Suicide Terrorist Attacks Research Articles

Why Is Suicide Terrorism Applied as an Instrument of Violence?

Since the year 2000, the number of suicide terrorist attacks has increased considerably. Like terrorism, defining suicide terrorism is a complex task due to differing perspectives. Historical examples show that suicide attacks are carried out by a variety of religious traditions and ideological groups, as well as by state and non-state actors. This has renewed interest in this field of study and enhanced the significance of comprehending the organizational and individual motivations underlying suicide terrorism. Suicide terrorism is a strategic choice for terrorist groups due to its cost-effectiveness and high success rate. While suicide bombing is a cost-effective strategy, it is not the last resort. The success of suicide bombings signals to the government and the public that groups are ready to continue fighting, even if it means causing the deaths of members. The effectiveness of suicide terrorism is controversial because this strategy is successful in achieving limited and modest goals, but it is not successful enough to compel the government to withdraw itself from its vital national interests. This article begins by giving a brief conceptual overview and historical background on issues related to suicide terrorism. Next are the justifications for causes and motivations that are currently documented in the literature. It explains the reasons for the accomplishment. Finally, the effectiveness of suicide terrorism is based on available empirical evidence.

Islam and Suicide Terrorism: An Empirical Analysis

AbstractWhether Islam is responsible for increased suicide terrorist attacks is a salient but highly controversial issue. Using independently produced demographics data, we investigate whether there is a correlation between Islam and suicide attacks. We find that (1) countries with greater Muslim populations are likely to experience more suicide attacks, (2) countries with greater Sunni Muslim populations are likely to encounter more suicide attacks, and (3) countries with greater Hanafi Muslim populations, in contrast to other Sunni legal schools, face the greatest risk of experiencing suicide attacks. The overall analysis suggests that Islam is positively associated with suicide attacks, although the degree of its association is not uniform among all branches.

Né vittime, né carnefici. Cittadine. Un’analisi pedagogica dei ruoli delle madri nei percorsi di prevenzione alla radicalizzazione violenta e al terrorismo

Phenomenologies of Islamic terrorism, changing processes of radicalization to violence, and the suicide terrorist attacks perpetrated in many European countries, together constitute a complex educational topic. A topic that defies simplistic readings whereby the drawing of sharp boundaries between ‘us’ and ‘them’, or civilization and barbarism, organizes and reproduces morally reassuring analyses that relieve us of the duty to more thoroughly explore causes and areas of co-responsibility. A combination of pedagogical and gender based analysis can significantly contribute to advancing our knowledge of these phenomena and the related representations, deconstruct the processes underlying them, and inform the design of preventive interventions. More specifically, this article assesses the limitations and risks surrounding women’s role in prevention, also indicating ways in which the positive potential of this role may be explored; it is crucial to avoid re-essentializing the maternal and feminine, while supporting full recognition of women’s status as active and critical citizens

When Suicide Kills: An Empirical Analysis of the Lethality of Suicide Terrorism

Why are some suicide terrorist attacks deadlier than others? Suicide bombers, unlike stationary bombs, are self-guided human weapons; they can deliver and detonate explosives at a specific time and place with precision. Coding and analyzing new data on over four hundred suicide terrorist incidents from all around the world between 1998 and 2015, this paper argues that the number of fatalities resulting from suicide attacks is a function of strategic choices made by the perpetrators, such as where to attack and whom to target. Results of this analysis show that suicide attacks that seize targets of opportunity are the most lethal. Specifically, suicide attacks that target civilians in enclosed and easily accessible places, and that are undertaken by multiple perpetrators result in the highest numbers of fatalities. Understanding these strategic tactical attributes of suicide terrorism is fundamental to devising effective counterterrorism strategies that aim at hardening soft targets and minimizing the lethal impact of these attacks.

Terrorist attacks targeting the police: the connection to foreign military presence

Terrorist attacks – suicide attacks in particular – targeting police have increased worldwide over the past decade in both number and relative to other targets. One plausible explanation for this is the presence of a foreign military on a country’s soil, which is theorized to increase terrorism in that country. Terrorist attacks targeting the police may be more likely in these countries because police typically are tasked with assisting the foreign military. The primary research question asks whether there is a relationship between foreign military presence and terrorist attacks on police. This is assessed using a cross-sectional sample of 82 countries, with data drawn from several sources between 1999 and 2008. Because the dependent variables – terrorist attacks targeting the police – are proportions, Tobit and Cragg’s double-hurdle analyses were used. Analyses were confirmed using zero-inflated negative binomial regression models, with the outcomes measured as counts. Foreign military presence significantly increased the proportion of suicide terrorist attacks targeting the police, terrorist attacks using any tactic targeting the police and fatal terrorist attacks targeting the police. Greater economic inequality, involvement in civil war and greater regional terrorism were related to the proportion of attacks targeting police, but each was inconsistent across the outcome measures. To avoid being viewed as an occupying force and, thus, to decrease the proportion and count of terrorist attacks targeting police, administrators and officers alike may wish to reflect on public perception of their image. Future research should expand the dependent variable to include additional target types and a longer time period.

Suicide Terrorist Attacks – Ideological Aspect

Suicide Terrorist Attacks – Ideological Aspect

English

Suicide terrorism remains a difficult action to rationally explain. Often, scholars rely on ideological or religious motivations to explain these seemingly irrational actions. While it seems clear that non-economic motives matter, it is also the case that economic compensation can incentivize suicide terrorism in ways that allow for more robust suicide terrorism campaigns. As such, we would expect that organizations that provide cash to suicide bombers will generate more attacks. In addition, the general economic environment plays into this in that poor economic conditions should increase the attractiveness of monetary compensation. To test our arguments, we conduct a series of statistical analyses looking at seven terrorist organizations that engaged in suicide terrorism from 2000 through 2008 and find that both high levels of economic compensation and poor economic conditions are correlated with a greater number of suicide terrorist attacks. Key words: Political economy, terrorism, compensation.

40 years of terrorist bombings – A meta-analysis of the casualty and injury profile

IntroductionTerrorists have used the explosive device successfully globally, with their effects extending beyond the resulting injuries. Suicide bombings, in particular, are being increasingly deployed due to the devastating effect of a combination of high lethality and target accuracy. The aim of this study was to identify trends and analyse the demographics and casualty figures of terrorist bombings worldwide. MethodsAnalysis of the Global Terrorism Database (GTD) and a PubMed/Embase literature search (keywords “terrorist”, and/or “suicide”, and/or “bombing”) from 1970 to 2014 was performed. Results58,095 terrorist explosions worldwide were identified in the GTD. 5.08% were suicide bombings. Incidents per year are increasing (P<0.01). Mean casualty statistics per incidents was 1.14 deaths and 3.45 wounded from non-suicide incidents, and 10.16 and 24.16 from suicide bombings (p<0.05). The kill:wounded ratio was statistically higher in suicide attacks than non-suicide attacks, 1:1.3 and 1:1.24 respectively (p<0.05). The Middle East witnessed the most incidents (26.9%), with Europe (13.2%) ranked 4th. The literature search identified 41 publications reporting 167 incidents of which 3.9% detailed building collapse (BC), 60.8% confined space (CS), 23.5% open space (OS) and 11.8% semi-confined space (SC) attacks. 60.4% reported on suicide terrorist attacks. Overall 32 deaths and 180 injuries per incident were seen, however significantly more deaths occurred in explosions associated with a BC. Comparing OS and CS no difference in the deaths per incident was seen, 14.2(SD±17.828) and 15.63 (SD±10.071) respectively. However OS explosions resulted in significantly more injuries, 192.7 (SD±141.147), compared to CS, 79.20 (SD±59.8). Extremity related wounds were the commonest injuries seen (32%). Discussion/ConclusionTerrorist bombings continue to be a threat and are increasing particularly in the Middle East. Initial reports, generated immediately at the scene by experienced coordination, on the type of detonation (suicide versus non-suicide), the environment of detonation (confined, open, building collapse) and the number of fatalities, and utilising the Kill:Wounded ratios found in this meta-analysis, can be used to predict the number of casualties and their likely injury profile of survivors to guide the immediate response by the medical services and the workload in the coming days.

Competing to Kill: Terrorist Organizations Versus Lone Wolf Terrorists

Are organizationally linked suicide attacks deadlier than those launched by lone wolf terrorists? This article elaborates a perpetrator-based distinction among suicide terrorist attacks between organizations and lone wolf terrorists, who operate in the absence of a financially or physically supportive terrorist organization. The expectation is that terrorist organizations would serve as commitment tools that increase the loyalty of suicide bombers to their missions through material and non-material incentives. Findings demonstrate that when terrorist organizations are involved in the planning and execution of suicide terrorist attacks, not only do they increase the lethality of these attacks but they also accentuate the tactical advantages of suicide terrorism. These findings suggest that despite the recent upsurge and concern about lone wolf terrorism, the lethality and security impacts of suicide terrorism continue to be driven by terrorist organizations.

Samobójcze zamachy terrorystyczne jako rodzaj gry politycznej (w kontekście bezpieczeństwa XXI wieku)

Samobójcze zamachy terrorystyczne jako rodzaj gry politycznej (w kontekście bezpieczeństwa XXI wieku)

An Empirical Study of Suicide Terrorism: A Global Analysis

This paper provides the first venue‐based empirical investigation of the number and lethality of suicide terrorist attacks on a global scale. For 1998–2010, we assemble a data set of 2448 suicide terrorist incidents, drawn from the three main terrorist event databases, i.e., International Terrorism: Attributes of Terrorist Events (ITERATE), the Global Terrorism Database (GTD), and RAND. Our data set distinguishes between domestic and transnational suicide terrorist missions. For the quantity of suicide terrorism, we apply zero‐inflated negative binomial panel (country‐year) estimation for country‐specific variables and negative binomial panel estimation for attack‐specific variables. We also present linear regression panel estimations for the impact of suicide terrorism in terms of casualties per attack. Economic, political, and military variables, at times, differentially influenced the two kinds of suicide terrorism. A host of policy conclusions are drawn from the empirical findings.

Mass casualty incidents after terrorist bombings

Abstract Introduction: The frequent suicide terrorist attacks in the last years logically raise the question how prepared we are to cope with their consequences. In comparison to the other types of trauma, bomb explosions more frequently lead to mass casualty incidents (MCIs), generating a large number of casualties with multiple injuries within a short time frame. This number usually exceeds the capacity of the hospital, which tend to exhaust the hospital resources. Additionally, there are several important differences between combat and civilian MCIs. This reality, together with the unpredictability of these events, justifies their detailed analysis and discussion. Material and methods: In the present work two suicide terrorist attacks led to MCI were analyzed. The first one occurred in a combat setting in Kerbala, Iraq, on 27 December 2003. The second occurred in a civilian setting at the International Airport in Bourgas, Bulgaria on 18 July, 2012. The following variables were analyzed and compared – a total number of the casualties, number of dead on scene (DOS), hospitalized victims and those who needed major surgery (MS), hospital mortality and returned to duty (RD) for the military personal. The severity of trauma was assessed by Injury Severity Score (ISS). Results: Overall, there were an average 26 casualties per incident 52, 13.5% dead on scene and 62.5% hospitalized. The severely injured (ISS>16) were 12.5% (n=13), major surgery was performed in 12 of them (92.3%) or 11.5% of all (12/104). The overall mortality was 11.5%. It was higher after the bus explosion (17.9%) than those in Kerbala (7.7%). The bus explosion was also associated with a higher proportion of wounded – 78% vs. 50%, more immediate deaths – 15.4% vs. 6.2% and higher dead/wounded ratio – 1:5.6 vs 1:13. Conclusions The civilian terrorist attacks result in significantly more casualties and immediate fatalities, higher overall mortality and a higher dead/wounded ratio. Due to the unpredictability of these events, not only the largest trauma centers, but every hospital should have a contingency plan for MCIs. Every surgeon should be familiar with the art of triage and to develop ability for a judicious allocation of the precious hospital resources.

Revisiting the “Problem From Hell”: Suicide Terror in Afghanistan

A hallmark of the resurgence of antigovernment forces in Afghanistan was the mass introduction of suicide terrorist attacks. Between 2005 and 2006, the incidence of suicide bombings increased more than fivefold, marking a sea change in the Afghan conflict. Despite the initial jump in the volume of suicide attacks and the fear of more violence, the number of attacks actually flat-lined while the level of other attacks increased. This study will argue that it is the competency of the attackers employed in Afghanistan, not the politics, technology, or targeting, that best explains the static level of suicide attacks.

Cutting the Fuse: The Explosion of Global Suicide Terrorism and How to Stop It

Since 9/11 there has been a burgeoning literature on terrorism written by journalists, scholars, policy makers, diplomats, and military professionals. The last decade has also witnessed a dramatic increase in suicide terrorist attacks—violent attacks designed to kill others where the death of the attacker is a necessary part of the action—especially against American interests. There were twenty suicide terrorist attacks worldwide in 2000, one of which was anti-American inspired; the number of such attacks increased ten-fold by 2010, 90% of which were anti-American inspired. Although suicide bombing was used by imperial Japan at the end of World War II, the kamikaze tactics, they have not since been used by nation states. Instead, non-state actors such as Hezbollah, Tamil Tigers, Hamas and al-Qaeda have used suicide attacks since the early 1980s, especially in the last decade. The modern suicide terrorism is usually traced back to the Hezbollah attacks against Israeli military installations and American assets in Lebanon in 1982, and the phenomenon has been studied extensively in recent years. Scholars have offered explanations of the underpinning of such violent and hostile behaviors and suggested policy response to such threats.

The Ancient Fire: Religion and Suicide Terrorism

Does religion lead to greater destructiveness from suicide terrorism? And if so, how does it influence this form of political violence? Recent analyses of terrorism point to the significance of religion, but are divided as to whether religion itself matters, or certain types of religious terrorist groups are actually driving suicide terrorist violence. This article draws on social movement theory and recent work in the study of suicide terrorism to argue that religion influences the severity of suicide terrorist attacks as an ideology groups use to justify their struggle and gain public support. This effect occurs regardless of a group's goals or organizational nature. The theory is tested using a generalized estimating equation to account for multiple attacks by several groups. The study finds that the religious ideology of a group greatly increases the number of deaths from a suicide attack, even if varying group motivations and structural factors are taken into account. The article helps to clarify the effect of religion on contemporary terrorism, contributing to the study of both terrorism and religion and politics.

What's Special about Female Suicide Terrorism?

This study analyzes the interaction between the motivations of individual attackers and terrorist group strategies. To do so, I combine a quantitative analysis of all known suicide terrorist attacks between 1981 and July 2008 with a strategic account of why terrorist organizations employ female suicide terrorism (fst) and case studies of individual female attackers. I advance five central claims. First, I reveal the superior effectiveness of fst from the perspective of the groups that employ women. Second, I explain that terrorist groups increasingly enlist women as suicide attackers because of their higher effectiveness. Third, I demonstrate that terrorist groups adapt their discourse, catering to the specific individual motives of potential female suicide attackers in order to recruit them. Fourth, I show that female attackers are driven by the same general motives and circumstances that drive men. Furthermore, and in contrast to the existing literature, women attackers uphold, rather than eschew, their societies' norms for gender behavior. Attempts to transform these societies into gender-neutral polities are therefore destined to increase fst. Finally, I conclude that, unless target states adapt their defensive strategies, we should expect an increase in fst.

Methods and Findings in the Study of Suicide Terrorism

Scott Ashworth, Joshua Clinton, Adam Meirowitz, and Kristopher Ramsay (2008) allege that I have committed the sin of sampling on the dependent variable by considering only the universe of suicide terrorist attacks rather than the universe of all imaginable instances when potential or actual terrorists might have committed suicide attacks, and so cannot measure the effects of any independent variables. They go on to describe a method that they say I should have used, which is not of interest because the accusation that is supposed to motivate this discussion is inaccurate.The main claim—that my work on suicide terrorism samples on the dependent variable—is simply wrong. Indeed, the authors paid no attention to the large portions of my recent book that explain what we know about factors that make resort to suicide terrorist campaigns more or less likely, and how we know it. Hence, this letter is mainly devoted to updating Ashworth, Clinton, Meirowitz, and Ramsay on my work. I also make a few comments about the general question of whether concerns about “sample bias” should carry significant weight when dealing with the complete universe of a phenomenon, as is the case in my work on suicide terrorism.

Chechen Female Suicide Bombers: Who and why

No accessJournal of Human SecurityOther Journal Article01 January 2007Chechen Female Suicide Bombers: Who and why Authors: Tatyana Dronzina; Vadim V Astashin Authors: Tatyana Dronzina Department of Political Science, St Kliment Ohridski University of Sofia (Bulgaria) Google Scholar More articles by this author ; Vadim V Astashin Volgograd State University (Volgograd, Russia) Google Scholar More articles by this author SectionsAboutPDF/EPUBExport CitationsAdd to FavouriteAdd to FavouriteCreate a New ListNameCancelCreate ToolsTrack CitationsCreate Clip ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInEmail Abstract It is commonly accepted that Chechen women acting as suicide bombers are part of the rebel movement in the Caucasus. They kill themselves voluntarily or for revenge. What are the motivating factors for such suicide missions? What kind of connection exists between Islamic suicide terrorism in the Middle East and in Chechnya? Is the Chechen phenomenon unique? Who recruits Chechen women for suicide terrorist attacks? Does a typical portrait of these women exist? Data were drawn from open security service sources, newspapers, news agencies, interviews, and special investigations by Russian and foreign journalists. They provide answers based on the life-stories of most women who acted as suicide bombers, imbedded in a chronology of the major terrorist attack in the Russian Federation, and its consequences. Full Text DOI Previous article Next article RelatedDetails View PUBLICATION DETAILSDate of Publication:January 2007Journal:Journal of Human SecurityISSN:1835-3800Volume:3Issue:1Page Range:30-44First Page:30Last Page:44Source:Journal of Human Security, Vol. 3, No. 1, 2007: 30-44Date Last Modified:05 September 2018 12:24Date Last Revised:06 October 2012Geographic LocationRussia (Federation)Russia (Federation)--Chechni?a?SubjectTerrorismHistoryCivil War (Chechnia : 1994-)Women suicide bombers METRICS Downloaded 0 times Copyright© Human Security Institute, 2007Download PDFLoading ...

The Al Qaeda 9/11 instructions: a study in the construction of religious martyrdom

A growing global concern about suicide attacks has led to attempts from various disciplines to understand the psychological profiles of persons willing to commit suicide terrorist attacks. Recent reports have suggested that more powerful explanatory models might be discovered using social psychological concepts, with a shift of focus from the individual to the group within which the individual acts and by which the individual is influenced. This paper attempts to do so by presenting an analysis of the Al Qaeda ‘final instructions’ document, which sheds light on the way members of this group were mobilised towards conducting one of the most devastating assaults in modern history. We discuss the use of religious doctrine and rhetorical devices as a psychological strategy employed by this group to inspire, control and mobilise its members before and during the September 11, 2001, attacks.

Civil Courage and Human Dignity: How to Regain Respect for the Fundamental Values of Western Democracy

courage might be thought to be a timeless effort. Yet these reflections are stimulated by current experiences that challenge us and call for reassuring thoughts. After the fall of the Berlin Wall, I led a seminar, along with Joachim Gauck, the director of the Stasi document center, on civil courage. Our hope was to understand the reasons some people collaborated with the Stasi, the security arm of the former East Germany, and why other people resisted. It seemed natural to compare the situation in East Germany with that which existed in Germany itself under National Socialism to determine what motivated people to resist collaboration with the National Socialist regime and what strengthened those people who helped to protect and hide Jews from persecution. They, we pointed out, practiced civil courage. At that time, however, we would not have thought to ask if suicide terrorist attacks were proof of courage, let alone civil courage. Yet the argument is now