that is partly mediated through stereotypes of Muslims as a security threat. The findings also show that people who are informed that research finds no link between the number of Muslim immigrants and the risk of terrorism are less likely to stereotype Muslim immigrants as a security threat than people who get no such information. This type of information has similar effects on people irrespective of their political orientation. Consequently, the current study does not support the proposition that right-leaning individuals in Iceland are more distrustful of scientific information than those on the left. The effects are, however, significantly contingent on education.

Optimization of Emergency Resource Scheduling in Serial Terrorist Attacks Based on PSO-CS Algorithm

More recent terrorist attacks have shifted, involving multiple locations. Serial terrorist attacks have increased recently, which requires the dispatch of various types of emergency resources in multiple locations. Based on serial terrorist attacks, this paper constructs a new resource scheduling model that considers influencing factors such as transportation time, cost, and resource availability. Subsequently, it applies particle swarm optimization combined with Cuckoo search (PSO-CS) algorithm to solve the resource scheduling process of multiple types and multiple classes. Through numerical tests and simulations using different locations, our solutions can more effectively address resource scheduling issues in cases of serial terrorist attacks.

Development of a real-time security management system for restricted access areas using computer vision and deep learning

The safety of railways, the nation's main transportation network, is currently drawing attention. This is mainly because of recent terrorist attacks aimed at private multipurpose facilities in a number of foreign countries. This article proposes a system for real-time monitoring of railway facilities and secure areas. Access control will be obtained using Raspberry Pi, an inexpensive micro-controller connected to the cloud via Amazon Web Service. Real-time surveillance is demonstrated by implementing computer vision and deep learning, and Twilio API. Intruders in restricted areas (such as tracks and electrical installations) can be detected with high precision and notifications can be sent to the safety and security managers in real time via short message service through cloud applications. The proposed system will assist the safety and security managers in responding swiftly and effectively to prevent or minimize risks that arise due to intruders.

Terrorist attacks: cutaneous patterns of gunshot and secondary blast injuries

Terrorist attacks have been on the rise. During the recent terrorist attacks in France, terrorists perpetrated their acts using weapons of war, as well as explosive charges. These two modes of action, when combined, can create skin lesions with similar macroscopic appearances, which can sometimes go unnoticed because of body fragmentation. A total of 68 autopsies, 83 external examinations, 140 standard radiographic examinations, and 49 computed tomography (CT) scans were performed over 7 days during the 2015 terrorist attacks in France. Bodies were injured by firearms and shrapnel-like projectiles. We analysed the clinical findings for the secondary blast cutaneous lesions from the explosive devices and compared these lesions with ballistic-related lesions to highlight that patterns can be macroscopically similar on external examination. Secondary blast injuries are characterised by penetrating trauma associated with materials added to explosive systems that are propelled by explosive air movement. These injuries are caused most often by small, shrapnel-like metallic objects, such as nails and bolts. Propulsion causes ballistic-type injuries that must be recognised and distinguished from those caused by firearm projectiles. Differentiating between these lesions is very difficult when using conventional criteria (size, shape, number and distribution on the body) with only external examination of corpses. This is why the particularities of these lesions must be further illustrated and then confirmed by complete autopsies and radiological and anatomopathological examinations. Key points When occurring simultaneously in terrorist attacks, injuries caused by secondary blasts appear as cutaneous wound patterns that can be macroscopically very similar to those caused by firearm projectiles. The criteria usually found in the literature for distinguishing these two types of projectiles may be difficult to use. It is important in these difficult situations to benefit from systematic postmortem imaging. Systematic autopsy and then anatomopathological analyses of the orifices also help determine the cause of the wounds.

THE IMPACT OF TERRORISM ON TURKISH BANKS’ STOCKS AND CROSS-BANK VARIATION OF ABNORMAL RETURNS

This paper investigates the impact of the recent terrorist attacks on the Turkish banking sector. Specifically, an event study analysis is executed to estimate the abnormal returns of banks’ stocks in Turkey. According to the results, negative and significant abnormal returns were observed on the event dates of terrorist attacks, those of which especially occurred at international points and touristic places. The study continues with a regression analysis that looks into the cross-bank variation of abnormal returns by using important bank characteristics as predictors. The regression analysis exhibits that banks with higher leverage and larger size are prone to getting more negatively affected by the terrorist attack. On the other hand, banks with higher liquidity and higher income level are likely to have less negative abnormal returns.

Study of impact phenomena for the design of a mobile anti-terror barrier: Experiments and finite element analyses

The most important recent terrorist attacks in Europe consist of vehicles rammed into crowds. The current response to this phenomenon is the adoption of concrete barriers, whose effectiveness is still not clear. The authors of this paper have already designed an innovative mobile anti-terror barrier which combines high performance and good look. This paper explains the most significant concepts which have been used for the design of this new barrier with the help of simple models. In detail, the impact of a pendulum hitting some obstacles with a similar total mass is investigated by means of experimental tests and finite element analysis. The purpose of this study is to identify the best solution which most efficiently stops the impacting object. The results show that a powerful mobile system should be extremely deformable and use water to dissipate energy. A ballast made of metals positioned in the lower part of the anti-terror system helps to reduce the total displacement of the barrier itself.

Situational insecurity versus entrenched ideologies as the source of right‐wing voters’ anti‐migrant sentiment on both sides of the Atlantic

AbstractA popular explanation for the emergence of right‐wing populism is that perceived threats toward migrants triggered a wave of anti‐migrant sentiment. This kind of insecurity narrative paints ethnocentrism as a reaction to ongoing events rather than an entrenched belief that coexists with related right‐wing ideologies. A mediation model was constructed with an anti‐migrant sentiment as the outcome, a sense of insecurity as the mediator and a composite of right‐wing ideologies as predictors. Study 1 was conducted with 220 Americans and 231 Germans a few months after the Paris terrorist attack. Study 2, a preregistered replication, was conducted two years later on 151 British as well as 183 Spanish participants where both countries saw a recent terrorist attack on their own soil. A replicated finding across the four samples rejected insecurity as a mediator. In all samples, the indirect pathways showed the same weakness—while conservatives were risk averse, their sense of insecurity was not a linchpin to anti‐migrant sentiment. The significant direct pathways confirmed the integrity of the conservative belief system where anti‐migrant sentiment was best explained by related componential beliefs, such as right‐wing authoritarianism, nationalism, and neoliberalism. Concerns about terror threats and migrant crises seem to have been hijacked to sugarcoat the ideological nature of ethnocentrism, at least under the present threat scenarios. Suggestions are made to further examine the insecurity narrative in the future.

El impacto del terrorismo internacional en el patrimonio cultural: control de riesgos y protección

This article analyses the trinomial of cultural heritage, tourism and Islamic terrorism in the current political scenario. The recent Islamic terrorist attacks in heritage cities with a high presence of tourists leads us to wonder whether the different Conventions, Recommendations and Resolutions approved by UNESCO, the Council of Europe, etc., and the National Emergency and Risk Management Plan for Cultural Heritage in Spain are sufficient to prevent and control possible terrorist attacks or attacks. In Spain, the legislation establishes a territorial framework in which the competencies in matters of cultural heritage are divided and distributed among the State, the autonomous and provincial governments, and the municipalities. This obliges us to make an enormous effort to establish stable, feasible links of cooperation and coordination of professionals and specialists that will allow us to guarantee the security of our citizens and maintain the integrity and preservation of our heritage.

Understanding Terrorism Aiming at Energy Infrastructures: How to PROTECT KOREAN Energy Infrastructures

The purpose of this study is to examine the trends and characteristics of terrorist attack on energy infrastructure since recent terrorist attacks...