NCJ Number
63425
Journal
Terrorism Volume: 3 Issue: 1-2 Dated: (1979) Pages: 157-171
Date Published
1979
Length
15 pages
Annotation
TRENDS OF TERRORIST ACTIVITIES IN WESTERN EUROPE FROM 1970 TO 1978 ARE DESCRIBED AND FURTHER CLARIFIED WITH STATISTICAL DATA ON INDIVIDUAL COUNTRIES, TARGETS, AND TACTICS.
Abstract
ITALY, SPAIN, GERMANY, AND FRANCE ACCOUNT FOR OVER 80 PERCENT OF ALL RECORDED TERRORIST ACTIONS, WITH ITALY AND SPAIN HAVING HIGHEST LEVELS OF SUCH VIOLENCE. BUSINESSES AND INDUSTRIAL FACILITIES HAVE BEEN PRIME TERRORIST TARGETS, POLICE AND GOVERNMENT BUILDINGS HAVE BEEN AFFECTED ALSO. TERRORIST ATTACKS ON BUSINESSES ARE POPULAR BECAUSE BUSINESSES ARE VULNERABLE AND PROVIDE A SOURCE OF NEEDED FUNDS. BOMBING IS THE TACTIC USED MOST FREQUENTLY BY TERRORIST ORGANIZATIONS, BUT GROUPS VARY CONSIDERABLY IN THEIR USE OF KIDNAPPING, ASSASSINATION, LEG SHOOTING, FACILITY ATTACKS, AND HIJACKINGS. THE INCIDENCE OF KIDNAPPING AND ASSASSINATION IS HIGHEST IN SPAIN AND ITALY. ALTHOUGH AN UPWARD TREND IN BOMBINGS OF BUSINESS TARGETS IS INDICATED, U.S. DOLLAR LOSSES FROM BOMBINGS HAVE DECLINED SIGNIFICANTLY. IN 1979, ONLY SPAIN AND ITALY SHOULD HAVE SERIOUS TERRORIST PROBLEMS, WITH THE PERPETRATORS BEING FATHERLAND AND LIBERTY MOVEMENT (ETA), A FANATICAL GROUP CAPABLE OF OUTWITTING AND OUTMANEUVERING THE SPANISH SECURITY FORCES, AND ITALIAN TERRORISTS WHO HAVE BEEN RETRENCHING AND WILL PROBABLY RENEW THEIR ACTIVITIES IN THE NEAR FUTURE. (MJM)