Terrorist Activities Research Articles

Radical networks and terrorist action: the importance of social relationships and network positions

ABSTRACT In most models on terrorism, interaction with other radicals is a key factor. However, systematic empirical evidence that radical ties affect behaviour is scarce. Our access to detailed police information allows us to apply Social Network Analysis (SNA) on a Dutch Salafi-Jihadi network and analyse the social relationships and network positions of 80 actors, out of whom 20 turned to terrorist acts. The results suggest that ties to leaders and terrorist offenders, co-attendance of radicalising settings and greater structural embeddedness relate to the likelihood of individual actors to turn to acts of terrorism. However, we also find some individual attributes that may offer competing explanations. In this paper we discuss our findings and address how future research may provide further insights into an important issue for agencies involved in countering terrorism: which radical actors, if any, are more likely to turn to acts of terrorism?

Elimination of Citizenship Status for Terrorism Convicts in Indonesia

The revocation of citizenship for terrorism convicts is a complex and controversial issue in Indonesia. The philosophical foundation for this action involves considerations of national security, the protection of human rights, and adherence to the principles of the rule of law. The revocation of citizenship for terrorism convicts is based on the interest of national security. The government believes that by stripping them of their citizenship, they lose access to resources and support that can be used to continue terrorist activities. This step is taken to reduce the threat to national security and society. However, the revocation of citizenship also raises questions regarding human rights. Basic rights of individuals, including the right to citizenship, are guaranteed by various human rights instruments adopted by Indonesia, such as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the Human Rights Law. The government's responsibility in protecting the citizenship rights of terrorism convicts encompasses several aspects. First, the government must ensure that the revocation of citizenship is based on valid and convincing evidence and carried out through a fair and transparent legal process. The government should also ensure that terrorism convicts who lose their citizenship still have access to humane treatment and rights guaranteed by international law. They should not become stateless or be deprived of basic rights necessary for a decent life. Overall, the revocation of citizenship for terrorism convicts in Indonesia involves complex considerations between national security and the protection of human rights. The government has a crucial responsibility to maintain a balance between these aspects, ensuring that actions taken are in accordance with the principles of the rule of law and do not violate fundamental rights.

Fight of the Lithuanian Partisans against Collaboration in 1949–1953

The last period of resistance (1949–1953) is characterized by the extenuation of the underground forces and weakening of the struggle against collaboration. Even though the number of treasons and a scale of collaboration increased, support of the public to the partisans decreased significantly. Sentiments of the adaptation to the existing situation encompassed the broad layers of society, therefore the methods and measures of the partisan fights became mitigated. Verbal and written warnings prevailed. Death penalties most often were imposed on the most ardent helpers of authorities. Collectivization and Sovietization was nearing completion at the end of 1951; repressions against the collaborators with authorities lost importance and meaning. In 1949, LLKS (Lithuanian Fight for Freedom Movement), as the supreme political and military government of Lithuania, made acts, which regulated public relations, uniform, and finally legally enforced the procedure of execution of penalties on the persons accused of collaboration. In judging the persons, suspected of collaboration and criminal crimes, all districts had to be strictly guided by the LLKS Penal Statute. Data identified during investigation and provided in tables reveal that in the last years of resistance, the fight in the essence was directed against party and Soviet activists as well as civil people accused of collaboration. Attacks against MGB officials, MGB Army military men, MVD employees and “stribai” became a matter of minor importance. Analysis of new historical sources does not confirm the version which is imprinted in the historic consciousness of the public about the degeneration of the resistance in the last years because of the more frequent senseless massacre of civil people and their families. On the contrary, it is possible to speak about the considerably softer tactic of the fight against collaborators, as compared to the years 1946–1948. The terrorist actions (family massacre) and excesses against civil and Soviet activists reduced in number. At the last stage of the fight, the underground almost did not exercise broad-scale punitive actions not only because the ranks of partisans became less, but also owing to the changes in the punitive policy in respect of the collaborators.

Soviet Partisans in Lithuania in 1941–1944: Aspects of Repressive (Terrorist) Activity

The article deals with the establishment of the Soviet armed underground in the years of the Nazi Germany occupation (1941–1944), revealing its complicated situation and reasons, predetermining its repressive activity aspects – the use of coercion and violence. The expression of those activity aspects, concrete attempts to effect terror acts (political assassinations) against the German occupational regime, Lithuanian administration officers, political and military figures are elucidated on the basis of archival sources. Soviet armed underground in Lithuania had the strong, many-sided and multiple repressive origin. In the spring of 1941–1942, the most important role in the organization of Soviet resistance belonged to the USSR NKGB–NKVD bodies. Already in July-August 1941, twelve NKGB–NKVD groups, 85 people, were sent to Lithuania for terrorist (also for intelligence and sabotage) actions. Those groups were not able to develop any activities in Lithuania, almost all participants of those groups perished. From the end of 1942, the Soviet partisan resistance was organized and guided by the Communist Party institutions, attempting to organize the Soviet underground on the broader political and social basis. The participants of the Soviet underground were: 1) groups sent from the Soviet rear; 2) Soviet prisoners of war; 3) Jews who avoided the holocaust; 4) Lithuanian (and of other countries) inhabitants of other nationalities, most of whom suffered the German repressions. On the eve of the war (1940), in the USSR-occupied and annexed Lithuania, no prerequisites and conditions existed for the Soviet underground activity, the majority of the population did not support it, its participants maintained their existence only by repressions, coercion and violence. Directives for terrorist actions were given from the leading centres in the Soviet rear. Soviet partisans prepared unsuccessfully actions against the high-rank German occupational regime officers (General Commissioner in Lithuania Adrian von Renteln, Vilnius Command Commissioner Horst Wulff, etc.), the organizer of the local Lithuanian detachment Gen. Povilas Plechavičius. On the initiative of the Lithuanian national underground and supported by its participants, the Soviet partisans in March 1944 in the Švenčionys County killed two German leading economic executives (Fritz Ohl and Ernest Heinemann). The article, on the basis of indirect sources, makes a presumption that special Soviet underground groups at the end of April 1944 near Kaunas murdered the high-rank Orthodox Church clergyman Sergyi (Voskresenski).

Role of Social Media in Supporting Information and Intelligence Gathering by Densus 88

Terrorism in the digital era has rapidly evolved, with terrorist groups increasingly utilizing social media platforms to spread radical ideologies, recruit new members, and plan attacks. Indonesia, having experienced various terrorism incidents, continues to face this ongoing threat. In this context, the Special Detachment 88 Anti-Terrorism Unit (Densus 88) leverages social media as a critical tool for intelligence gathering and preventing terrorist activities. This study aims to explore how Densus 88 utilizes platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube to identify, monitor, and analyze terrorism-related activities. Through a qualitative approach, this research investigates the perspectives and experiences of Densus 88 members involved in using social media as an intelligence tool. The findings indicate that social media provides a continuous data stream that can be used to monitor activities, track trends, and identify potential threats at an early stage. However, significant challenges remain, including the vast volume and complexity of data and difficulties in distinguishing genuinely dangerous activities from unrelated content. This study provides valuable insights into the strategic use of social media in counter-terrorism operations and suggests measures to enhance the effectiveness of intelligence gathering in the digital era.

Legal regulation of combating nuclear terrorism: national and international aspects

The article deals with the issue of legal regulation of the fight against nuclear terrorism. The purpose of the article is to highlight the problems of legal regulation of the fight against nuclear terrorism. The authors of the article conducted a retrospective review and analyzed the state of development of Ukrainian legislation in the field of legal regulation of the fight against nuclear terrorism. As a result of such consideration, it was determined that the last decades of the 20th century, as well as the 21st century, showed that the greatest threat is terrorist organizations that have an international (transnational) character and are connected to organized criminal societies. Terrorist organizations have largely reoriented themselves from single murders or serious explosions of conventional explosives to active attempts to acquire or manufacture means of mass destruction with the subsequent threat of use. The level of risk of using nuclear weapons and radioactive materials can be pre-estimated by threats of committing acts of nuclear terrorism and theft of nuclear materials. The authors of the article provide separate data related to terrorist acts, as well as the most dangerous cases of their abduction. The article analyzes the basis of the provisions of the International Convention on Combating Acts of Nuclear Terrorism. The authors concluded that the International Convention on the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism plays a key role in ensuring nuclear security. Before the full-scale invasion of the Russian Federation in Ukraine, Ukraine was considered to be an example of a consistent and balanced policy in the field of nuclear non-proliferation. The events that have been going on in Ukraine for almost three years have shown that nuclear legislation, both international and domestic, in the sphere related to the use of nuclear energy is imperfect and does not provide adequate answers to many questions. Externally, the political activity of states that possess nuclear weapons is decisive for the future of humanity, for the survival of human civilization. To prevent the unthinkable - the destruction of life on earth, to defend peace - there is no more important task for all peoples of our planet today. According to the authors, it is expedient to develop and adopt an international act on the norms of relations between nuclear states, which would be of great importance.

World-Systems Ground of Terrorist Threats: on the Issue of Methodology for Studying Armed Conflicts in the Post-Soviet Space

Introduction. The purpose of the article is to systematize the world-system prerequisites for terrorist threats, to show the place of terrorism within the theoretical structures of the movement of capital in the world-system and the maturation of contradictions in the functioning of its cycle. Methodology and sources. The authors use the “Figure-ground movement” method proposed by T. K. Hopkins and consider the world-system as a background for the study of terrorism. Refocusing perception makes it possible to more clearly see the connections between terrorism and the world-system. The geopolitical concept of R. Collins and M. Crenshaw’s concept of the development of terrorist organizations are used as theoretical foundations in addition to the world-system approach. Results and discussion. A series of successive refocuses were carried out to identify the connections between terrorism and the contradictions of the capitalist world-system. As a result, it was shown that the hegemon and the core states achieve success by maintaining a «civilized» order in the world-system by declaring the values of centrist liberalism. However, it must be recognized that states often use less expensive than the introduction of regular troops, but illegitimate means of terror to protect their interests. Terror can be used in the struggle for power when core states include their economies in a network of cumulative vectors. A number of prerequisites were discovered after a refocus from terrorism to the movement of capital in the world-system cycle. The movement of capital from the core to the periphery increases social inequality and causes the growth of national and ethnic differences that can feed separatist ideologies of terrorism. The outflow of capital from the economies of non-core areas increases the ability of the political force that has challenged the hegemon and the core states to mobilize the population under anti-system slogans that can fuel international terrorism. Based on the obtained theoretical models, the prerequisites for terrorist activity on the territory of the USSR and in the post-Soviet space were briefly described. Conclusion. The authors emphasize that the resulting theoretical models require additional verification. The next stage in the study of the causes of terrorism should be an analysis of the mechanisms of formation of terrorist organizations based on specific cases.

Interpretation of the Norms of Criminal Jurisdiction Objects under the Hong Kong National Security Law

The Hong Kong National Security Law specifies the specific targets of sanctions, and the legislative content of the law on criminal jurisdiction objects clarifies the scope of behaviors protected and prohibited by law. Chapter 3 of the Hong Kong National Security Law specifies four types of crimes that endanger national security, including the crimes of secession, subversion of state power, terrorist activities, and collusion with foreign or overseas forces to endanger national security. From the perspective of legal interpretation, by grasping the dual elements of criminal intent and criminal behavior, the specific composition of the criminal jurisdiction objects stipulated in the law is clarified, revealing the particularity and strictness of the Hong Kong National Security Law in safeguarding national security. The normative interpretation of the specific criminal jurisdiction objects of this law can clearly stipulate the constituent elements of specific criminal acts, provide strong guidance for the effective jurisdiction of crimes that endanger national security in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, strengthen the prevention and crackdown on acts that endanger national security, and effectively safeguard national sovereignty, security, and development interests.

‘Social defence’ and the resilience of the domestic war on terror: A genealogy of social security, national security, and defence

Abstract Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has moved attention within International Security back to Great Power Politics and interstate war, and away from phenomena like ‘foreign terrorist fighters’ and lone actor terrorism. Is the War on Terror paradigm receding? This paper argues that counter-radicalisation imaginaries and counter-extremism programming will all remain stubbornly present despite the shift back to interstate war. The resilience of domestic War on Terror policies will stem from their integration within local municipality activity and social policy during the second decade of the 21st century. These policy areas and levels are detached from the international security community, meaning that shifts in attention at the global level will have little effect upon localised national security practices. The paper then interrogates how counterterrorism agendas have so successfully entered the world of social policy and local public administration, using genealogical methods to trace how social security and crime prevention were historically prefaced upon defence. The paper traces the policy paradigm of ‘social defence’ which dominated mid-20th century international organisations, targeting non-criminal juveniles with pre-emptive interventions to prevent ‘dangerous persons’ imperilling society. Effectively, this untold history of crime prevention in Europe demonstrates the profound interlocking of national security, social policy and defence across the 20th century, with implications for the resilience of this triad.

Bayesian approach for inferring two-dimensional location of a radioactive material using distributed detectors

Our research team developed a small probe to measure and analyze the environmental radiation at the sampling site for nuclear inspection. The location and activity of the radiation source are estimated using data obtained from multiple probes. In this study, Bayesian inference was applied to infer the location and activity of the radiation source. The experiments were conducted under the one-source and two-source conditions, with the same area, distribution of the probes, and measurement time. To quantitatively express how well the inferred coordinates represent the actual coordinates, the coefficient of determination was calculated. Root Mean Square Error was used to express the errors in the inferred data. In addition, measurement experiments were conducted in high-radiation areas near the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant. Our model can provide sufficient information for inferring the location of leaked material and evaluating the safety in various environments such as nuclear verification, accidents, or terrorist activities.

Lethal attraction: crime as tourism externality- evidence from the Indian states

ABSTRACT Tourism thrives upon the benefits of providing safer and risk-free systems, yet empirical evidence in developing economies still needs to be explored. Our study examines how crime and terrorist activities impact tourist demand in Indian states. We use panel data for 27 Indian states and 2 Union Territories from 1993 to 2022. Our findings confirm the differential impact of violent and non-violent crimes on tourism demand in India. We find that a 10% increase in violent and non-violent crimes leads to a decline in tourist arrival by 5.2% and 1.6%, respectively. Further, the result shows that terror mortality exhibits an inverse relation with tourist inflows, whereas improvements in hotel beds attract tourist inflows. In addition, estimates confirm that more urban expenditures enhance tourist inflows, although the effects remain marginal. Our results are consistent in different econometrics specifications.

Mechanism of Strategic Decision Making in Emergency Situations of Terrorist Attacks in Indonesia

Terrorism is a global phenomenon experienced by all countries including Indonesia, manifested in terrorist attacks that involve violence as a main element with the motivation to achieve political, ideological, and certain belief goals. The threat of potential massive terrorist attacks continues to evolve to this day. Each era shows a tendency in terms of ideology and also types of terrorist attacks. In different times, it is not impossible to have the potential for attacks in different forms. Terrorist attacks that occur in a country can pose a threat to the stability of all aspects of life, thus requiring competent handling by looking at how the mechanism of strategic decision making in Indonesia faces emergency situations of terrorist attacks. Reflecting on the experience of handling the Bali Bombing I, this research was conducted with a qualitative approach based on literature studies and interviews with sources consisting of academics, practitioners, and strategic observers in the issue of terrorism using rational choice theory and criminal policy as the basis for writing. Through the study conducted, the authors found that although Indonesia has experience in handling terrorist actions, the readiness from the capacity aspect needs to be matured, especially in dealing with terrorist attacks. Therefore, a strategic and uncomplicated decision-making mechanism needs to be formulated immediately through a clear command flow or delegation of authority that applies when emergency conditions of terrorist attacks occur.

Terrorism as a threat to the national security of the Russian Federation: political and legal support for countering

The article considers the means of combating terrorism: the expansion of cooperation with other states to counter terrorist acts, as well as the legislative activities of the state in the field of countering terrorism. In order to substantiate crimes that include the basics of terrorist activity, the legislation of the Russian Federation has been analyzed in the most detail. It is noted that a systematic approach is needed in the activities of public authorities aimed at developing and implementing comprehensive measures to effectively prevent terrorist crimes.

Проект Стратегии противодействия экстремизму в Российской Федерации – политический анализ новых подходов в спектре современных угроз

The article delves into the analysis of the document titled “Strategy for Counteracting Extremism in the Russian Federation”, proposed for adoption by the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia, with a focus on its alignment with current challenges and threats in the sphere of national security. The author concludes that the project successfully develops and complements the provisions of the existing Strategy for Counteracting Extremism in the Russian Federation until 2025, incorporating new threats arising from the exacerbated geopolitical situation. These threats include the intensified activities of foreign intelligence and sabotage services aimed at recruiting underage Russian citizens, the introduction of non-traditional forms of Islam unfamiliar to the indigenous peoples of Russia and their subsequent radicalization, and the covert use of sports organizations for the preparation of extremists. However, the author observes that certain provisions and formulations within the project require clarification. Specific terms such as xenophobia, Russophobia, and the correlation between extremist and terrorist activities need to be defined with greater precision. The author also highlights potential issues that may arise from the use of quantitative indicators for measuring the success of the Strategy’s implementation. In conducting this research, the author employed various methods including a systematic approach, multifactor analysis, the principle of historicism, and logical and semantic analysis of documents. These methodological frameworks facilitated a comprehensive examination of the proposed strategy in light of modern challenges and the evolving landscape of threats to national security.

Macroeconomic volatility and terrorism incidents in Africa

AbstractThis article investigates the impact of macroeconomic volatility on terrorism in 38 African economies spanning the period from 1980 to 2012, using available data. It examines four categories of terrorism markers: domestic, transnational, uncertain, and total, and their correlation with the volatility of four macroeconomic indicators—inflation, output growth, domestic credit to the private sector, and government expenditures. The study employs the negative binomial regression estimator on both the conditional variance structures of the generalized autoregressive conditional heteroskedasticity (GARCH) and exponential GARCH (EGARCH) and the unconditional measure of a 3‐year interval time varying of measuring macroeconomic variables' volatilities on other regressors. I find, first, that inflation volatility is a significant predictor of all terrorism markers, except for transnational terrorism. This implies that high inflation volatility is linked to increased domestic terrorism. Second, the role of domestic credit to the private sector in mitigating transnational terrorist activities highlights the importance of stable private sector access to credit in reducing such incidents. Third, government consumption expenditure volatility has a dual effect on terrorism: it amplifies domestic terrorism but serves as a mitigating factor for total terrorism. This indicates that stable government expenditure can reduce overall terrorism, but might increase domestic terrorism. Last, other variables—such as population, ethnicity, conflicts, surface areas, and lagged terrorism values—are also found to influence the examined terrorism measures. For robustness, I employ alternative statistical techniques, including Poisson Pseudo‐maximum likelihood (PPML) estimation with multiple high‐dimensional fixed effects (HDFE). In summary, this study emphasizes the critical role of addressing inflation volatility in macroeconomic policies as a primary measure to counter terrorism. Stable economic conditions, particularly in relation to inflation, can significantly contribute to reducing terrorism in African economies.

Catalytic Hydrolysis of Paraoxon by Immobilized Copper(II) Complexes of 1,4,7-Triazacyclononane Derivatives.

Organophosphate neuroactive agents represent severe security threats in various scenarios, including military conflicts, terrorist activities and industrial accidents. Addressing these threats necessitates effective protective measures, with a focus on decontamination strategies. Adsorbents such as bentonite have been explored as a preliminary method for chemical warfare agent immobilization, albeit lacking chemical destruction capabilities. Chemical decontamination, on the other hand, involves converting these agents into non-toxic or less toxic forms. In this study, we investigated the hydrolytic activity of a Cu(II) complex, previously studied for phosphate ester hydrolysis, as a potential agent for chemical warfare decontamination. Specifically, we focused on a ligand featuring a thiophene anchor bound through an aliphatic spacer, which exhibited high hydrolytic activity in its Cu(II) complex form in our previous studies. Paraoxon, an efficient insecticide, was selected as a model substrate for hydrolytic studies due to its structural resemblance to specific chemical warfare agents and due to the presence of a chromogenic 4-nitrophenolate moiety. Our findings clearly show the hydrolytic activity of the studied Cu(II) complexes. Additionally, we demonstrate the immobilization of the studied complex onto a solid substrate of Amberlite XAD4 via copolymerization of its thiophene side group with dithiophene. The hydrolytic activity of the resultant material towards paraoxon was studied, indicating its potential utilization in organophosphate neuroactive agent decontamination under mild conditions and the key importance of surface adsorption of paraoxon on the polymer surface.

الإرهاب السياسي: دراسة اجتماعية تحليلية

Violence has roots that go deep into antiquity, and its use began with the second generation of humanity, when Cain killed his brother Abel, thus committing the first crime in human history. This prompted thinkers, psychologists, and sociologists to say that violence is an instinct inherent in the human self and associated with human nature in its tendency to control and impose influence and domination. There have been many studies that have dealt with the subject of violence and that have come to addressing the subject of terrorism, and we find many of these studies that have defined it, and we also find that some of these studies and some governments, organizations and political figures intentionally and unintentionally confuse in many cases the phenomenon of terrorism with other human phenomena and problems. Other violent forms, such as national resistance, armed liberation movements, political crime, war, and the crime of genocide. In this analytical study, we will determine when terrorism transforms and acquires a political character? By analyzing political terrorism sociologically. We take into consideration two basic elements of this problem. The first is the subject of the phenomenon of political terrorism, or to whom the violent act of political terrorism occurs, and the second is the goal or objectives of practicing the act of political terrorism.

The Courtroom as Four Landscapes: Reflections on Terrorism Trials Through Ethnographic Research

In the past decade, Western European countries such as Germany, the Netherlands, the UK and France have seen a sharp increase in terrorism trials. Studying these trials can provide unique insights into which terrorist offences come before the court and what legal challenges arise from this relatively novel practice. To unpack the complexity of terrorism trials, we adopt an empirical approach to terrorism trials. Based on 3 years of extensive ethnography in Dutch courts, the paper makes two contributions to the socio-legal literature. Methodologically, our ethnography connects traditional empirical methods to artistic tools. As such, we further the current debates in socio-legal studies on courtroom ethnography. Empirically, we present critical insights on the interaction between pre-emptive speculative security measures and legal procedures in the prosecution of terrorist activities.

Damage features and mechanism of prestressed hollow square piles subjected to non-contact underwater explosion

Critical hydraulic structures are increasingly vulnerable to underwater explosion attacks, with the supporting piles being prime targets for terrorist activities. This study investigates the damage effects and mechanisms of prestressed concrete hollow square (PCHS) piles under non-contact underwater explosions. A series of underwater explosion experiments was conducted on four PCHS piles. The dynamic response of PCHS piles throughout the underwater explosion process was simulated using a coupled fluid-solid numerical model. The mechanisms of dynamic damage to the PCHS piles were elucidated through an integrated analysis of both experimental and numerical results. The research indicates that the damage characteristics of PCHS piles include longitudinal and oblique cracks on the lateral surfaces, transverse cracks on the rear side, and localized fragmentation of concrete. Three primary damage modes have been identified: bending failure(L¯c= 0.59 m/kg1/3), combined bending-shear failure(L¯c= 0.36 m/kg1/3), and punching failure(L¯c= 0.24 m/kg1/3). The local and global responses induced by shock waves are the primary causes of structural damage. Furthermore, as the stand-off distance decreases, the impact of explosive bubbles increases the magnitude of the overall response. A comparative analysis also examined the impact of prestress and axial load on the damage behavior of hollow square piles.

Türkiye: Terrorist Incidents and Foreign Direct Investment

This study aims to evaluate whether there is a correlation and unidirectional or bidi rectional causality between terrorist incidents and foreign direct investment in Türkiye. Toda Yamamoto elucidates that there is no long-term relationship. RLS, on the other hand, reveals that there is a short-term relationship, and that produces a more fascinating result. While foreign direct investment does not increase terrorist incidents, terrorist incidents possess a positive effect on for eign direct investment. In this case, terrorist actions increase foreign direct investment to Türkiye in the short term. It also appears that terrorist incidents concentrated in big cities do not possess a deterrent effect on foreign direct investments concentrated in big cities. Keywords: Terrorist incidents, foreign direct investment, RLS, Toda Yamamoto causality, Türkiye.