NCJ Number
144958
Date Published
1992
Length
6 pages
Annotation
This RAND report includes summaries and statistical tables on international terrorist incidents in 1988, and region-by-region trend analyses. Substantiated threats are included as well.
Abstract
International terrorist activity increased in 1988 after two consecutive years of decline. The 456 incidents constituted the highest annual total since 1985's record of 477. Terrorists killed 663 persons, again the most since 1985; a single incident--the in-flight bombing of Pan Am Flight 103--accounted for more than one-third (270) of the fatalities. Bombings, the most common terrorist tactic, accounted for close to half (49 percent) of all international terrorist acts. Attacks on installations were second most common (25 percent), followed by assassination by gun (13 percent), and kidnapping (8 percent). Contrary to popular belief, most terrorist acts are directed at things, not people, and are symbolic -- designed to call attention to terrorist interests. In 1988, only 19 percent of all international terrorist acts killed anyone. Businesses were the most common target (31 percent). The total of 69 state- sponsored acts constituted a 50 percent increase from 1987; Afghanistan was most active (27 attacks, all in Pakistan), followed by Libya and Iran (11 attacks each). 37 footnotes, 3 tables, 1 figure, 5 appendixes, 16 references, and a bibliography of RAND publications on terrorism, 1985-1991