Terrorist Attacks Research Articles

Book Review: Iraq: Power, Institutions, and Identities

Iraq, with its natural resources, strategic location, population, army, historical and cultural richness, is an important actor in the Middle East. At the same time, Iraq struggles with similar problems as many other Middle Eastern states: poverty, unemployment, proxy wars, terrorist attacks, political instability, weak institutionalization, and authoritarian regimes. Therefore, analyzing Iraq's recent history will also help to understand the current issues in the Middle East. In this book, the author analyzes Iraq from various perspectives such as economy, politics, history, culture, and demographic structure, addressing the underlying reasons for the country's chronic problems.

Supplemental Material for Early Predictors of Prolonged Grief Among Bereaved Trauma Survivors 8.5 Years After a Terrorist Attack

Supplemental Material for Early Predictors of Prolonged Grief Among Bereaved Trauma Survivors 8.5 Years After a Terrorist Attack

Attenuation of Nerve Agent Induced Neurodegenerative and Neuroinflammatory Changes in Rats with New Combination Treatment of Galantamine, Atropine and Midazolam.

Acute nerve agent exposure can kill a person within minutes or produce multiple neurotoxic effects and subsequent brain damage with potential long-term adverse outcomes. Recent abuse of nerve-agents on Syrian civilians, during Japan terrorist attacks, and personal assassinations in the UK, and Malaysia indicate their potential threat to world population. Existing nerve agent antidotes offer only incomplete protection especially, if the treatment is delayed. To develop the effective drugs, it is advantageous to elucidate the underlying mechanisms of nerve agent-induced multiple neurological impairments. This study aimed to investigate the molecular basis of neuroinflammation during nerve agent toxicity with focus on inflammasome-associated proteins and neurodegeneration. In rats, NOD-like receptor family pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3), and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) immunoreactivity levels were considerably increased in the hippocampus, piriform cortex, and amygdala areas after single subcutaneous soman exposure (90µg/kg-1). Western analysis indicated a notable increase in the neuroinflammatory indicator proteins, high mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) levels. The presence of fluorojade-C-stained degenerating neurons in distinct rat brain areas is indicating the neurodegeneration during nerve agent toxicity. Pre-treatment with galantamine (3mg/kg, - 30min) followed by post-treatment of atropine (10mg/kg, i.m.) and midazolam (5mg/kg, i.m.), has completely protected animals from death induced by supra-lethal dose of soman (2XLD50) and reduced the neuroinflammatory and neurodegenerative changes. Results highlight that this new prophylactic and therapeutic drug combination might be an effective treatment option for soldiers deployed in conflict areas and first responders dealing with accidental/deliberate release of nerve agents.

Incidence of Dementia Before Age 65 Years Among World Trade Center Attack Responders

Reports suggest that the individuals who served in rescue operations following the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center (WTC) have poorer brain health than expected. To assess the incidence of dementia before age 65 years in a prospective study of WTC responders and to compare incidence among responders with severe exposures to debris vs responders not exposed to building debris or who wore personalized protective equipment (PPE). This prospective cohort study was conducted from November 1, 2014, to January 1, 2023, in an academic medical monitoring program available to verified WTC responders residing on Long Island, New York. Responders 60 years of age or younger without dementia at the time of their first cognitive assessment were followed up every 18 months, on average, for up to 5 years. Exposure severity was based on responses to a detailed questionnaire of WTC exposures and exposure-related activities that included exposures to fine particulate dust and potentially neurotoxic debris, duration of work, and the use of PPE. Exposure level was divided into 5 categories ranging from low to severe. Incidence of all-cause dementia before age 65 years was the primary outcome. Dementia was diagnosed following standard guidelines relying on repeated measures of cognition. Of 9891 responders, 5010 were eligible for inclusion in this study of cognitive function (median [IQR] age, 53 [48-57] years; 4573 [91.3%] male). There were 228 cases of dementia identified during 15 913.1 person-years of follow-up. Increasing WTC exposure severity was associated with incremental increases in the incidence rate of dementia per 1000 person-years (low, 2.95 [95% CI, 1.07-11.18]; mild, 12.16 [95% CI, 10.09-14.79]; moderate, 16.53 [95% CI, 13.30-20.81]; high, 30.09 [95% CI, 21.35-43.79]; and severe, 42.37 [95% CI, 24.86-78.24]). Adjusting for social, demographic, and relevant medical factors, each unit increase in exposure severity was associated with increased incidence of dementia (adjusted hazard ratio, 1.42 [95% CI, 1.18-1.71]; P < .001; mean risk difference, 9.74 [95% CI, 2.94-32.32] per 1000 person-years; P < .001). In this cohort study of WTC responders who survived these unique exposures and participated in a longitudinal follow-up study of cognition from 2014 through 2022, when compared with responders with the lowest exposure levels or responders who used PPE, more severe exposure to dust or debris was significantly associated with a higher risk of dementia before 65 years of age. This study suggests that the reliable use of PPE might help prevent the onset of dementia before age 65 years among individuals exposed to an uncontrolled building collapse. Future research is warranted to determine cerebral biomarkers for individuals with exposure-associated dementia.

Domesticating the Global War on Terrorism in West Africa: Implications for Sub-Regional Security

Objective: The objective of this study is to the recent incidences of terror attacks in the West African sub-region that have only overwhelmed national governments concerned. Using the case studies of Burkina Faso, Mali, Nigeria, and Niger, the paper interrogates the recent scourge of terrorism in these countries within the context of sub-regional security. Theoretical Framework: The structural conflict theory, which argues that conflict is built into the systems and structures of society, is employed in the work. This is based on the radical transformative agenda promoted by globalization and accentuated by the violent intra-state conflicts in Africa, especially following the restructuring of the international security architecture after the end of the Cold War in 1989. Method: The methodology adopted for this research utilizes the qualitative research design using the case study approach. Secondary data is engaged for this study, alongside thematic analysis for the harmonization of data. Results and Discussion: The study discovered that the activities of domestic terror groups is hinged on the unresolved rhetoric of globalization. The study concludes that until there are institutional measures to strengthen the fragile politico-economic structures hurriedly erected after prolonged dictatorships in the countries concerned, the solution to the threat of terrorism will remain a tantalizing mirage. It canvasses for the creation of a civil-military alliance in the war on terror, and the strengthening of democratic institutions to bring about good governance which will make states better equipped to curb terrorism. Research Implications: The practical and theoretical implications of this research are discussed, providing insights into how the results can be applied or influence practices in the fields of national security, strategic studies and even institutional democracy. These implications could encompass the protection of lives and property within the state, protection of the state’s territorial integrity and the consolidation of democracy by state governments. Originality/Value: This study contributes to the literature by highlighting the fragilitiy of democracy in West African states as a consequence of prolonged terrorist attacks that are yet to be adequately catered to by civilian governments. The relevance and value of this research are evidenced by it practical applicability across the fields of policy and strategic studies, and political science.

National challenges for trauma surgery in Germany due to violence and war

Due to the war in Ukraine and the treatment of patients with war wounds in the hospitals of the TraumaNetworks of the German Society for Trauma Surgery (TraumaNetzwerke DGU®), injuries from life-threatening mission situations (LebEL), terrorism, violence and war have become a matter of daily professional life. Furthermore, the societal and global feeling of security has fundamentally changed. The much-cited term "turning point in history", the reorientation of the Armed Forces and the investigation of the resilience of the healthcare system with respect to the "fitness for war", approximate to the description of the current challenges for trauma surgery (UCH) in Germany. Based on the developments following the terrorist attacks in Paris in 2015 and in Brussels in 2016, a clarification is given as to which adaptations have already been successful and how quickly an improvement could successfully be achieved. In this context, the concept of tactical care and the course on Terror and Disaster Surgical Care (TDSC), for example, have been game changing. The main challenge currently lies in overcoming the structural alterations in the German healthcare system and professionally in the treatment of war wounded personnel from Ukraine. The knowledge gained from these two national tasks must be analyzed for the future development and adaptation of established treatment structures, e.g., of the TraumaNetzwerke DGU®, under the requirements of the increased resilience against war, terrorism and violence. The aim is to name that which has already been achieved with respect to the national challenges for UCH and at the same time to outline or discuss further necessities for improvements and elimination of possible gaps in capabilities.

DEVELOPMENT OF AN INFORMATION AND LOGIC MODEL FOR PREVENTING EMERGENCIES DUE TO IMPACT ON PROTECTIVE ELEMENTS OF SMALL SHELTER FACILITIES BY SHOCK AND IMPULSE LOAD

The article examines problems of preventing emergencies due to damage to small shelter facilities caused by the impact of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), which, in turn, leads to shock-impulse loading of their upper hemisphere and the following destruction. The development of a civilian protection system against terrorist attacks on civilian infrastructure in the form of an extensive network of small shelter facilities increases the level of individual and collective protection of the population, especially in cities that fall within the area of enemy missile and artillery strikes. Therefore, when designing and building settlements, it is necessary to provide for the possibility of protecting the civilian population from both shrapnel-type damage, which already has a practical implementation in existing projects, and from possible high-precision destruction of the upper hemisphere of small shelter facilities by a UAV warhead of high explosive or thermobaric type. Relevant design solutions should focus on preventing terrorist emergencies due to shock-impulse loading of the upper hemisphere of small shelters, which is formed by considering the information-logic model for preventing local-level emergencies due to shock-impulse loading of small shelter facilities. The information-logic model assumes the existence of two security management loops for a small shelter: external and internal. It is worth noting that the external loop is an integral part of the overall urban (regional) air defence system and includes the block of measures to directly affect the threat (striking UAV) in the form of firearms and electronic warfare. The result of the successful development of management decisions by the external control loop is eliminating the threat of an enemy attack UAV. On the other hand, the experience and individual elements of the UAV are the basis for the formation of initial conditions of the mathematical model for preventing terrorist emergencies due to the shock and impulse load of small shelter facilities. The initial conditions represent the result of the development of two consecutive blocks: a block for collecting UAV characteristics and a block for analysing the shock-impulse load that occurs or is predicted based on the characteristics of the attacking UAV. The basis of the internal control loop is the mitigation design unit, which determines further information exchange within this loop. In particular, it triggers the block for improving the effectiveness of protection, which receives statistical and predictive information on emergencies that have occurred (nature of damage and consequences). It allows for continuous updating of information on the characteristics of construction materials used in the construction of shelter facilities and the effectiveness of design solutions, forming characteristics of a small shelter. The result of the corresponding block is the formation of boundary conditions of the mathematical model for preventing terrorist emergencies due to the shock and impulse loading of small shelters. The basis of the block for forming the coupling equation of the mathematical model for preventing terrorist emergencies due to shock-impulse loading of small shelter facilities is the theoretical and practical achievements of the theory of reliability and its derivative theory of plasticity. An appropriate solution to the problem of preventing terrorist emergencies due to shock and impulse loading of small shelter facilities allows further implementation of management decisions to improve the efficiency of protection. Thus, the study solved an urgent scientific problem, namely, the formation of an information-logical model for the prevention of local-level emergencies due to shock-impulse loading of small shelter facilities, the implementation of which allows to form management decisions to improve the security of small shelters and is the basis for further development of an appropriate mathematical model and methodology. Keywords: information-logic model, shock-impulse load, small shelter facility, emergency.

Predicting Novel Terrorism: Media Coverage as Early-Warning System of Novelty in Terror Attacks

ABSTRACT In this article, we argue that the process of predicting terrorist attacks needs to integrate the evolving dynamic of terrorism and we make a case for novelty as crucial feature to encompass terrorism’s changing nature. To predict when and how terrorist organizations will conduct their next attack, and whether it will have a novel approach, we base our analysis on media coverage. As media continuously covers political, economic, and societal analyses on a national and international scale, it provides rich information that can fuel early-warning systems for terror attacks. We analyze the content of 2,173,544 newspaper articles, reporting on 42,252 terror attacks by 1,121 organizations. Our analyses show that content of media coverage relates to the interval until the following attack from the same terror organization as well as whether they will conduct a novel and even more devastating terror attack. Hence, our approach and findings can contribute to building early-warning systems.

Architectural techniques for protecting industrial buildings

The article will discuss the architectural features of industrial buildings that are resistant to potential terrorist and other attacks. The most typical threats will be considered (external attacks, threat of explosion from outside and inside) and the corresponding protection goals (protection of the site perimeter, control of entry points, use of sustainable structural systems, safe finishing elements, use of protective structures at the landscape level). A brief historical excursion will show what fortification techniques may be relevant in our time. Modern analogues of industrial buildings are studied, new innovative protection measures are analyzed. As conclusions, architectural means that must be taken into account in the layout of industrial buildings and the master plan of industrial zones in general will be described to create a safe environment that is protected from possible attacks.

Pengaruh Terorisme, Investasi, Dan Pengeluaran Pemerintah Terhadap Pertumbuhan Ekonomi Di Indonesia Periode 2014-2023

Indonesia is one of the countries with the 3rd highest economic growth rate in the ASEAN region. Economic growth in Indonesia has experienced fluctuations from year to year 2014-2023, Indonesia has stated stable economic growth ranging between 4-6% per year. Stable economic growth in Indonesia has a significant impact on various aspects, including terrorism, investment and government spending. Terrorist attacks can cause major economic losses for a country. This decline was caused by uncertainty caused by the loss of investors. Terrorist attacks can impact government spending because governments must allocate additional resources for security, law enforcement, and post-attack recovery. This expenditure includes improving national security, increasing police and security forces, as well as assistance to victims and restoration of damaged infrastructure. TR, INV and PP together have a positive but insignificant effect on economic growth.

Does Terrorism Still Spread Fear to ASEAN’s Financial Market?

The research aimed to examine the financial markets’ responses to terrorist attacks in Southeast Asia. Market reactions were a reflection of public sentiment. The market reaction was calculated using the stock index indicator and the currency exchange rate of the country relative to the US Dollar. The research employed a paired test to compare the period prior to and following the terrorist attack. The research used Wilcoxon Test to examine 38 terrorist attacks across four Southeast Asian nations: Indonesia, Thailand, Philippines, and Malaysia. The research concludes that the stock index exhibits both normal and abnormal returns between pre-incident and post-incident periods. Post-incident returns are higher than pre-incident returns. Stockholders are not required to sell their existing holdings in response to a terrorist attack. Between pre-incident and post-incident investors who do not invest in the capital or money markets, the foreign exchange market does not exhibit significant changes. Investors can profit by purchasing stock or foreign currency on the day of the incident or one day afterwards and selling it three days later.

News media consumption and support for counter-terrorism measures: the role of hatred and fear

ABSTRACT Media are a key social agent shaping society’s responses to measures implemented in the fight against terrorism. We argue that emotions elicited by media narratives on terrorist attacks are decisive to understand the link between the news media consumption and citizens’ support for military intervention in the Middle East, as well as for security measures in the home country. In two studies conducted after the Brussels attacks (N = 250) and the Barcelona attacks (N = 633), we tested the explanatory role of emotions – specifically fear and hatred – in the association between media narratives and these two outcomes. The results of both studies show that hatred explained the positive relationship between news media consumption and support for military intervention, and to a lesser degree, agreement with security measures. In contrast, the positive relationship between news media consumption and agreement with security measures was explained by fear. This research underscores the need to consider how emotions are utilized in media discourse. We discuss practical implications of our findings for promoting ethical journalism.

A Unique Emotional Surgery: Removal of Unexploded Ordnance in a Patient With Vascular Injury.

Cases of embedded unexploded ordnance are extremely rare and pose a risk to bystanders and health providers. A patient arrived at the Role 2 medical facility in the Turkish army, whose left arm was amputated due to a terrorist attack and major hemorrhages had been halted by clamping of the left subclavian artery and vein. A piece of metal wire running from the lateral chest wall was detected as an unexploded ordnance piece and it was removed surgically. In these challenging cases, safety principles should be acknowledged. Highlighting the basic precautions is important for similar scenarios and increases awareness of the utmost importance.

How does a focusing event shape public opinion? Natural experimental evidence from the Orlando mass shooting

AbstractPolicy process theories posit that focusing events can trigger significant shifts in public attention and policy preferences, thereby reshaping public agenda setting. Prior studies, however, have not clearly defined the scope of public opinion changes induced by these focusing events, leading to inconsistent empirical findings. This study aims to reconceptualize the multiple layers of public opinion and formulate testable hypotheses to investigate the causal effects of a major focusing event—the 2016 Orlando nightclub mass shooting—on public opinion. Using original and unique survey data collected immediately pre‐ and post‐Orlando shooting, we find that this event significantly heightened public attention to terror‐related issues, particularly armed terror attacks on civilians. This increased attention translated into heightened support for augmented government counterterrorism spending. However, the event did not significantly alter public attention or support for government spending on other terror‐related acts less relevant to the Orlando shooting. Moreover, the event did not change individuals' policy preferences regarding specific policy proposals to address mass shootings. Our study enriches public policy and public opinion research and provides fresh insights into the relationship between focusing events and public agenda setting.

The need for a whole-of-community, victim-centred approach to mass victimisation incident planning and response

There have been a large number of masscasualty incidents in recent years, including climate change-related disasters, mass shootings, terrorist attacks, transportation accidents and a global pandemic. Communities, families and friends have suffered grief and loss, while nations continue to bear the scars of trauma. Disasters caused by acts with criminality, although necessarily managed by the police for the investigative aspect, must be planned for, and responded to with victim-centred practices by the police, local government and other relevant community stakeholders for the duration of the response and recovery. Inconsistency and confusion over terminology and language in emergency management can lead to a lack of understanding about which stakeholders or agencies should be engaged in, and responsible for different aspects of the planning, preparedness, mitigation and response to a community disaster — regardless of what type of disaster it is, and irrespective of the disaster being caused by a person or persons with ill-intent. This paper discusses how a wholeof- community and victim-centred approach to criminal act disaster response should be applied to support those persons most adversely affected by the incident. It also promotes the application of victim-centred practices to ensure that the needs of victims are regarded ethically, and with compassion following any disaster caused by an act of criminality. The term ‘mass victimisation incident’ will be introduced and applied through a case study.

Market Design Job Market Candidate Profiles 2024

Inspired by the SIGecom Exchanges' annual survey of job market candidates, 1 this is the fourth annual collection of profiles of the junior faculty job market candidates of the market design community. The eleven candidates are listed alphabetically. Along with information regarding the candidate's bio, job market paper, other representative papers, and short research summary, each profile also contains links to the candidate's homepage and CV. We dedicate this effort in memory of all the innocents who were murdered or otherwise harmed in the terrorist attack on Israel on Oct 7, and all the innocents who were killed or otherwise harmed in its ongoing aftermath, and with the hope that all those abducted---children, women, and men---will be back home by the end of this job market season.

Don DeLillo’s Falling Man as Cultural Trauma Fiction

Abstract The sociological concept of cultural trauma provides a useful lens for understanding large-scale traumatic events and their literary legacies because this concept recognizes the historical, social, and cultural aspects of trauma rather than limiting its scope to the experiences of individuals or small collectives. The terrorist attacks on 11 September 2001 initiated widespread trauma through the spectacle of the planes colliding with the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. Literature after 9/11 is both a product of cultural trauma and a means of exploring the profound effects of that trauma. Some 9/11 novels are part of a subgenre I call Cultural Trauma Fiction, which depicts and explores the effect of a large-scale traumatic event on a culture. Texts within this subgenre represent multiple identities and perspectives, engage with cultural concerns about memorializing the trauma, consider the ethics of representing that trauma through different media, and advance counternarratives that challenge dominant government or media narratives about the trauma. Don DeLillo’s Falling Man constitutes a work of Cultural Trauma Fiction in that its structure and narrative strategies move beyond the scope of the novel’s plot, offering insight into the cultural response to 9/11 and countering hegemonic narratives. Works of Cultural Trauma Fiction like Falling Man highlight the collective hidden transcript of traumatic events and challenge official narratives that oversimplify cultural traumas. Falling Man complicates and enriches the collective understanding of 9/11 by challenging, revising, and reconstructing its cultural narratives.

Using Agent Based Modelling to Advance Evaluation Research in Radicalization and Recruitment to Terrorism: Prospects and Problems

Our paper argues that Agent Based Modelling (ABM) can play an important role in evaluating interventions for counter radicalization and recruitment. Its advantages are due to three realities of research and practice in this area of study. First, field research on radicalization and recruitment raises significant ethical and human subjects dilemmas beyond traditional criminological and social research that are not present to the same degree in ABM experiments. Second, given the lack of existing studies and especially existing evaluation studies, ABMs provide a mechanism for identifying which programs or practices should be focused upon in field experiments, thus allowing researchers to focus in on interventions which have most promise of success. Third, ABM allows researchers to examine very large populations of individuals, which can solve the base rate problem for evaluating interventions focused on rare events, for example on recruitment to terrorism or terrorist attacks. We illustrate these advantages of ABM studies for assessing programs and policies in the context of an ABM model developed in Proton (an Horizon 2020 project). We focus in particular on how ABMs can be developed in ways that provide valid outcome results. In this context, we emphasize the importance of a strong theoretical foundation for ABM studies, creating a realistic landscape with actual data, and testing the ABM model for its fit to outcomes in the real world.

Inauthenticity as a Disruption of Neoliberal Resilience Discourse in Brady Corbet'sVox Lux

Brady Corbet's Vox Lux (2018) depicts school shooting survivor Celeste's transformation into a singing superstar, connecting the trauma of a terrorist attack to the phenomenon of musical celebrity. In so doing, the film narrativises the relationship between the pop singer and neoliberal resilience discourse that has been explored by music philosopher Robin James. Mobilising Jacques Rancière's definition of political art, this article suggests that, rather than endorsing the resilience that it depicts, the film formally critiques the neoliberal function of pop stardom by disrupting the pleasurable affect associated with pop music and celebrity. Whilst Raffey Cassidy's performance of the soundtrack was praised in many reviews, the performance of Natalie Portman (playing the older Celeste) was criticised for its inauthentic delivery. Far from being a weakness of the film, my reading suggests that it is in the formal discord between the pleasurably resilient affect of the music and Portman's laboured performance that the film's political-philosophical critique of neoliberal resilience discourse comes to the fore. Taking an interdisciplinary approach grounded in the perspectives of political philosophy, girlhood studies, and celebrity studies, this article proposes that Vox Lux interrogates the neoliberal function of celebrity through a formal disruption of the pleasurable affect associated with the resilient pop star's musical performance.

Cancer care during a time of crisis: Israel’s experience during wartime.

e23030 Background: During the last decades, there have been many crises in the world, including COVID-19, the Ukraine-Russia war and major tsunamis and earthquakes. These situations create challenges for providing appropriate care for cancer patients. It remains an important research priority to understand how to improve care delivery for cancer patients under conditions of stress or emergency. Methods: Israel has one of the highest-quality healthcare systems in the world. Strengths of the health system include advanced technology, universal health insurance, and four strong health maintenance organizations. Israel’s health system recently performed relatively well during the COVID-19 pandemic. Here, we report on system efforts to continue providing care despite the massive terrorist attack by Hamas of October 7, 2023, the ongoing rocket fire, and the mobilization of young and middle-aged adults to the army, which led to staff shortages. Our report focuses in particular on efforts to maintain continuity and quality of care for cancer patients. Results: There have been three main pillars of Israel’s efforts to maintain care for cancer patients despite the challenges. 1) We activated strategies learned from previous events, including the COVID-19 pandemic and other wars. This enabled continuing treatment of cancer patients, including those who had been evacuated from border-adjacent areas, in oncology departments that are either missile-proof or adjacent to a protected area. 2) The existence of universal health insurance, together with strong health maintenance organizations, enabled us to fill in gaps in social needs and ensure that no patient is “left behind”. This, in turn, allowed patients and their care teams to continue their cancer care without reimbursement barriers or other interruptions, despite the challenges. 3) There was a massive groundswell of volunteerism and lay-led social service initiatives. Almost half (48.6%) of the Israeli population engaged in some volunteer activity during the first two weeks of the war. This included volunteers who provided transportation for patients to and from treatments, donation of medications aimed at helping evacuees from border areas, and volunteer medical staff, such as recent retirees. These civil initiatives played a critical role in providing the initial response to the urgent needs that were left unaddressed by the government. Conclusions: We identified three main pillars that enabled continuity and high quality of care for cancer patients to continue despite a major crisis. A rapid response due to having similar, previous experiences and ready plans. A high-performance and resilient health delivery system, and lay volunteerism in times of crisis. While Israel’s challenges in the present period are unique, nevertheless lessons can be learned by health systems that wish to become more resilient and able to provide adequate care in times of crisis.