NCJ Number
128109
Journal
Security Management Volume: 35 Issue: 1 Dated: (January 1991) Pages: 31-32,39-40
Date Published
1990
Length
4 pages
Annotation
Privately compiled statistics contradict government statistics that indicate a decline in terrorism in recent years and indicate that the definitions that determine the statistics determine the results.
Abstract
In 1990, the United States Department of State reported that terrorist acts declined sharply worldwide in 1989. However, the Risk Assessment Information Service (RAIS) of Business Risks International reported a record number of terrorist incidents in 1989, reflecting a 16-percent increase over 1988. The RAIS data has been privately compiled for the last 20 years and has shown a 10-percent increase in lethal attacks in 1989 as well as an increase in attacks against United States business interests. The government statistics reflect politically motivated violence, whereas the private statistics focus on acts designed to intimidate or coerce a government, civilian population, or any segment of the population. Bombings have accounted for half of the terrorist incidents, and drug-related terrorism may be the most destructive aspect of international terrorism in the 1990's. Improved data and active training and research on subjects such as narcoterrorism are needed to counter the problem of terrorism.