NCJ Number
51637
Date Published
1978
Length
56 pages
Annotation
THE POSSIBLE USE BY TERRORISTS OF NEW, MORE DEVASTATING WEAPONS IS DISCUSSED, ALONG WITH THE DISRUPTIVE POTENTIAL INHERENT IN SUCH INCREASINGLY ATTRACTIVE TARGETS AS WATER SUPPLY SYSTEMS AND NUCLEAR AND NATURAL GAS FACILITIES.
Abstract
COMPLEX CONTEMPORARY TECHNOLOGICAL SOCIETY IS VULNERABLE TO DISRUPTION AND INTIMIDATION BY A VERY FEW PEOPLE. AMONG WEAPONS THAT PROVIDE TERRORISTS AN INCREASING CAPACITY TO DO DAMAGE, EXPLOSIVES ARE THE MOST RELIABLE AND POPULAR; BOMBS HAVE BEEN USED TO CAUSE PROPERTY DAMAGE AND OCCASIONALLY TO CAUSE LIMITED CASUALTIES. TERRORISTS HAVE NOT USED FIRE AGAINST PEOPLE, ALTHOUGH THEY HAVE USED INCENDIARY DEVICES TO CAUSE PROPERTY DAMAGE. TERRORISTS HAVE ALSO USED WHATEVER PORTABLE AND CONCEALABLE WEAPONS THEY HAVE BEEN ABLE TO OBTAIN, SUGGESTING THAT SUCH EXOTIC INFANTRY WEAPONS AS ANTITANK MISSILES, MORTARS, AND FLAMETHROWERS MAY COME TO BE ACQUIRED AND USED BY TERRORISTS BENT ON MASS MURDER AND DESTRUCTION. ALTHOUGH THE HISTORICAL RECORDS PROVIDE NO EVIDENCE THAT TERRORISTS HAVE EVER BEEN INVOLVED IN PLOTS TO USE NUCLEAR OR CHEMICAL/BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS, FUTURE USE SHOULD NOT BE RULED OUT. IN ADDITION TO TURNING TO NEW WEAPONS, TERRORISTS MAY TURN TO NEW TARGETS AS WELL. THE DISRUPTIVE POTENTIAL MANIFEST IN ATTACKS ON WATER SUPPLY SYSTEMS, CIVIL TRANSPORTATION FACILITIES, NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS, LIQUEFIED NATURAL GAS TANKERS AND DEPOTS, AND HAZARDOUS CHEMICAL PROCESSING, STORAGE, AND TRANSPORTATION FACILITIES MAKES THEM INCREASINGLY ATTRACTIVE TO TERRORISTS. IN LIGHT OF THESE NEW WEAPONS AND VULNERABILITIES, GOVERNMENTS SHOULD CONSIDER INSTRUMENTS AND MEASURES OF CONTROL--BOTH TECHNOLOGICAL AND LEGAL, DOMESTIC AND INTERNATIONAL--TO PREVENT CERTAIN KINDS OF THREATS, ESTABLISH RESPONSIBILITY FOR CERTAIN KINDS OF ACTS, AND DETER NATIONAL GOVERNMENTS FROM LENDING THEIR SUPPORT FOR CERTAIN TYPES OF CRIMES. RECOMMENDATIONS FOR UNILATERAL, BILATERAL, AND MULTILATERAL ACTION ARE PROVIDED, AS ARE REFERENCE NOTES. (KBL)