Terrorism: Online Resources for Helping Students Understand and Cope.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Green, Tim; Ramirez, Fred

2002-01-01

Presents an annotated bibliography of Web sites that focus on the issue of terrorism. Aims to assist teachers in educating their students and helping them cope with terrorism since the September 11, 2001 attack on the United States. Offers sites on other terrorist attacks on the U.S. (CMK)

Acute stress disorder in hospitalised victims of 26/11-terror attack on Mumbai, India.

PubMed

Balasinorwala, Vanshree Patil; Shah, Nilesh

2010-11-01

The 26/11 terror attacks on Mumbai have been internationally denounced. Acute stress disorder is common in victims of terror. To find out the prevalence and to correlate acute stress disorder, 70 hospitalised victims of terror were assessed for presence of the same using DSM-IV TR criteria. Demographic data and clinical variables were also collected. Acute stress disorder was found in 30% patients. On demographic profile and severity of injury, there were some interesting observations and differences between the victims who developed acute stress disorder and those who did not; though none of the differences reached the level of statistical significance. This study documents the occurrence of acute stress disorder in the victims of 26/11 terror attack.

Children's Mental Health in the Context of Terrorist Attacks, Ongoing Threats, and Possibilities of Future Terrorism.

PubMed

Comer, Jonathan S; Bry, Laura J; Poznanski, Bridget; Golik, Alejandra M

2016-09-01

Over the past two decades, the field has witnessed tremendous advances in our understanding of terrorism and its impacts on affected youth. It is now well established that a significant proportion of exposed youth show elevated PTSD symptoms in the months following a terrorist attack. In more recent years, research has expanded beyond confirming our understanding of the association between direct terrorism exposure and child PTSD symptoms by elucidating (a) links between terrorism exposure and non-PTSD clinical outcomes (e.g., externalizing problems, substance use), (b) individual differences associated with divergent patterns of risk and resilience, (c) the clinical correlates of media-based contact with terrorism, (d) clinical outcomes associated with exposure to recurrent terrorist attacks, and (e) exposure to extended contexts of uncertainty and the possibilities of future terrorism. Researchers studying the effects of terrorism and political violence on youth have increasingly examined a much broader range of regions in the world, affording needed opportunities to consider the generalizability of prior findings to youth living in different political contexts, in less developed regions of the world, and/or in regions with different rates of recurrent terrorism. In order to understand and, in turn, best meet the clinical needs of the majority of terrorism-affected youth across the globe, more targeted research on exposed youth is needed in developing regions of the world and regions enduring more recurrent terrorist attacks.

21ST Century Terrorism: Wrong Diagnosis, Inadequate Remedy

DTIC Science & Technology

2005-06-01

London: Croom Helm, 1975), p. 15. 38 The Oklahoma bombing, the WTC attack in 1993 and the Tokyo subway sarin gas attack are the examples used by...the Tokyo subway that could have actually caused far more casualties than the 12 deaths that it did.41 This last case is very important, since in...aforementioned Tokyo subway attack is the proof of a clear and present danger. Last but not least, bio-terrorism is another possible “new terrorism

Relative Risk Appraisal, the September 11 Attacks, and Terrorism-Related Fears

PubMed Central

Marshall, Randall D.; Bryant, Richard A.; Amsel, Lawrence; Suh, Eun Jung; Cook, Joan M.; Neria, Yuval

2013-01-01

There are now replicated findings that posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms related to the September 11, 2001, attacks occurred in large numbers of persons who did not fit the traditional definition of exposure to a traumatic event. These data are not explained by traditional epidemiologic “bull’s eye” disaster models, which assume the psychological effects are narrowly, geographically circumscribed, or by existing models of PTSD onset. In this article, the authors develop a researchable model to explain these and other terrorism-related phenomena by synthesizing research and concepts from the cognitive science, risk appraisal, traumatic stress, and anxiety disorders literatures. They propose the new term relative risk appraisal to capture the psychological function that is the missing link between the event and subjective response in these and other terrorism-related studies to date. Relative risk appraisal highlights the core notion from cognitive science that human perception is an active, multidimensional process, such that for unpredictable societal threats, proximity to the event is only one of several factors that influence behavioral responses. Addressing distortions in relative risk appraisal effectively could reduce individual and societal vulnerability to a wide range of adverse economic and ethnopolitical consequences to terrorist attacks. The authors present ways in which these concepts and related techniques can be helpful in treating persons with September 11– or terrorism-related distress or psychopathology. PMID:17516775

The psychology of ongoing threat: relative risk appraisal, the September 11 attacks, and terrorism-related fears.

PubMed

Marshall, Randall D; Bryant, Richard A; Amsel, Lawrence; Suh, Eun Jung; Cook, Joan M; Neria, Yuval

2007-01-01

There are now replicated findings that posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms related to the September 11, 2001, attacks occurred in large numbers of persons who did not fit the traditional definition of exposure to a traumatic event. These data are not explained by traditional epidemiologic "bull's eye" disaster models, which assume the psychological effects are narrowly, geographically circumscribed, or by existing models of PTSD onset. In this article, the authors develop a researchable model to explain these and other terrorism-related phenomena by synthesizing research and concepts from the cognitive science, risk appraisal, traumatic stress, and anxiety disorders literatures. They propose the new term relative risk appraisal to capture the psychological function that is the missing link between the event and subjective response in these and other terrorism-related studies to date. Relative risk appraisal highlights the core notion from cognitive science that human perception is an active, multidimensional process, such that for unpredictable societal threats, proximity to the event is only one of several factors that influence behavioral responses. Addressing distortions in relative risk appraisal effectively could reduce individual and societal vulnerability to a wide range of adverse economic and ethnopolitical consequences to terrorist attacks. The authors present ways in which these concepts and related techniques can be helpful in treating persons with September 11- or terrorism-related distress or psychopathology. ((c) 2007 APA, all rights reserved).

Forgiveness, coping, and terrorism: do tendency to forgive and coping strategies associate with the level of posttraumatic symptoms of injured victims of terror attacks?

PubMed

Weinberg, Michael; Gil, Sharon; Gilbar, Ora

2014-07-01

The study examined the tendency to forgive (self, others, and situations) and coping strategies (problem-focused, emotion-focused, and avoidance) among terror attack victims as associated with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptom severity. The sample included 108 terror victims who had been injured in terror attacks (mean age 46.23, standard deviation = 11.61; 58.3% male). Participants agreed to undergo assessments of their PTSD symptoms, coping strategies, and tendency to forgive. A nested structural equation model design showed that tendency to forgive is positively associated with problem-focused coping and negatively associated with avoidance coping. Additionally, tendency to forgive and problem-focused coping are associated with decreased PTSD symptom severity, whereas emotion-focused coping is associated with elevated PTSD symptom severity. Tendency to forgive and coping strategies are significantly associated with each other and with severity of PTSD symptoms among individuals injured in terror attacks. Theoretical and clinical implications of the findings are discussed. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

The mental health impact of terrorism in Israel: a repeat cross-sectional study of Arabs and Jews.

PubMed

Gelkopf, M; Solomon, Z; Berger, R; Bleich, A

2008-05-01

Since September 2000 Israeli society has been subjected to numerous deadly terror attacks. Few studies have studied the comparative mental health vulnerability of minorities and majorities to continuous terror attacks. Two telephone surveys (N = 512 and 501) on two distinct representative samples of the Israeli population after 19 months and after 44 months of terror. The Arab minority and Jewish majority were compared on measures of exposure to terrorism, posttraumatic stress symptomatology, feeling depressed, coping, sense of safety, future orientation, and previous traumatic experiences. After 19 months of terrorist attacks Arab Israelis and Jewish Israelis reacted roughly similarly to the situation, however after 44 months of terror, posttraumatic symptom disorder in the Arab population increased three-fold, posttraumatic symptomatology doubled and resiliency almost disappeared. We suggest that certain conditions inherent to political conflict situations may potentially put minorities at risk and may only be observable as terrorism-related stressors become chronic.

Empirical scaling law connecting persistence and severity of global terrorism

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gao, Jianbo; Fang, Peng; Liu, Feiyan

2017-09-01

Terrorism and counterterrorism have both been evolving rapidly. From time to time, there have been debates on whether the new terrorism is evolutionary or revolutionary. Such debate often becomes more heated after major terrorist activities, such as the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001 and the November 13, 2015 coordinated Paris terror attack. Using country-wide terrorism data since 1970, we show that there exist scaling laws governing the continuity and persistence of world-wide terrorism, with the long-term scaling parameter for each country closely related to its yearly global terrorism index. This suggests that the new terrorism is more accurately considered evolutionary. It is further shown that the imbalance in the seesaw of terrorism and counterterrorism is not only responsible for the scaling behavior found here, but also provides new means of quantifying the severity of the global terrorism.

Exposure to and fear of terror as predictors of self-rated health among apparently healthy employees.

PubMed

Shirom, Arie; Toker, Sharon; Shapira, Itzhak; Berliner, Shlomo; Melamed, Samuel

2008-05-01

The effects of exposure to terror on physical health were investigated by relating objective exposure to terror and fear of terror to self-rated health (SRH), a proxy measure of health status. Our respondents were apparently healthy (N=4,877, 38% women) adults who completed self-report questionnaires. Objective exposure was assessed by the number of terrorist attacks and their casualties in a respondent's urban area prior to her/his completion of the questionnaire. Using several alternative assessments, objective exposure to terror did not predict SRH for both the genders. As hypothesized, fear of terror negatively predicted SRH for both females and males (beta=-0.04, -0.05, respectively). The effects of subjective and objective exposure were not found to be more pronounced among women relative to men, thus disconfirming our hypotheses in this regard. Our findings suggest that living under continuous fear of terror may adversely influence physical health irrespective of objective exposure.

State Health Policy for Terrorism Preparedness

PubMed Central

Ziskin, Leah Z.; Harris, Drew A.

2007-01-01

State health policy for terrorism preparedness began before the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, but was accelerated after that day. In a crisis atmosphere after September 11, the states found their policies changing rapidly, greatly influenced by federal policies and federal dollars. In the 5 years since September 11, these state health policies have been refined. This refinement has included a restatement of the goals and objectives of state programs, the modernization of emergency powers statutes, the education and training of the public health workforce, and a preparation of the health care system to better care for victims of disasters, including acts of terrorism. PMID:17666689

The roots of terrorism: A reassessment after September 11th

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Pilat, Joseph F.

2002-01-01

The brutal terrorist attacks of September 11th, the anthrax attacks that followed and growing knowledge of al Qaeda's pursuit of nuclear, biological and chemical weapons have not only intensified concerns about terrorism but also created doubts about our understanding of terrorism. These attacks were in many ways unprecedented, and ultimately raise the question of the roots or causes of terrorism. Historically and today, there have been divergent views on this question, which reflect philosophical, religious, political and other differences. These differences are not merely academic, as they can affect our understanding of both the threat and of responses to terrorismmore » in the aftermath of September 1 1 th. Terrorism is too complex and diverse a phenomenon to speak easily of causes. But we may be able to discern the causes of specific acts. Our response to 9/11 and other acts of terrorism will be affected by our understanding of their causes, as well as by possible political requirements to address widespread perceptions of causes. If 9/11 was caused by Islamic radicalism, the near-term response must be to ensure the terrorists are defeated and pose no fiuther danger. In the longer term, education is critical. If the attacks were caused by US Middle East policies, the response should involve a review of those policies. This may or may not result in changes to policy, public diplomacy, etc. If the attacks were a backlash against globalization, the response must address the realities underlying anti-globalization sentiments. Addressing causes (real and perceived) will not in any case end terrorism, and addressing the wrong causes can be counterproductive. Actions to reduce those conditions that create support for terrorism and aid its recruitment effort are critical to any counterterrorism strategy. For this reason alone, we must do everything possible to understand the reasons terrorism may be undertaken, including the attacks of September 1 1 th. This paper will look at the question of the roots of terrorism and then look to the specific case of 9/11 and its aftermath, with a special view to the impact of globalization.« less

Roots of terrorism: a reassessment after September 11th

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Pilat, Joseph F.

2002-01-01

The brutal terrorist attacks of September 11th, the anthrax attacks that followed and growing knowledge of al Qaeda's pursuit of nuclear, biological and chemical weapons have not only intensified concerns about terrorism but also created doubts about our understanding of terrorism. These attacks were in many ways unprecedented, and ultimately raise the question of the roots or causes of terrorism. Historically and today, there have been divergent views on this question, which reflect philosophical, religious, political, sociological and other differences. These differences are not merely academic, as they can affect our understanding of both the threat and of responses tomore » terrorism in the aftermath of September 11th, Terrorism is too complex and diverse a phenomenon to speak easily of causes. But we may be able to discern the causes of specific acts. Our response to 9/11 and other acts of terrorism will be affected by our understanding of their causes. If 9/11 was caused by US Middle East policies, the response must involve a review of these policies. If it is a backlash against globalization, the response must address the realities underlying anti-globalization sentiments. Addressing causes will not in any case end terrorism, and addressing the wrong causes will be counterproductive. Actions to reduce those conditions that create support for terrorism and aid its recruitment, which need to be clearly identified, are critical in any counterterrorism strategy. So we must understand the reasons for terrorism and, in particular, for the attacks of September 11th.T his paper will look at the question of the roots of terrorism and then look to the specific case of 911 and its aftermath, with a special view to the impact of globalization.« less

Combating Paramilitary Terrorism on the Homefront: An Examination of Capabilities and Limitations of U.S. Response Forces

DTIC Science & Technology

2015-12-01

paramilitary methods with devastating results. This thesis examines the paramilitary terrorist attacks that occurred in Beslan in 2004 and in Mumbai in...paramilitary attack to be established. 14. SUBJECT TERMS paramilitary terrorism, North Hollywood shootout, Mumbai attack, Beslan school attack, posse...paramilitary terrorist attacks that occurred in Beslan in 2004 and in Mumbai in 2008 in an attempt to understand the threat and to establish the criteria for

Got Anxiety? Get Help: Tips for College Students

MedlinePlus

... anticipation of another panic attack and feelings of terror or impending doom Realistic fear of a threatening ... embarrassment or ridicule Panic Disorder: Severe attacks of terror, which may feel like you’re having a ...

Understanding the dynamics of terrorism events with multiple-discipline datasets and machine learning approach

PubMed Central

Ding, Fangyu; Ge, Quansheng; Fu, Jingying; Hao, Mengmeng

2017-01-01

Terror events can cause profound consequences for the whole society. Finding out the regularity of terrorist attacks has important meaning for the global counter-terrorism strategy. In the present study, we demonstrate a novel method using relatively popular and robust machine learning methods to simulate the risk of terrorist attacks at a global scale based on multiple resources, long time series and globally distributed datasets. Historical data from 1970 to 2015 was adopted to train and evaluate machine learning models. The model performed fairly well in predicting the places where terror events might occur in 2015, with a success rate of 96.6%. Moreover, it is noteworthy that the model with optimized tuning parameter values successfully predicted 2,037 terrorism event locations where a terrorist attack had never happened before. PMID:28591138

Understanding the dynamics of terrorism events with multiple-discipline datasets and machine learning approach.

PubMed

Ding, Fangyu; Ge, Quansheng; Jiang, Dong; Fu, Jingying; Hao, Mengmeng

2017-01-01

Terror events can cause profound consequences for the whole society. Finding out the regularity of terrorist attacks has important meaning for the global counter-terrorism strategy. In the present study, we demonstrate a novel method using relatively popular and robust machine learning methods to simulate the risk of terrorist attacks at a global scale based on multiple resources, long time series and globally distributed datasets. Historical data from 1970 to 2015 was adopted to train and evaluate machine learning models. The model performed fairly well in predicting the places where terror events might occur in 2015, with a success rate of 96.6%. Moreover, it is noteworthy that the model with optimized tuning parameter values successfully predicted 2,037 terrorism event locations where a terrorist attack had never happened before.

Environmental Assessment, Los Angeles AFB Parking Structure

DTIC Science & Technology

2007-08-01

signed legislation that defined the Anti - Terrorism and Force Protection requirements for military installations. Based on these requirements, surface...11, 2001 terrorist attacks occurred. Following these attacks, Congress passed, and the President signed, legislation that defined the Anti Terrorism ...and to provide the necessary anti - terrorism security, LAAFB has initiated a project to consolidate the surface parking at the Raytheon site into a

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Hoette, Trisha Marie

Throughout history, as new chemical threats arose, strategies for the defense against chemical attacks have also evolved. As a part of an Early Career Laboratory Directed Research and Development project, a systems analysis of past, present, and future chemical terrorism scenarios was performed to understand how the chemical threats and attack strategies change over time. For the analysis, the difficulty in executing chemical attack was evaluated within a framework of three major scenario elements. First, historical examples of chemical terrorism were examined to determine how the use of chemical threats, versus other weapons, contributed to the successful execution of themore » attack. Using the same framework, the future of chemical terrorism was assessed with respect to the impact of globalization and new technologies. Finally, the efficacy of the current defenses against contemporary chemical terrorism was considered briefly. The results of this analysis justify the need for continued diligence in chemical defense.« less

Association of maternal exposure to terror attacks during pregnancy and the risk of schizophrenia in the offspring: A population-based study.

PubMed

Weinstein, Yael; Levav, Itzhak; Gelkopf, Marc; Roe, David; Yoffe, Rinat; Pugachova, Inna; Levine, Stephen Z

2018-04-20

This study tested the hypothesis that maternal exposure to terror attacks during pregnancy is associated with the risk of schizophrenia in the offspring. A population-based study was conducted of Israeli children born between 1975 and 1995 and that were registered in the Ministry of Interior and followed up in the Ministry of Health from birth to 2015 for the risk of schizophrenia (N = 201,048). The association between maternal exposure to terror attacks during pregnancy and the risk of schizophrenia in the offspring was quantified with relative risks (RR) and their 95% confidence intervals (CI) fitting Cox regression models unadjusted and adjusted for confounders. Sensitivity analyses were performed to test the robustness of the results. The RR of schizophrenia in offspring of mothers exposed to terror attacks during pregnancy compared to offspring of mothers not exposed during pregnancy were estimated unadjusted (RR = 2.51, 95% CI, 1.33, 4.74) and adjusted (RR = 2.53, 95% CI, 1.63, 3.91). In the sensitivity analyses adjusted RRs were estimated using a sibling-based study design (2.85, 95% CI: 1.31-6.21) and propensity matching (2.45, 95% CI: 1.58-3.81). Maternal exposure to terror attacks during pregnancy was associated with an increased risk of schizophrenia in the offspring, possibly indicating a critical period of neurodevelopment that is sensitive to the stress of terror attacks and affected by epigenetic modifications. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Epidemiology of international terrorism involving fatal outcomes in developed countries (1994-2003).

PubMed

Wilson, Nick; Thomson, George

2005-01-01

We aimed to describe the public health burden and epidemiology of international terrorism (i.e. involving foreign nationals) with fatal outcomes in developed countries. Data was abstracted from a United States Department of State database for 21 'established market economy' countries and 18 'former socialist economies of Europe' for 1994-2003. To put the findings in a wider context, comparisons were made with WHO data on all homicides for each country. A total of 32 international terrorist attacks causing fatalities were identified over the 10-year period. These resulted in 3299 deaths, giving a crude annual mortality rate of 0.3 per million population. The mortality burden attributable to international terrorism in these countries was 208 times less than that attributable to other homicide. Even for the country with the highest mortality burden from international terrorism (the United States), this ratio was 60. There was no statistically significant trend in the number of attacks over time, but the attack severity (in terms of deaths per attack) was higher in the latter part of the 10-year period. A number of limitations with this data set were identified. If a more rigorous definition of 'international terrorism' was used, then this would substantially reduce the total number of such attacks defined in this way. In conclusion, there is a need for better quality data and improved classification systems for describing international terrorism. Nevertheless, the available data indicates that the mortality burden from international terrorism in developed countries is small compared to that from other homicide.

Adolescents' Mental Health Outcomes According to Different Types of Exposure to Ongoing Terror Attacks

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Braun-Lewensohn, Orna; Celestin-Westreich, Smadar; Celestin, Leon-Patrice; Verte, Dominique; Ponjaert-Kristoffersen, Ingrid

2009-01-01

This study investigates the impact of several types of exposure to terror attacks on adolescents' psychological outcomes in the context of ongoing terror. A total of 913 adolescents (51 girls) aged 12 to 18 years (12-13.6 = 33%; 13.7-15.6 = 38%; 15.7-18 = 28%) took part in the study. Detailed data were collected concerning objective, subjective…

Training for Terror: A Case Study of Al-Qaida

DTIC Science & Technology

2002-03-01

Khaled Abou el Fadl, a law professor at the University of California at Los Angeles , states that bin Laden and the Taliban are selective in their... Rueda , 2001, p.20). 1. Al-Qaida Attack Chronology Al-Qaida gained notoriety in February 1993 for its bombing of the World Trade Center. This attack...overthrowing any regime that has been 35 corrupted by Western influence (Alexander, 2001, p.2). According to Alexander and Rueda , the following is a

Why Did U.S. Healthcare Professionals Become Involved in Torture During the War on Terror?

PubMed

Balfe, Myles

2016-09-01

This article examines why U.S. healthcare professionals became involved in "enhanced interrogation," or torture, during the War on Terror. A number of factors are identified including a desire on the part of these professionals to defend their country and fellow citizens from future attack; having their activities approved and authorized by legitimate command structures; financial incentives; and wanting to prevent serious harm from occurring to prisoners/detainees. The factors outlined here suggest that psychosocial factors can influence health professionals' ethical decision-making.

The Spatial and Temporal Patterns of Insurgent Attacks

DTIC Science & Technology

2014-06-13

INTRODUCTION We must not rely on changing the hearts and minds of terrorists. The motivation for terrorism results from long-term social, cultural and...psychological pressures, which are difficult to alter. But motivation is only part of the formula for terrorism. The other is opportunity for attack that...terrorists; motivation and opportunity reduction brings more immediate protection. In any case, easy opportunities encourage terrorists to attack

Asymmetric threat data mining and knowledge discovery

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gilmore, John F.; Pagels, Michael A.; Palk, Justin

2001-03-01

Asymmetric threats differ from the conventional force-on- force military encounters that the Defense Department has historically been trained to engage. Terrorism by its nature is now an operational activity that is neither easily detected or countered as its very existence depends on small covert attacks exploiting the element of surprise. But terrorism does have defined forms, motivations, tactics and organizational structure. Exploiting a terrorism taxonomy provides the opportunity to discover and assess knowledge of terrorist operations. This paper describes the Asymmetric Threat Terrorist Assessment, Countering, and Knowledge (ATTACK) system. ATTACK has been developed to (a) data mine open source intelligence (OSINT) information from web-based newspaper sources, video news web casts, and actual terrorist web sites, (b) evaluate this information against a terrorism taxonomy, (c) exploit country/region specific social, economic, political, and religious knowledge, and (d) discover and predict potential terrorist activities and association links. Details of the asymmetric threat structure and the ATTACK system architecture are presented with results of an actual terrorist data mining and knowledge discovery test case shown.

Trends in Terrorism: 2006

DTIC Science & Technology

2006-07-21

documented are attacks aimed at damaging tourism (e.g. Bali , Luxor) and those disrupting transportation infrastructure (Madrid, London, and plots foiled in...policy focus are (1) attacks that aim to cause economic damage such as attacks on transportation infrastructure, tourism , and oil installations, (2) the...and the allies. Building the group’s own armaments industry is cited as a revised goal as well. See “Papers Reveal Weakening Terror Group,” by Rowan

Are ethical norms and current policies still relevant in face of the recent mass terror events?

PubMed

Simon, Tomer; Goldberg, Avishay; Adini, Bruria

2016-10-04

The widespread utilization of social media in recent terror attacks in major European cities should raise a "red flag" for the emergency medical response teams. The question arises as to the impact of social media during terror events on the healthcare system. Information was published well before any emergency authority received a distress call or was requested to respond. Photos published at early stages of the attacks, through social media were uncensored, presenting identifiable pictures of victims. Technological advancements of recent years decrease and remove barriers that enable the public to use them as they see fit. These attacks raise ethical considerations for the patients and their rights as they were outsourced from the medical community, into the hands of the public. The healthcare system should leverage social media and its advantages in designing response to terror, but this requires a re-evaluation and introspection into the current emergency response models.

Symptoms of Depression in Israeli Adolescents Following a Suicide Bombing: The Role of Gender

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Barile, John P.; Grogan, Kathryn E.; Henrich, Christopher C.; Brookmeyer, Kathryn A.; Shahar, Golan

2012-01-01

This report investigated the potential role of gender in moderating the effects of terror attack exposure on depression symptoms in middle school students from Dimona, Israel (N = 90). Specifically, the effects of three aspects of terror attacks were investigated: physical exposure, relational exposure, and media exposure. Ninety early adolescents…

Armed Deterrence: Countering Soft Target Attacks

DTIC Science & Technology

2016-02-06

Perspectives on Terrorism 9, no. 4 (August 2015): 14-30. 6 Ibid., 19. 7 Ibid., 16. 8 Ibid. 9 Ibid., 14. 10 Ibid., 27. 11 Meg Wagner and Rich...Wagner, Meg and Rich Schapiro. “Mastermind of Paris terror attack planned strikes on schools, mocked Europe’s open borders: report,” New York Daily

Association between Terror Attacks and Suicide Attempts

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Weizman, Tal; Yagil, Yaron; Schreiber, Shaul

2009-01-01

Based on Durkheim's "Control theory," we explored the association between frequency of terror attacks in Israel and the frequency of suicide attempts admitted to the Emergency Room of a major general hospital in Tel-Aviv (1999-2004). Analysis of the six-year study period as a whole revealed no significant correlation between the…

A lifespan perspective on terrorism: age differences in trajectories of response to 9/11.

PubMed

Scott, Stacey B; Poulin, Michael J; Silver, Roxane Cohen

2013-05-01

A terrorist attack is an adverse event characterized by both an event-specific stressor and concern about future threats. Little is known about age differences in responses to terrorism. This longitudinal study examined generalized distress, posttraumatic stress responses, and fear of future attacks following the September 11, 2001 (9/11) terrorist attacks among a large U.S. national sample of adults (N = 2,240) aged 18-101 years. Individuals completed Web-based surveys up to 6 times over 3 years post 9/11. Multilevel models revealed different age-related patterns for distress, posttraumatic stress, and ongoing fear of future attacks. Specifically, older age was associated with lower overall levels of general distress, a steeper decline in posttraumatic stress over time, and less change in fear of future terrorist attacks over the 3 years. Understanding age differences in response to the stress of terrorism adds to the growing body of work on age differences in reactions to adversity.

Personal experience in professional narratives: the role of helpers' families in their work with terror victims.

PubMed

Shamai, Michal

2005-06-01

This article describes research on the narratives of social workers who help terror victims, focusing on the relationship between the helpers' families and their work. Qualitative analysis of three training groups of social workers who are responsible for helping in the event of terror attacks in different parts of Israel, and of three debriefing groups for social workers after terror attacks, reveals that the helpers' families play a role in the narratives constructed by the helpers. Two main themes were identified. The first centers on the interaction between work and the family, and shows that in the situation of a terror attack, the conflict between the two disappears and the family often serves as a support system for the helpers. The second theme refers to the family dimension alone, and focuses on the dichotomy between vitality and loss. The way that family life events affect helpers'professional intervention is described. The findings are discussed in light of Conservation of Resources Theory, the fight-flight response to threat, and the concept of the family as a source of safety and risk taking.

Terror Medicine as Part of the Medical School Curriculum

PubMed Central

Cole, Leonard A.; Wagner, Katherine; Scott, Sandra; Connell, Nancy D.; Cooper, Arthur; Kennedy, Cheryl Ann; Natal, Brenda; Lamba, Sangeeta

2014-01-01

Terror medicine, a field related to emergency and disaster medicine, focuses on medical issues ranging from preparedness to psychological manifestations specifically associated with terrorist attacks. Calls to teach aspects of the subject in American medical schools surged after the 2001 jetliner and anthrax attacks. Although the threat of terrorism persists, terror medicine is still addressed erratically if at all in most medical schools. This paper suggests a template for incorporating the subject throughout a 4-year medical curriculum. The instructional framework culminates in a short course for fourth year students, such as one recently introduced at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ, USA. The proposed 4-year Rutgers curriculum serves as a model that could assist other medical schools contemplating the inclusion of terror medicine in pre-clerkship and clerkship training. PMID:25309891

Terror medicine as part of the medical school curriculum.

PubMed

Cole, Leonard A; Wagner, Katherine; Scott, Sandra; Connell, Nancy D; Cooper, Arthur; Kennedy, Cheryl Ann; Natal, Brenda; Lamba, Sangeeta

2014-01-01

Terror medicine, a field related to emergency and disaster medicine, focuses on medical issues ranging from preparedness to psychological manifestations specifically associated with terrorist attacks. Calls to teach aspects of the subject in American medical schools surged after the 2001 jetliner and anthrax attacks. Although the threat of terrorism persists, terror medicine is still addressed erratically if at all in most medical schools. This paper suggests a template for incorporating the subject throughout a 4-year medical curriculum. The instructional framework culminates in a short course for fourth year students, such as one recently introduced at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ, USA. The proposed 4-year Rutgers curriculum serves as a model that could assist other medical schools contemplating the inclusion of terror medicine in pre-clerkship and clerkship training.

Cyber Attacks and Terrorism: A Twenty-First Century Conundrum.

PubMed

Albahar, Marwan

2017-01-05

In the recent years, an alarming rise in the incidence of cyber attacks has made cyber security a major concern for nations across the globe. Given the current volatile socio-political environment and the massive increase in the incidence of terrorism, it is imperative that government agencies rapidly realize the possibility of cyber space exploitation by terrorist organizations and state players to disrupt the normal way of life. The threat level of cyber terrorism has never been as high as it is today, and this has created a lot of insecurity and fear. This study has focused on different aspects of cyber attacks and explored the reasons behind their increasing popularity among the terrorist organizations and state players. This study proposes an empirical model that can be used to estimate the risk levels associated with different types of cyber attacks and thereby provide a road map to conceptualize and formulate highly effective counter measures and cyber security policies.

A Lifespan Perspective on Terrorism: Age Differences in Trajectories of Response to 9/11

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Scott, Stacey B.; Poulin, Michael J.; Silver, Roxane Cohen

2013-01-01

A terrorist attack is an adverse event characterized by both an event-specific stressor and concern about future threats. Little is known about age differences in responses to terrorism. This longitudinal study examined generalized distress, posttraumatic stress responses, and fear of future attacks following the September 11, 2001 (9/11)…

Reasoning about emotional contents following shocking terrorist attacks: a tale of three cities.

PubMed

Blanchette, Isabelle; Richards, Anne; Melnyk, Laura; Lavda, Anastasia

2007-03-01

The authors examined reasoning following the terrorist attacks carried out in London in July 2005. They tested participants in London (United Kingdom), Manchester (United Kingdom), and London (Canada) within 1 week of the attacks and again 6 months later. Participants reasoned about syllogisms of 3 types: neutral, generally emotional, and emotionally related to terrorism. Participants also provided self-reports of emotion and risk estimates. Participants generally reasoned more accurately on neutral problems, compared with generally emotional and terrorism-related problems. However, participants in London (United Kingdom) provided more logically valid answers when reasoning about problems related to terrorism and were less likely to answer on the basis of beliefs, despite reporting higher levels of emotions. ((c) 2007 APA, all rights reserved).

The impact of terrorism on children and adolescents: terror in the skies, terror on television.

PubMed

Fremont, Wanda P; Pataki, Caroly; Beresin, Eugene V

2005-07-01

Terrorist attacks and their aftermath have had a powerful impact on children and their families. Media and television exposure of terrorist events throughout the world has increased during the past few years. There is increasing concern about the effects of this exposure on children who witness these violent images. To develop a proactive and strategic response to reactions of fear, clinicians, educators, and policy makers must understand the psychologic effects of media coverage of terrorism on children. Previous research has focused on media coverage of criminal violence and war. Recent studies have examined the effect of remote exposure of terrorist attacks and have shown a significant clinical impact on children and families.

International Terrorism and Mental Health: Recent Research and Future Directions

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Fischer, Peter; Ai, Amy L.

2008-01-01

International terrorism has become a major global concern. Several studies conducted in North America and Europe in the aftermath of terrorist attacks reveal that international terrorism represents a significant short-term and long-term threat to mental health. In the present article, the authors clarify the concept and categories of terrorism and…

Residential Preferences: What's Terrorism Got to Do with It?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kay, David; Geisler, Charles; Bills, Nelson

2010-01-01

Security has long been recognized as an element in residential preference and its relative importance has risen with fear of extremist attacks on U.S. cities. Using polling data from 2004, this research investigates whether the security breaches of 9/11 in New York City influenced residential preferences in New York State. Our results confirm that…

Psychometrical Assessment and Item Analysis of the General Health Questionnaire in Victims of Terrorism

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Delgado-Gomez, David; Lopez-Castroman, Jorge; de Leon-Martinez, Victoria; Baca-Garcia, Enrique; Cabanas-Arrate, Maria Luisa; Sanchez-Gonzalez, Antonio; Aguado, David

2013-01-01

There is a need to assess the psychiatric morbidity that appears as a consequence of terrorist attacks. The General Health Questionnaire (GHQ) has been used to this end, but its psychometric properties have never been evaluated in a population affected by terrorism. A sample of 891 participants included 162 direct victims of terrorist attacks and…

Not so close but still extremely loud: recollection of the World Trade Center terror attack and previous hurricanes moderates the association between exposure to hurricane Sandy and posttraumatic stress symptoms.

PubMed

Palgi, Yuval; Shrira, Amit; Hamama-Raz, Yaira; Palgi, Sharon; Goodwin, Robin; Ben-Ezra, Menachem

2014-05-01

The present study examined whether recollections of the World Trade Center (WTC) terror attack and previous hurricanes moderated the relationship between exposure to Hurricane Sandy and related posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms. An online sample of 1000 participants from affected areas completed self-report questionnaires a month after Hurricane Sandy hit the East Coast of the United States. Participants reported their exposure to Hurricane Sandy, their PTSD symptoms, and recollections of the WTC terror attack and previous hurricanes elicited due to Hurricane Sandy. Exposure to Hurricane Sandy was related to PTSD symptoms among those with high level of recollections of the WTC terror attack and past hurricanes, but not among those with low level of recollections. The aftermath of exposure to Hurricane Sandy is related not only to exposure, but also to its interaction with recollections of past traumas. These findings have theoretical and practical implications for practitioners and health policy makers in evaluating and interpreting the impact of past memories on future natural disasters. This may help in intervention plans of social and psychological services. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Turkish Elementary School Students' Perceptions of Local and Global Terrorism

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Aricak, Tolga; Bekci, Banu; Siyahhan, Sinem; Martinez, Rebecca

2008-01-01

Introduction: Historically, terrorism has occurred in various regions of the world and has been considered a local problem until the September, 11 terrorist attacks on the United States in 2001. After 9/11, terrorism has become a global concern. The definition of terrorism has changed from a violent act of a group of local people against their…

Risk Groups in Exposure to Terror: The Case of Israel's Citizens

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Feniger, Yariv; Yuchtman-Yaar, Ephraim

2010-01-01

This research addresses a largely ignored question in the study of terror: who are its likely victims? An answer was sought through analysis of comprehensive data on civilian victims of terror in Israel from 1993 through 2003. The chances of being killed in seemingly random terror attacks were found unequally distributed in Israeli society, but…

Efficacy for Dealing With Terrorism Precautionary Behavior: Laying the Groundwork for Communication Effectiveness.

PubMed

Wirtz, Philip W; Rohrbeck, Cynthia A

2017-10-01

In order to formulate effective communication and intervention strategies to respond to the widespread lack of preparedness for public health crises resulting from natural and human-made disasters, researchers have developed models describing the interrelationships between factors associated with emergency preparedness decisions. Empirical research has generally assumed that two key elements of most health behavior theories-self-efficacy and response efficacy-additively influence the decision to prepare, despite compelling theoretical rationale for an interactive relationship. The few studies that have investigated interactions in preparedness outcomes have not tested the Social Cognitive Theory prediction that non-zero levels of both efficacy types are required before individuals will engage in any preparedness behavior. Based on the responses of 3,101 participants in the National Survey of Disaster Experiences and Preparedness, this study tested additive, interactive, and conditional main effect hypotheses about the influence of self-efficacy and response efficacy for dealing with terrorism on preparedness due to terrorism six years after the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. A significant self-efficacy × response efficacy interaction effect on preparedness was found, in addition to a significant response efficacy effect when perceived self-efficacy was zero, contrary to the expectation from Social Cognitive Theory. These results offer insights into the cognitive processes underlying individuals' decisions to prepare for disasters such as terrorist attacks, and highlight the importance of considering more complex theory-based cognitive interaction models in designing effective communication strategies to facilitate individual emergency preparedness.

How a terror attack affects right-wing authoritarianism, social dominance orientation, and their relationship to torture attitudes.

PubMed

Lindén, Magnus; Björklund, Fredrik; Bäckström, Martin

2018-06-29

Self-reported level of right-wing authoritarianism (RWA), the two facets of social dominance orientation (SDO-Dominance and SDO-Egalitarianism) and pro-torture attitudes were measured both in the immediate aftermath (terror salience, N = 152) of the terror attacks in Paris and Brussels and when terrorism was not salient. Results showed that RWA and pro-torture attitudes, but not SDO-Dominance and SDO-Egalitarianism, were significantly higher immediately after (non-salience, N = 140). Furthermore, RWA and SDO both predicted pro-torture attitudes more strongly under terror salience. We argue that the reason why RWA is higher under terror salience is a response to external threat, and that SDO-Dominance may be more clearly related to acceptance of torture and other human-rights violations, across context. Future research on the effects of terror-related events on sociopolitical and pro-torture attitudes should focus on person-situation interactions and also attempt to discriminate between trait and state aspects of authoritarianism. © 2018 Scandinavian Psychological Associations and John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Countering Maritime Terrorism in the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean: Implications of Possible Maritime Terrorism in the Caribbean

DTIC Science & Technology

2007-12-14

nationals who were arrested in June 2007, for allegedly plotting to bomb New York’s John F. Kennedy ( JFK ) Airport lends credence to this. Three of the...charges of conspiring to attack New York City’s JFK Airport by planting explosives to blow up the airport’s major jet-fuel supply tanks and pipeline. The...conspirators, the same defendant compared the plot to attack JFK airport to the attacks on the World Trade Center on 11 September and he stated that “even the

The impact of repetitive and chronic exposure to terror attacks on Israeli mothers' and children's functioning.

PubMed

Shechory-Bitton, Mally

2013-01-01

Studies point to the pathogenic impact of exposure to terror. however, most focus on specific traumatic events. the current study focused on the impact of continuous ongoing exposure to terror attacks. it examined the extent to which children's PtSD and behavior problems are a function of mothers' PtSD, child and mother exposure to terror events, and child and mother fear. a sample of 152 mother and children dyads, all living in communities on israel's southern border, were surveyed. results indicate that children's posttraumatic symptoms are significantly and positively predicted by their exposure to terror events, their fear, and their mothers' posttraumatic symptoms. in addition, children's current behavioral and social problems are positively predicted by mothers' posttraumatic symptoms. results are discussed in light of the importance of subjective interpretation. the findings suggest that further research should examine additional cognitive and social contextual factors.

Investigating the Aftermath of Terror: Fundamental Outcomes, Methodological Choices, and Future Directions.

PubMed

Gradus, Jaimie L; Marx, Brian P; Sloan, Denise M

2016-06-01

Acts of terrorism are becoming increasingly common throughout the world. These events represent a significant public health concern given the associated health consequences. Although it is clear that terrorist attacks have mental and physical health sequelae, the exact nature and prevalence of these consequences are unclear. Epidemiological research can play an important role in better understanding the mental and physical impact of terrorist attacks. In this editorial, we highlight recent epidemiological research on these terrorism-related health outcomes. We also provide suggestions for how future studies can build on the existing literature and describe ways in which epidemiological methods can be harnessed to extend the current literature. Lastly, we offer recommendations on how to best prepare communities for the aftermath of terrorist attacks, highlighting secondary intervention and prevention strategies. Overall, multilevel strategies are needed to adequately cope with the growing rise of terrorist acts, and these strategies will have to be reassessed as the nature of terrorist attacks changes.

Sick-leave and help seeking among rescue workers after the terror attacks in Norway, 2011.

PubMed

Gjerland, Astrid; Pedersen, May Janne Botha; Ekeberg, Øivind; Skogstad, Laila

2015-12-01

Several studies have addressed psychological problems after terror attacks, especially among victims. Fewer have addressed possible health consequences among rescue workers involved with terror attacks. This study's aim was to investigate the levels of sick-leave and psychological help seeking among rescue workers involved in the terror attacks in Norway on July 22, 2011, and to identify associations between sick-leave and background-, exposure- and work-related variables. This cross-sectional study included five groups of professional rescue personnel and one group of unaffiliated volunteers. The questionnaire was distributed approximately 10 months after the terror attacks, with a response rate of 61.3 % (N = 1790). A total of 9.7 % of participants self-reported sick-leave. The rate varied from 2.4 % among police officers to 14.5 % among unaffiliated volunteers, p < .001. There were 0.0-1.2 % of the professionals who were on sick-leave for more than 2 weeks and 5.5 % among the unaffiliated volunteers. More unaffiliated volunteers (42.6 %) and psychosocial personnel (16.3 %) consulted a psychologist or psychiatrist compared to other groups (3-9 %), p < .001. General healthcare providers (OR 6.1), psychosocial personnel (OR 6.3) and unaffiliated volunteers (OR 5.7) were associated with sick-leave, together with unwanted stress reactions (OR 1.6) and starting work on July 22 (OR 1.6). A small minority of professional rescue workers reported sick-leave for more than 2 weeks, and few had sought psychological help. Unaffiliated volunteers reported more stress symptoms, longer sick-leave duration and more psychological help seeking. This group may benefit from more support.

75 FR 65556 - Designation of Two Individuals Pursuant to Executive Order 13224

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-10-25

... Who Commit, Threaten To Commit, or Support Terrorism.'' DATES: The designation by the Director of OFAC... Order, the President declared a national emergency to address grave acts of terrorism and threats of terrorism committed by foreign terrorists, including the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks in New York...

76 FR 37891 - Designation of Four Individuals Pursuant to Executive Order 13224

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-06-28

... Who Commit, Threaten To Commit, or Support Terrorism.'' DATES: The designations by the Director of... Order, the President declared a national emergency to address grave acts of terrorism and threats of terrorism committed by foreign terrorists, including the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks in New York...

Terrorism and Schools. Fact Sheet

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Arkansas Safe Schools Initiative Division, 2003

2003-01-01

Since September 11, 2001, Americans have experienced a heightened sense of awareness and consciousness over the threat of terrorism against the United States. Terrorism experts agree that a terrorist attack on a school is a viable option for Al Qaeda and other terrorist organizations. In response to this threat, the National Association of School…

76 FR 59488 - Designation of Three Individuals Pursuant to Executive Order 13224

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-09-26

... Who Commit, Threaten To Commit, or Support Terrorism.'' DATES: The designations by the Director of... Order, the President declared a national emergency to address grave acts of terrorism and threats of terrorism committed by foreign terrorists, including the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks in New York...

75 FR 44312 - Designation of Three Individuals Pursuant to Executive Order 13224

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-07-28

... Who Commit, Threaten To Commit, or Support Terrorism.'' DATES: The designation by the Director of OFAC..., the President declared a national emergency to address grave acts of terrorism and threats of terrorism committed by foreign terrorists, including the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks in New York...

Fire As A Weapon: High Rise Structures

DTIC Science & Technology

2017-12-01

Trade Center, Happyland fire, Taj Mahal Fire, fire bombing , inferno terror, terrorist arsonists, counter-terrorism, arson attacks 15. NUMBER OF PAGES...kill civilians throughout the building without the attackers setting bombs throughout. However, the literature does not reflect the emerging threat...requiring the expertise to build bombs or anything of that nature; in other words, everyone can burn a house down, but it takes time and skill to blow it up

Evoked Death-Related Thoughts in the Aftermath of Terror Attack: The Associations Between Mortality Salience Effect and Adjustment Disorder.

PubMed

Ring, Lia; Lavenda, Osnat; Hamama-Raz, Yaira; Ben-Ezra, Menachem; Pitcho-Prelorentzos, Shani; David, Udi Y; Zaken, Adi; Mahat-Shamir, Michal

2018-01-01

ICD-11 has provided a revised definition for adjustment disorder (AjD). The current study examined whether mortality salience effect, a possible consequence of a terror attack, may serve as a significant predictor associated with each of the AjD subscales. Using an online survey, 379 adult participants were recruited and filled out self-reported questionnaires dealing with adjustment disorder symptoms as well as mortality salience effect. Findings revealed that mortality salience effect was a significant predictor of all AjD subscales. The importance of mortality salience effect for AjD is discussed in light of terror management theory.

The association between alcohol, medicinal drug use and post-traumatic stress symptoms among Norwegian rescue workers after the 22 July twin terror attacks.

PubMed

Bogstrand, Stig Tore; Skogstad, Laila; Ekeberg, Øivind

2016-09-01

The aim of this study was to assess whether the use of alcohol and medicinal drugs among rescue workers as a consequence of the 22 July terrorist attack was associated with post-traumatic stress symptoms, and explore if there were differences between affiliated and unaffiliated rescue workers. Ten months after the bombing in the Oslo government district and the shooting at the youth camp on Utøya Island, a cross-sectional study of 1790 rescue and healthcare workers was conducted. The questionnaire included information on medicinal drug and alcohol use, experiences during rescue work and PTSS. Few rescue workers reported alcohol (6.8% n = 119) or medicinal drug (5.5% n = 95) use as a consequence of participation in the 22 July terror attacks. Alcohol and medicinal drug use was associated with an elevated level of PTSS among the rescue workers who reported to use medicinal drugs (11.1 95% CI: 5.7-21.8) or alcohol (10.0 95% CI: 5.2-19.0) as a consequence of the terror attacks. The study found a low level of post-traumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) and alcohol and medicinal drug use among the rescue workers after the terror attacks in Norway on 22 July 2011. There was a strong association between both medicinal drug and alcohol use and elevated PTSS. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Animals as sentinels of chemical terrorism agents: an evidence-based review.

PubMed

Rabinowitz, Peter; Wiley, James; Odofin, Lynda; Wilcox, Matthew; Dein, F Joshua

2008-02-01

The goal of this systematic review was to identify evidence that animals could serve as sentinels of an attack with a chemical terrorism agent. The biomedical literature was systematically searched for evidence that wild or domestic animals exposed to certain chemical weapons of terrorism had either greater susceptibility, shorter latency period, or increased exposure risk versus humans. Additionally, we searched for documented reports of such animals historically serving as sentinels for chemical warfare agents. For a small number of agents, there was limited evidence that domestic and/or wild animals could provide sentinel information to humans following an airborne attack with chemical agents, usually related to increased potential for environmental exposure. Some of this evidence was based on anecdotal case reports, and in many cases high quality chemical terrorism agent evidence regarding comparative susceptibility, exposure, and latency between humans and sentinel animal species was not found. Currently, there is insufficient evidence for routine use of animals as sentinels for airborne chemical warfare agents. At the same time, Poison Center surveillance systems should include animal calls, and greater communication between veterinarians and physicians could help with preparedness for a chemical terrorism attack. Further analysis of comparative chemical warfare agent toxicity between sentinel animal species and humans is needed.

The Tragedy of Terrorism: Perspective, Reflection, and Action in the Aftermath.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Macias, Jose

2002-01-01

Public reactions to the September 11 terrorist attacks have ranged from shock, fear, and anger to group profiling and acts of violent retribution. Suggests that the cycle of terrorism requires perspective and reflection so that educational anthropologists can facilitate, through education, more useful understandings of the phenomenon of terrorism.…

Building Population Resilience to Terror Attacks: Unlearned Lessons from Military and Civilian Experience

DTIC Science & Technology

2006-11-01

disaster. Recent work by Anthony Mawson highlights the marked disparity between how people are presumed to behave during disasters and their actual...recklessly flee to safety, there is little evidence to support this belief. Building Population Resilience to Terror Attacks . . . 9 Mawson finds that... Mawson goes on to outline four corollaries to these mistaken assumptions that reflect research on human behavior in times of crisis or disaster

Defeating the Islamic State at Three Levels of War

DTIC Science & Technology

2016-05-13

Middle East, Northern Africa , and Southeast Asia while using terrorism to attack the West. In order to fulfill the President’s end state of “ultimately...war. IS is expanding throughout the Middle East, Northern Africa , and Southeast Asia while using terrorism to attack the West. In order to...N-S) and theater-strategic (T-S) levels of war (See Figure 1). The insurgency is rapidly expanding throughout the Middle East, Northern Africa , and

Evaluation of risk from acts of terrorism :the adversary/defender model using belief and fuzzy sets.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Darby, John L.

Risk from an act of terrorism is a combination of the likelihood of an attack, the likelihood of success of the attack, and the consequences of the attack. The considerable epistemic uncertainty in each of these three factors can be addressed using the belief/plausibility measure of uncertainty from the Dempster/Shafer theory of evidence. The adversary determines the likelihood of the attack. The success of the attack and the consequences of the attack are determined by the security system and mitigation measures put in place by the defender. This report documents a process for evaluating risk of terrorist acts using anmore » adversary/defender model with belief/plausibility as the measure of uncertainty. Also, the adversary model is a linguistic model that applies belief/plausibility to fuzzy sets used in an approximate reasoning rule base.« less

Terrorism in Argentina.

PubMed

Muro, Marcelo; Cohen, Roberto; Maffei, Daniel; Ballesteros, Marcelo; Espinosa, Luis

2003-01-01

Major terrorist attacks in Argentina since 1990 have been limited to two bombings in Buenos Aires, which together caused 115 deaths and left at least 555 injured. Following these attacks, national, regional, and local institutions responsible for emergency response in Argentina sought to improve their planning and preparedness for terrorism-related events. In 1996, the national government enacted legislation, which launched the Sistema Federal de Emergencias (SIFEM) or Federal Emergency System under the direction of the president. Since 1997, several of Argentina's major cities have developed emergency plans for terrorism-related events, including intentional biological and chemical releases. Institutional participants in emergency preparedness for terrorism-related events include Emergency Medical Services, hospitals, and the public health system. Remaining challenges include: (1) Improving intra-agency coordination; (2) Improving intra-agency communication; and (3) Improving and expanding emergency response training programs for responders and the general population.

The psychological effects of cyber terrorism.

PubMed

Gross, Michael L; Canetti, Daphna; Vashdi, Dana R

2016-01-01

When ordinary citizens think of cyber threats, most are probably worried about their passwords and banking details, not a terrorist attack. The thought of a shooting in a mall or a bombing at an airport is probably more frightening than a cyber breach. Yet terrorists aim for mental as well as physical destruction, and our research has found that, depending on who the attackers and the victims are, the psychological effects of cyber threats can rival those of traditional terrorism.

Medical preparation for terrorism in Australia. Is luck running out for "the lucky country?

PubMed

Caldicott, David G E; Edwards, Nicholas A

2003-01-01

Recent world events have forced Australia to re-examine its role on the world stage and its susceptibility to terrorist attacks. The authors examine the brief historical exposure of Australia to the phenomenon of terrorism, and review the geopolitical climate and features that may render it more susceptible to attack in the future. Australia's emergency management structure is outlined, and its current state of medical preparedness for a terrorist incident is critically reviewed.

The Financial War on Terrorism: Grading U.S. Strategy for Combating the Financing of Terrorism

DTIC Science & Technology

2006-04-15

15 April 2006 Signature______________________________ Thesis Advisor: CAPTAIN Dave Jerabek, US Navy Report Documentation...activities to combat terrorist financing, this thesis proposes how DoD can use threat finance exploitation to meaningfully support the overall...of Terrorism FORMAT: Thesis DATE: 14 April 2006 PAGES: 94 CLASSIFICATION: Unclassified Following the September 11, 2001, attacks

Information and the War against Terrorism, Part IV: Civil Liberties versus Security in the Age of Terrorism.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Strickland, Lee S.

2002-01-01

Discussion of information and the war on terrorism following the September 11th attacks focuses on a survey of legal provisions and new security-related practices in government and business as security competes with civil liberties. Topics include the Fourth Amendment overseas; Department of Justice legal initiatives; military tribunals; security…

DefenseLink Special: September 11, 2005

Science.gov Websites

DefenseLink.mil Jun. 29, 2015 War on Terror Transformation News Products Press Resources Images Websites Contact " motorcycle ride visited families of fallen troops in the terror war to personally thank them for anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks, Kelly Freudenberg has no doubt that her son gave his life

Assessing the Impact of Ongoing National Terror: Social Workers in Israel

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ron, Pnina; Shamai, Michal

2011-01-01

The main goal of this study was to explore the connections between social workers' personal and professional exposure to national terror in Israel and their professional and personal distress experienced due to ongoing terror attacks. Data were collected from 406 social workers from Israel who worked in agencies that provide help to victims of…

Cyber Terrorism: A Study of the Extent of Coverage in Computer Security Textbooks

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Prichard, Janet J.; MacDonald, Laurie E.

2004-01-01

On September 11th, 2001 the United States experienced the largest terrorist attack in its history. This event caused many government agencies to review their security practices and procedures. It also has raised awareness of other avenues that terrorists might pursue to achieve their goals, including cyber terrorism. Cyber terrorism can be…

Victimization from workplace bullying after a traumatic event: time-lagged relationships with symptoms of posttraumatic stress.

PubMed

Nielsen, Morten Birkeland; Birkeland, Marianne Skogbrott; Hansen, Marianne Bang; Knardahl, Stein; Heir, Trond

2017-07-01

This study examined relationships between victimization from bullying and symptoms of posttraumatic stress (PTSS) after exposure to a terror attack at the workplace. It was hypothesized that (1) victims of bullying report higher and more stable levels of PTSS over time compared to their non-bullied colleagues and (2) that PTSS provides an increased risk of subsequent victimization from bullying. The hypotheses were tested in a two-wave prospective sample comprising 2337 employees from Norwegian governmental ministries who were exposed to the 2011 Oslo terror attack. The two waves of data collection were conducted 10 and 22 months after the terror attack. Hypothesis 1 was partially supported: victims of bullying reported significantly higher levels of PTSS than non-bullied employees at both measurement points, but bullying was not related to the stability in PTSS over time. In support of hypothesis 2, PTSS at 10 months was significantly associated with an increased risk of feeling victimized by bullying 1 year later. The results indicate that victimization from bullying is associated with elevated levels of PTSS in the aftermath of a workplace terror attack, but that bullying does not have any impact on the long-term development of PTSS. PTSS may be a potential antecedent of bullying. These findings suggest that organizations must give high priority to the psychosocial work environment of traumatized employees to prevent further detrimental health consequences.

Media participation and mental health in terrorist attack survivors.

PubMed

Thoresen, Siri; Jensen, Tine K; Dyb, Grete

2014-12-01

Terrorism and disasters receive massive media attention, and victims are often approached by reporters. Not much is known about how terror and disaster victims perceive the contact with media and whether such experiences influence mental health. In this study, we describe how positive and negative experiences with media relate to posttraumatic stress (PTS) reactions among survivors of the 2011 Utøya Island terrorist attack in Norway. Face-to-face interviews were conducted with 285 survivors (47.0% female and 53.0% male) 14-15 months after the terrorist attack. Most survivors were approached by reporters (94%), and participated in media interviews (88%). The majority of survivors evaluated their media contact and participation as positive, and media participation was unrelated to PTS reactions. Survivors who found media participation distressing had more PTS reactions (quite distressing: B = 0.440, extremely distressing: B = 0.611, p = .004 in adjusted model). Perceiving media participation as distressing was slightly associated with lower levels of social support (r = -.16, p = .013), and regretting media participation was slightly associated with feeling let down (r = .18, p = .004). Reporters should take care when interviewing victims, and clinicians should be aware of media exposure as a potential additional strain on victims. Copyright © 2014 International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies.

CTC Sentinel. Volume 2, Issue 6, June 2009

DTIC Science & Technology

2009-06-01

Pakistan also makes it easier for al-Qa`ida to manage local perceptions and deny involvement in controversial terrorist attacks within the country...Combating Terrorism Center (CTC) at West Point, where he manages the Harmony Program and is developing the CTC’s South Asian research program. Prior to...operational art. Police operational art is defined as the capacity to go beyond managing single tactical incidents to influencing the effects of multiple

Media exposure and prolonged grief: A study of bereaved parents and siblings after the 2011 Utøya Island terror attack.

PubMed

Kristensen, Pål; Dyregrov, Kari; Dyregrov, Atle; Heir, Trond

2016-11-01

After terror attacks, the media coverage can be a potential secondary stressor for bereaved families. In the present study, we aimed to examine the level of prolonged grief (PG), and to explore the association between media exposure and PG in parents and siblings of individuals who were killed in a terror attack. Parents and siblings (n = 103) from 42 different families bereaved by the 2011 Utøya Island mass shooting participated in a survey 18 months after the attack. The survey measured the amount of media exposure experienced by the bereaved during the first month after the attack. PG was self-reported using the Inventory of Complicated Grief (ICG). Data was analyzed with multilevel methods with mixed effects models. Of the total sample of participants, 78.6% (n = 81/103) had sum scores higher than the designated cutoff >25 on ICG, indicating a probable prolonged grief disorder (PGD). Multilevel analysis showed significantly higher level of PG among those who reported high exposure to the media coverage (>4 hours daily) the first month after the attack, among females, and among those who were in contact with their son/daughter/brother/sister by telephone during the attack. With the cross-sectional design, caution should be taken about making interpretations about causal effects. Media exposure may trigger or maintain prolonged grief reactions. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved).

Effects of exposure to rocket attacks on adolescent distress and violence: a 4-year longitudinal study.

PubMed

Henrich, Christopher C; Shahar, Golan

2013-06-01

The effects of Israeli adolescents' exposure to rocket attacks over time were examined, focusing on anxiety, depression, aggression, and violence commission. A sample of 362 adolescents from southern Israel was followed from 2008 through 2011 with four annual assessments. Measures included exposure to rocket attacks (gauging whether children were affected by rocket attacks, both directly and indirectly, through friends and family), anxiety (items from the State Anxiety Inventory), depression (the Center for Epidemiological Studies Child Depression Scale), aggression (the Orpinas Aggression Scale), and violence commission (from the Social and Health Assessment). Concurrent and longitudinal findings differed. Wave 1 exposure to rockets attacks was associated with Wave 1 anxiety, depression, and aggression. Longitudinal results evinced only modest effects of exposure on anxiety and depression, no effects on aggression, but robust effects on violence commission. Exposure to terror attacks before the study predicted increased odds of violence commission at the fourth and final wave, controlling for violence commission at the first, second, and third wave. Exposure to rocket attacks in the second wave predicted increased odds of violence commission at the third wave. This is the first longitudinal study attesting to the prospective longitudinal effect of exposure to terrorism on adolescent violence. Findings should serve as a red flag for health care practitioners working in civil areas afflicted by terrorism and political violence. Copyright © 2013 American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Terrorism in surface transportation

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1996-06-01

The topic for this symposium was selected to help satisfy the increased need for awareness of and preparedness for possible terrorism attacks on the surface transportation systems within the United States and the world. A group of experts was assembl...

[Chemical and biological terrorism: psychological aspects, and guidelines for psychiatric preparedness].

PubMed

Bleich, Avi; Kutz, Ilan

2002-05-01

Chemical or biological terror may cause mass casualties, but the major damage of such a threat is related mainly to psychological terror. Anxiety and panic that accompany chemical or biological threat, may affect mass populations, disrupt their lives, and enormously increase the demands from the medical systems. In the case of real attack, such an increased demands may be critical, especially to the functional ability of hospitals. The Israeli experience, during the Persian Gulf war, concerning preparations to chemical attacks at the national level, was unique in its nature. In addition, the Scud missiles attacks, accompanied with non-conventional threat, supplied valuable information on the populations behavior, and on the needed preparations for similar threats. In the case of chemical or biological threat or attack, the main task of the psychiatrist is to treat stress and anxiety casualties. At the same time, he should be aware of the possibility that the psychological & behavioral symptoms may reflect organic brain damage due to the pathogenic agent, and that such a differential diagnosis may be life saving for the patient. Stress casualties will be referred from the ER, and treated by the mental health team, at a specifically designed "center for stress casualties". In addition, the psychiatrist will consult the medical teams, or sometimes directly intervene, with combined casualties, at other locations of the hospital. At the regional or community level, one should plane and exercise deployment and activation of multi-professional teams, including mental health, in existing installations designed for screening, treatment, and temporary containment of casualties. It is recommended that the head of the local authority, will be responsible for the preparations and activation of this formation. A planned and rational usage of the media may have a critical influence on the ability of the authorities to manage the crisis situation and on shaping the behavior of the population. In certain scenarios, the media may even serve as the main tool for calming and instructing the people being isolated at their homes.

The September 11 attack: A percolation of individual passive support

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Galam, S.

2002-04-01

A model to terrorism is presented using the theory of percolation. Terrorism power is related to the spontaneous formation of random backbones of people who are sympathetic to terrorism but without being directly involved in it. They just don't oppose in case they could. In the past such friendly-to-terrorism backbones have been always existing but were of finite size and localized to a given geographical area. The September 11 terrorist attack on the US has revealed for the first time the existence of a world wide spread extension. It is argued to have result from a sudden world percolation of otherwise unconnected and dormant world spread backbones of passive supporters. The associated strategic question is then to determine if collecting ground information could have predict and thus avoid such a transition. Our results show the answer is no, voiding the major criticism against intelligence services. To conclude the impact of military action is discussed.

Hospitals: Soft Target for Terrorism?

PubMed

De Cauwer, Harald; Somville, Francis; Sabbe, Marc; Mortelmans, Luc J

2017-02-01

In recent years, the world has been rocked repeatedly by terrorist attacks. Arguably, the most remarkable were: the series of four coordinated suicide plane attacks on September 11, 2001 on buildings in New York, Virginia, and Pennsylvania, USA; and the recent series of two coordinated attacks in Brussels (Belgium), on March 22, 2016, involving two bombings at the departure hall of Brussels International Airport and a bombing at Maalbeek Metro Station located near the European Commission headquarters in the center of Brussels. This statement paper deals with different aspects of hospital policy and disaster response planning that interface with terrorism. Research shows that the availability of necessary equipment and facilities (eg, personal protective clothing, decontamination rooms, antidotes, and anti-viral drugs) in hospitals clearly is insufficient. Emergency teams are insufficiently prepared: adequate and repetitive training remain necessary. Unfortunately, there are many examples of health care workers and physicians or hospitals being targeted in both political or religious conflicts and wars. Many health workers were kidnapped and/or killed by insurgents of various ideology. Attacks on hospitals also could cause long-term effects: hospital units could be unavailable for a long time and replacing staff could take several months, further compounding hospital operations. Both physical and psychological (eg, posttraumatic stress disorder [PTSD]) after-effects of a terrorist attack can be detrimental to health care services. On the other hand, physicians and other hospital employees have shown to be involved in terrorism. As data show that some offenders had a previous history with the location of the terror incident, the possibility of hospitals or other health care services being targeted by insiders is discussed. The purpose of this report was to consider how past terrorist incidents can inform current hospital preparedness and disaster response planning. De Cauwer H , Somville F , Sabbe M , Mortelmans LJ . Hospitals: soft target for terrorism? Prehosp Disaster Med. 2017;32(1):94-100.

Filling Terrorism Gaps: VEOs, Evaluating Databases, and Applying Risk Terrain Modeling to Terrorism

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Hagan, Ross F.

2016-08-29

This paper aims to address three issues: the lack of literature differentiating terrorism and violent extremist organizations (VEOs), terrorism incident databases, and the applicability of Risk Terrain Modeling (RTM) to terrorism. Current open source literature and publicly available government sources do not differentiate between terrorism and VEOs; furthermore, they fail to define them. Addressing the lack of a comprehensive comparison of existing terrorism data sources, a matrix comparing a dozen terrorism databases is constructed, providing insight toward the array of data available. RTM, a method for spatial risk analysis at a micro level, has some applicability to terrorism research, particularlymore » for studies looking at risk indicators of terrorism. Leveraging attack data from multiple databases, combined with RTM, offers one avenue for closing existing research gaps in terrorism literature.« less

The 2005 London terror attacks: An investigation of changes in psychological wellbeing and social capital pre- and post-attacks (2003-07)-A UK panel study.

PubMed

Giordano, Giuseppe N; Lindström, Martin

2016-12-01

The London public transport suicide bombings, which occurred on 7th July 2005, were described as the worst single terrorist atrocity on British soil to date. Past acts of terrorism have been associated with deterioration in population mental health. They may also negatively impact levels of social capital, which is considered a buffer against poor mental health outcomes. By employing panel data from the British Household Panel Survey and following the same individuals (N T =9287) three times over a five-year period (2003, 2005 and 2007), the aim of this longitudinal multilevel study was to investigate: (i) the impact of terrorism on individual-level social capital (generalised trust and social participation) across the UK; and (ii) the buffering effects of social capital on psychological wellbeing (GHQ-12). By comparing 2005 and 2007 covariate values (including the two social capital proxies) against their pre-terror baseline (2003) measurements in two separate multilevel logistic regression models, we examined the immediate and longer-term effects of the 2005 attacks on our GHQ-12 outcome. Compared to baseline, generalised trust dropped from 44% to 36% immediately post-terror attacks in 2005, while local participation increased from 45.8% to 47.5%. Social capital levels started to return to baseline levels by 2007, yet both proxies maintained independent buffering effects against poor GHQ-12 scores in years 2005 and 2007. From this empirical evidence, it seems that though generalised trust levels are negatively affected by acts of terrorism, the accompanying increase in local active participation may aid in the re-establishment of societal norms and beliefs in later years. Decision makers should be aware that such atrocities may negatively impact on populations' generalised trust in the shorter-term. To safeguard against losing this buffer against poor mental health outcomes, local active participation should be encouraged.

Relationships between right-wing authoritarianism, terrorism threat, and attitudes towards restrictions of civil rights: a comparison among four European countries.

PubMed

Kossowska, Małgorzata; Trejtowicz, Mariusz; de Lemus, Soledad; Bukowski, Marcin; Van Hiel, Alain; Goodwin, Robin

2011-05-01

The present study tested the role of right-wing authoritarianism (RWA), terrorist threat, and sociopolitical 'climate' as predictors of support for governmental anti-terrorism policies and actions. Two dimensions of analysis were defined: the presence versus absence of al-Qaeda attacks, and adherence to surveillance versus anti-surveillance mainstream politics. In order to study the influence of these two contextual dimensions on the expression of attitudes, we selected four European countries that fall into these two dimensions--Poland, Belgium, Spain, and the UK. Results from our study provide support for the contention that attitudes towards restrictions of civil rights are related to RWA independently of the cultural context. Moreover, in the UK sample, we found that the threat of terrorism increases acceptance of limitations of civil liberties, but only among people who hold authoritarian beliefs. However, in Spain, the other country that experienced terrorist attacks, this moderation effect was not found which is interpreted in terms of differences in the sociopolitical climate in both countries. As predicted, we did not find such moderation effect in countries in which threat is relatively low (Poland and Belgium). The results are discussed with reference to the conceptual framework based on the importance of fear experiences, security-focused policies, as well as the specific cultural context in the study of reaction to terrorist threat. ©2010 The British Psychological Society.

The psychological effects of cyber terrorism

PubMed Central

Gross, Michael L.; Canetti, Daphna; Vashdi, Dana R.

2016-01-01

When ordinary citizens think of cyber threats, most are probably worried about their passwords and banking details, not a terrorist attack. The thought of a shooting in a mall or a bombing at an airport is probably more frightening than a cyber breach. Yet terrorists aim for mental as well as physical destruction, and our research has found that, depending on who the attackers and the victims are, the psychological effects of cyber threats can rival those of traditional terrorism. PMID:28366962

Nuclear terrorism - Threat or not?

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pomper, Miles A.; Tarini, Gabrielle

2017-11-01

A terrorist attack using nuclear or radiological materials is a low-probability event, but if executed, would lead to unprecedented socio-economic, material, and psychological disruption and damage. This chapter seeks to provide a sound assessment of the scope and nature of the threat by examining the different types of nuclear terrorism, each of which poses different risks, involves different barriers to success, and requires different terrorist capabilities. In addition, the chapter aims to provide an overview of the sources and nature of terrorists' motivations to employ a nuclear attack.

Does war hurt? Effects of media exposure after missile attacks on chronic pain.

PubMed

Lerman, Sheera F; Rudich, Zvia; Shahar, Golan

2013-03-01

This study focused on the effects of exposure to terrorist missile attacks on the physical and mental well being of chronic pain patients. In this prospective and longitudinal design, 55 chronic pain patients treated at a specialty pain clinic completed self-report questionnaires regarding their pain, depression and anxiety pre- and post a three week missile attack on the southern region of Israel. In addition, levels of direct and indirect exposure to the attacks were measured. Results of regression analyses showed that exposure to the attacks through the media predicted an increase in pain intensity and in the sensory component of pain during the pre-post war period, but did not predict depression, anxiety or the affective component of pain. These findings contribute to the understanding of the effects of terrorism on physical and emotional distress and identify chronic pain patients as a vulnerable population requiring special attention during terrorism-related stress.

Israeli Kindergarten Teachers Cope with Terror and War: Two Implicit Models of Resilience

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Brody, David; Baum, Naomi L.

2007-01-01

The resilience of teachers in the face of terror was examined in a narrative study of two Israeli kindergarten teachers over the course of one school year. During this time, there occurred frequent terror attacks as well as the threat of impending war with Iraq and the concomitant threat of chemical warfare. Each teacher's unique pattern of coping…

US Counter-Islamic State Strategy: It Could Be Worse

DTIC Science & Technology

2017-03-31

to achieve US political objectives. US Policy Towards Islamic State Modern Islamic terrorism , defined as groups professing Islamic motivations...networks, these extremist organizations adopted terrorism strategies to achieve their political goals.4 Bombing, kidnappings, hijackings and shootings...fueled by US enmity, and focused on striking the West outside of the Middle East. These efforts manifested themselves as the terror attacks on

Pace Travels to the Pacific Region - February 9, 2007 - U.S. Department of

Science.gov Websites

Risk of Terrorist Attacks Search DefenseLink.mil Jun. 29, 2015 War on Terror Transformation News today. Story Australia Global Leader in Fight on Terror CANBERRA, Australia, Feb. 12, 2007 - Australia has made enormous contributions to the global war on terror and has proven it is a world leader

The Differential Effects of Intimate Terrorism and Situational Couple Violence: Findings from the National Violence Against Women Survey

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Johnson, Michael P.; Leone, Janel M.

2005-01-01

Data from the National Violence Against Women Survey show that the two major forms of husband violence toward their wives (intimate terrorism and situational couple violence) have different effects on their victims. Victims of intimate terrorism are attacked more frequently and experience violence that is less likely to stop. They are more likely…

Responding to Terror: The Impact of September 11 on K-12 Schools and Schools' Responses

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Auger, Richard W.; Seymour, John W.; Roberts, Walter B., Jr.

2004-01-01

The terror attacks on the United States of September 11, 2001, and the anthrax terror campaign that followed had profound implications not only in the political world but also in the realm of professional school counseling. School counselors nationwide were thrust in the position of responding to a traumatic situation on a scale previously…

How Terrorism Affects Attitudes toward Democracy: Tunisia in 2015.

PubMed

Andersen, Robert; Brym, Robert

2017-11-01

Tunisia is the only country that emerged from the Arab Spring as a democracy. However, Tunisian democracy is threatened by political divisions, economic problems, and the threat of terrorist attacks. We shed light on Tunisia's democratic prospects by examining (1) the degree to which major terrorist attacks in 2015 influenced Tunisian public opinion on democracy and (2) the extent to which preference for a democratic system affected opinions on the prospects for democracy in Tunisia. We use data from three waves of a nationwide survey conducted just before and just after Tunisia's first major terrorist attack, and just after the country's second major terrorist attack. We demonstrate that after the attacks the Tunisian public became less favourable toward democracy and less optimistic that Tunisia would soon be ready for it. Such scepticism was widespread, affecting people who preferred democracy as much as those who did not. We conclude that the prospects for Tunisian democracy are more precarious than is sometimes assumed. © 2017 Canadian Sociological Association/La Société canadienne de sociologie.

Combating terrorism : issues to be resolved to improve counterterrorism operations

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1999-01-01

Terrorist attacks against U.S. personnel and interests domestically and abroad highlight the need for effective U.S. efforts to combat terrorism. As requested, the General Accounting Office (GAO) prepared this unclassified summary of their February 1...

Terrorism in surface transportation : a symposium

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1996-06-01

The topic for this symposium was selected to help satisfy the increased need for awareness of and preparedness for possible terrorism attacks on the surface transportation systems within the United States and the world. A group of experts was assembl...

Terror Attacks Increase the Risk of Vascular Injuries

PubMed Central

Heldenberg, Eitan; Givon, Adi; Simon, Daniel; Bass, Arie; Almogy, Gidon; Peleg, Kobi

2014-01-01

Objectives: Extensive literature exists about military trauma as opposed to the very limited literature regarding terror-related civilian trauma. However, terror-related vascular trauma (VT), as a unique type of injury, is yet to be addressed. Methods: A retrospective analysis of the Israeli National Trauma Registry was performed. All patients in the registry from 09/2000 to 12/2005 were included. The subgroup of patients with documented VT (N = 1,545) was analyzed and further subdivided into those suffering from terror-related vascular trauma (TVT) and non-terror-related vascular trauma (NTVT). Both groups were analyzed according to mechanism of trauma, type and severity of injury and treatment. Results: Out of 2,446 terror-related trauma admissions, 243 sustained TVT (9.9%) compared to 1302 VT patients from non-terror trauma (1.1%). TVT injuries tend to be more complex and most patients were operated on. Intensive care unit admissions and hospital length of stay was higher in the TVT group. Penetrating trauma was the prominent cause of injury among the TVT group. TVT group had a higher proportion of patients with severe injuries (ISS ≥ 16) and mortality. Thorax injuries were more frequent in the TVT group. Extremity injuries were the most prevalent vascular injuries in both groups; however NTVT group had more upper extremity injuries, while the TVT group had significantly much lower extremity injuries. Conclusion: Vascular injuries are remarkably more common among terror attack victims than among non-terror trauma victims and the injuries of terror casualties tend to be more complex. The presence of a vascular surgeon will ensure a comprehensive clinical care. PMID:24910849

Terror attacks increase the risk of vascular injuries.

PubMed

Heldenberg, Eitan; Givon, Adi; Simon, Daniel; Bass, Arie; Almogy, Gidon; Peleg, Kobi

2014-01-01

Extensive literature exists about military trauma as opposed to the very limited literature regarding terror-related civilian trauma. However, terror-related vascular trauma (VT), as a unique type of injury, is yet to be addressed. A retrospective analysis of the Israeli National Trauma Registry was performed. All patients in the registry from 09/2000 to 12/2005 were included. The subgroup of patients with documented VT (N = 1,545) was analyzed and further subdivided into those suffering from terror-related vascular trauma (TVT) and non-terror-related vascular trauma (NTVT). Both groups were analyzed according to mechanism of trauma, type and severity of injury and treatment. Out of 2,446 terror-related trauma admissions, 243 sustained TVT (9.9%) compared to 1302 VT patients from non-terror trauma (1.1%). TVT injuries tend to be more complex and most patients were operated on. Intensive care unit admissions and hospital length of stay was higher in the TVT group. Penetrating trauma was the prominent cause of injury among the TVT group. TVT group had a higher proportion of patients with severe injuries (ISS ≥ 16) and mortality. Thorax injuries were more frequent in the TVT group. Extremity injuries were the most prevalent vascular injuries in both groups; however NTVT group had more upper extremity injuries, while the TVT group had significantly much lower extremity injuries. Vascular injuries are remarkably more common among terror attack victims than among non-terror trauma victims and the injuries of terror casualties tend to be more complex. The presence of a vascular surgeon will ensure a comprehensive clinical care.

Healing the social self: how parents whose children were killed in terror attacks construct the experience of help.

PubMed

Possick, Chaya; Shamai, Michal; Sadeh, Ruth Ann

2014-05-01

This study focuses on expressed needs and structures of assistance received by Israeli parents whose children were killed in terror attacks. The loss takes place within a multi-systemic network that can be a healing force and/or a distorting factor in the grief process. The qualitative research paradigm employed privileges the knowledge of the parents themselves. In-depth interviews were conducted with 16 parents. (1) The primary criterion that determines the parents' attribution of helpfulness is perceived inclusiveness. (2) The subsystem of "family of the bereaved" is salient in the healing process. (3) There is a clear preference for the services provided by NGO's as opposed to governmental agencies. (4) The bereaved parents engage the symbolic level of the macro-system-the heritage of the Jewish people. The article concludes with the practical implications of the findings for the development and delivery of psychosocial services to parents bereaved in terror attacks.

Terrorism in Canada.

PubMed

Kollek, Daniel

2003-01-01

This paper reviews terrorism in Canada, assessing the incidence and nature of terrorist activity, the potential targets of terrorist attacks, risk factors to Canadian nationals and institutions, and the responses of the Canadian government in dealing with the threat and the effectiveness of those responses. Despite the fact that there have been no recent high-profile terrorist events in Canada, this country has a serious terrorism problem, the key manifestation of which is the multitude of terrorist organizations that have designated Canada as a base of operations. In addition, Canadians have been attacked overseas and Canadian organizations, both local and abroad, are potential targets of terrorist activity. Canadian attempts to deal with terrorism through foreign and domestic policy have been ineffective, primarily because the policies have been poorly enforced. Until recently, terrorist organizations legally could raise funds in Canada, in direct contravention of international treaties signed by Canada. It is possible that the ineffectiveness in enforcing the anti-terrorism legislation stems from hope that placating terrorist organizations, and the countries that support them, will prevent Canada from becoming a target. Unfortunately evidence from other countries has shown this strategy to be ineffective.

Chemical terrorism for the intensivist.

PubMed

Chalela, Julio A; Burnett, Thomas

2012-05-01

The use of chemical agents for terrorist attacks or military warfare is a major concern at the present time. Chemical agents can cause significant morbidity, are relatively inexpensive, and are easy to store and use. Weaponization of chemical agents is only limited by the physicochemical properties of some agents. Recent incidents involving toxic industrial chemicals and chemical terrorist attacks indicate that critical care services are frequently utilized. For obvious reasons, the critical care literature on chemical terrorism is scarce. This article reviews the clinical aspects of diagnosing and treating victims of chemical terrorism while emphasizing the critical care management. The intensivist needs to be familiar with the chemical agents that could be used in a terrorist attack. The military classification divides agents into lung agents, blood agents, vesicants, and nerve agents. Supportive critical care is the cornerstone of treatment for most casualties, and dramatic recovery can occur in many cases. Specific antidotes are available for some agents, but even without the antidote, aggressive intensive care support can lead to favorable outcome in many cases. Critical care and emergency services can be overwhelmed by a terrorist attack as many exposed but not ill will seek care.

Terrorism in Turkey.

PubMed

Rodoplu, Ulkumen; Arnold, Jeffrey; Ersoy, Gurkan

2003-01-01

Over the past two decades, terrorism has exacted an enormous toll on the Republic of Turkey, a secular democracy with a 99.8% Muslim population. From 1984 to 2000, an estimated 30,000 to 35,000 Turkish citizens were killed by a nearly continuous stream of terrorism-related events. During this period, the Partiya Karekerren Kurdistan (PKK), a Kurdish separatist group (re-named KADEK in 2002), was responsible for the vast majority of terrorism-related events (and casualties), which disproportionately affected the eastern and southeastern regions of Turkey, in which the PKK has focused its activities. Most terrorist attacks over the past two decades have been bombings or shootings that produced < 10 casualties per event. From 1984 to 2003, 15 terrorist attacks produced > or = 30 casualties (eight shootings, five bombings, and two arsons). The maximum number of casualties produced by any of these events was 93 in the Hotel Madimak arson attack by the Turkish Islamic Movement in 1993. This pattern suggests that terrorist attacks in Turkey rarely required more than local systems of emergency medical response, except in rural areas where Emergency Medical Services (EMS) are routinely provided by regional military resources. The last decade has seen the development of several key systems of local emergency response in Turkey, including the establishment of the medical specialty of Emergency Medicine, the establishment of training programs for EMS providers, the spread of a generic, Turkish hospital emergency plan based on the Hospital Emergency Incident Command System, and the spread of advanced training in trauma care modeled after Advanced Trauma Life Support.

Medical mitigation model: quantifying the benefits of the public health response to a chemical terrorism attack.

PubMed

Good, Kevin; Winkel, David; VonNiederhausern, Michael; Hawkins, Brian; Cox, Jessica; Gooding, Rachel; Whitmire, Mark

2013-06-01

The Chemical Terrorism Risk Assessment (CTRA) and Chemical Infrastructure Risk Assessment (CIRA) are programs that estimate the risk of chemical terrorism attacks to help inform and improve the US defense posture against such events. One aspect of these programs is the development and advancement of a Medical Mitigation Model-a mathematical model that simulates the medical response to a chemical terrorism attack and estimates the resulting number of saved or benefited victims. At the foundation of the CTRA/CIRA Medical Mitigation Model is the concept of stock-and-flow modeling; "stocks" are states that individuals progress through during the event, while "flows" permit and govern movement from one stock to another. Using this approach, the model is able to simulate and track individual victims as they progress from exposure to an end state. Some of the considerations in the model include chemical used, type of attack, route and severity of exposure, response-related delays, detailed treatment regimens with efficacy defined as a function of time, medical system capacity, the influx of worried well individuals, and medical countermeasure availability. As will be demonstrated, the output of the CTRA/CIRA Medical Mitigation Model makes it possible to assess the effectiveness of the existing public health response system and develop and examine potential improvement strategies. Such a modeling and analysis capability can be used to inform first-responder actions/training, guide policy decisions, justify resource allocation, and direct knowledge-gap studies.

Terrorism in Spain: emergency medical aspects.

PubMed

García-Castrillo Riesgo, Luis; García Merino, Antonio

2003-01-01

A terrorism movement has been active in Spain during the last 20 years, with a painful number of victims. Civil Defense is in charge of the coordination of all the structures that are implicated in a terrorist incident. There are three typical patterns of attacks: (1) individual attacks; (2) group attacks; and (3) mass attacks. The individual attacks are done with guns, usually 9 mm, fired from a short distance; victims die from serious intracranial damage. Collective attacks are done using explosives under vehicles, tramp bombs, or "bomb vehicles;" victims are of different severity with wounds, burns, and blast injuries. With mass attacks with "bomb vehicles" in buildings or crowded public places, the numbers of victims are elevated and produce brutal social consequences. Emergency Medical Services integrated in to "Civil Defense" try to minimize the damage by initializing treatment on-scene and with the rapid provision of definitive care. During the last year, post-traumatic stress disorder treatment groups have been providing care to the victims and personnel. Chemical or biological weapons have not been used, although this is a great concern to the authorities.

Fear of Terrorism and Preparedness in New York City 2 Years After the Attacks: Implications for Disaster Planning and Research

PubMed Central

Boscarino, Joseph A.; Adams, Richard E.; Figley, Charles R.; Galea, Sandro; Foa, Edna B.

2009-01-01

Objectives To help improve disaster planning and research, we studied psychosocial predictors of terrorism fear and preparedness among New York City residents after the World Trade Center disaster (WTCD). Method We conducted a random cross-sectional survey of 1,681 adults interviewed 2 years after the WTCD. Participants were living in New York City at the time of the attack and exposed to ongoing terrorist threats. Results We found 44.9 percent (95% confidence interval [CI] = 41.9−47.9) of residents were concerned about future attacks and 16.9 percent (95% CI = 14.7−19.3) reported a fear level of “10” on a 10-point analog scale. Furthermore, 14.8 percent (95% CI = 12.8−17.0) reported they had made some plans for a future attack, a significant increase from the previous year. In addition, although 42.6 percent (95% CI = 39.6−45.7) indicated that they would likely wait for evacuation instructions following a chemical, biological, or nuclear attack, 34.4 percent (95% CI = 31.5−37.3) reported they would evacuate immediately against official advice. Predictors of high terrorism fear in a multivariate model included Hispanic ethnicity (odds ratio [OR] = 2.0, P = .006), lower education (OR = 4.4, P < .001, and OR = 3.7, P < .001, respectively, for nonhigh school and high school graduates, compared with college graduates), being exposed to stressful life events (OR = 1.6, P = .048), having current posttraumatic stress disorder (3.1, P < .001), having a fear of death (OR = 2.5, P = .002), and reporting a likelihood of fleeing an attack against advice (OR = 1.5, P = .034). The best predictors of preparedness in a multivariate model was being between 30 to 64 years old (30−44 years old, OR = 2.6, P = .001; 45−64 yeas old, OR = 1.8, P = .03, respectively, compared with 18−29 years old), having higher exposure to the WTCD (moderate exposure, OR = 1.7, P = .05; high exposure, OR = 2.4, P = .002; very high exposure, OR = 4.1, P < .001), respectively, compared with no/little WTCD exposure), and having greater exposure to other lifetime traumatic events (high traumatic event exposure, OR = 2.1, P = .005, compared with no exposure). Conclusion Our study suggests that among those exposed to ongoing terrorism threats, terrorism fear and preparedness were related to socioeconomic factors, mental health status, terrorism exposure levels, and exposure to stressful life events. PMID:17041297

Encyclopedia of Terrorism.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Combs, Cindy C.; Slann, Martin

As recent terrorist attacks on the United States, such as the Oklahoma City (Oklahoma) bombing, and the ongoing conflicts in the Middle East have shown, terrorism is an unfortunate reality that can have potentially devastating effects on governments, businesses, and individuals. This encyclopedia provides students, researchers, journalists, and…

Israeli Adolescents' Coping Strategies in Relation to Terrorist Attacks

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Tatar, Moshe; Amram, Sima

2007-01-01

Exposure to terrorism seriously threatens the well-being of children and adolescents. Israeli citizens have witnessed massive ongoing terrorist attacks during the last few years. The present research, conducted among 330 Israeli adolescents, examined coping strategies in relation to terrorist attacks. We found that adolescents utilize more…

On the Concept and Definition of Terrorism Risk.

PubMed

Aven, Terje; Guikema, Seth

2015-12-01

In this article, we provide some reflections on how to define and understand the concept of terrorism risk in a professional risk assessment context. As a basis for this discussion we introduce a set of criteria that we believe should apply to any conceptualization of terrorism risk. These criteria are based on both criteria used in other areas of risk analysis and our experience with terrorism risk analysis. That is, these criteria offer our perspective. We show that several of the suggested perspectives and definitions have weaknesses in relation to these criteria. A main problem identified is the idea that terrorism risk can be conceptualized as a function of probability and consequence, not as a function of the interactions between adaptive individuals and organizations. We argue that perspectives based solely on probability and consequence should be used cautiously or not at all because they fail to reflect the essential features of the concept of terrorism risk, the threats and attacks, their consequences, and the uncertainties, all in the context of adaptation by the adversaries. These three elements should in our view constitute the main pillars of the terrorism risk concept. From this concept we can develop methods for assessing the risk by identifying a set of threats, attacks, and consequence measures associated with the possible outcome scenarios together with a description of the uncertainties and interactions between the adversaries. © 2015 Society for Risk Analysis.

Quality of life, needs and the mode of coping of the health personnel at Naradhiwasrajanagarindra Hospital in terrorism influence area in Thailand.

PubMed

Thomyangkoon, Prakarn; Kongsakon, Ronnachai; Pornputkul, Virul; Putthavarang, Thanuch

2012-03-01

The present study was to identify the quality of life (QOL), the needs of help and the mode of coping among the health personnel of Naradhiwasrajana garindra Hospital in a terrorism situation, the first research in Thailand. The chaos of separatist insurgency in the southern part of Thailand has been re-emerged since 2004. The present study was seeking for ways the health personnel coped with the situation while their quality of life and needs that were affected how they had handled the events were explored. General questionnaire, quality of life rand 36 SF-36 questionnaires, help seeking questionnaire and Mode of coping with the terrorism questionnaire were sent to all health personnel in the hospital in November 2007. 392 (65.3%) complete questionnaire were received from 600 distributed papers. They were female 328 (83.7%) and male 64 (16.3%), at the age of 21-59 years old (the mean age of 39.05 SD +/- 9.82), with three different religions, Buddhist 269 (68.6%), Muslim 122 (31.1%) and Christian 1 (0.30%). Thirty nine responses (9.9%) had been directly exposed to a terrorist attack, while 353 responses (90.1%) had a family member or friends who had been exposed. The results revealed that the overall mean scores of QOL were 73.1 +/- SD 15.5. Mean scores of male were significantly lower than female in general health, social functioning and role-emotional subscales. QOL mean scores of those with no terrorism exposure were significantly higher than those with terrorism exposure in role-physical, social functioning and mental health subscales. The most need of help for the personnel was safety of life and belongings (30.6%) followed by the need of money (23.0%). To cope with the terrorist attack, people (81.7%) would always resort to religious beliefs (72.0%) talk it out with coworkers, friends about their feelings, and (68.7%) inquire about the safety of their families and friends after the incident. Certainly, terrorism affected QOL and the most need of people in violent areas was life safety which agrees with Maslow's hierarchy of needs.

Transnational Terrorism’s Affect on the U.S. Economy

DTIC Science & Technology

2004-03-19

economic stability is still visible; however the research in this paper indicates the U.S. economy is very resilient and that it would take a great deal of domestic and external pressure to generate a long-term and lasting economic affect. This paper analyzes the impact terrorism has had on the U.S. economy and seeks to determine how well the U.S. economy will stand to future terrorist attacks on U.S. soil that match magnitude of economic affect caused by the attacks of September 11 2001. To the

Cognitive simplicity and self-deception are crucial in martyrdom and suicide terrorism.

PubMed

Fink, Bernhard; Trivers, Robert

2014-08-01

Suicide attacks and terrorism are characterized by cognitive simplicity, which is related to self-deception. In justifying violence in pursuit of ideologically and/or politically driven commitment, people with high religious commitment may be particularly prone to mechanisms of self-deception. Related megalomania and glorious self-perception are typical of self-deception, and are thus crucial in the emergence and expression of (suicide) terrorism.

A School-Based, Teacher-Mediated Prevention Program (Erase-Stress) for Reducing Terror-Related Traumatic Reactions in Israeli Youth: A Quasi-Randomized Controlled Trial

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Gelkopf, Marc; Berger, Rony

2009-01-01

Background: Since September 2000 Israeli children have been exposed to a large number of terrorist attacks. A universal, school-based intervention for dealing with the threat of terrorism as well as with terror-related symptoms, ERASE-Stress (ES), was evaluated in a male religious middle school in southern Israel. The program was administered by…

Cyber-Terrorism and Cyber-Crime: There Is a Difference

DTIC Science & Technology

The terms cyber -terrorism and cyber -crime have many varying definitions depending on who is defining them. For example, individuals with expertise in...considerations and, when investigating a cyber -attack, procedural considerations. By examining the strengths and weaknesses of several definitions offered by...national security, law enforcement, industry, law, and scholars, this research constructs a list of parameters to consider when formulating definitions for cyber -terrorism and cyber -crime.

Combating terrorism : federal agencies' efforts to implement national policy and strategy

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1997-09-01

The threat of terrorist attacks against U.S. citizens and property both at home and abroad has been an issue of growing national concern. As requested, the General Accounting Office (GAO) reviewed U.S. efforts to combat terrorism. This report discuss...

Gender Imbalance and Terrorism in Developing Countries.

PubMed

Younas, Javed; Sandler, Todd

2017-03-01

This article investigates whether gender imbalance may be conducive to domestic terrorism in developing countries. A female-dominated society may not provide sufficient administration, law, or order to limit domestic terrorism, especially since societies in developing countries primarily turn to males for administration, policing, and paramilitary forces. Other economic considerations support female imbalance resulting in grievance-generated terrorism. Because male dominance may also be linked to terrorism, empirical tests are ultimately needed to support our prediction. Based on panel data for 128 developing countries for 1975 to 2011, we find that female gender imbalance results in more total and domestic terrorist attacks. This female gender imbalance does not affect transnational terrorism in developing countries or domestic and transnational terrorism in developed countries. Further tests show that gender imbalance affects terrorism only when bureaucratic institutions are weak. Many robustness tests support our results.

Gender Imbalance and Terrorism in Developing Countries

PubMed Central

Younas, Javed

2016-01-01

This article investigates whether gender imbalance may be conducive to domestic terrorism in developing countries. A female-dominated society may not provide sufficient administration, law, or order to limit domestic terrorism, especially since societies in developing countries primarily turn to males for administration, policing, and paramilitary forces. Other economic considerations support female imbalance resulting in grievance-generated terrorism. Because male dominance may also be linked to terrorism, empirical tests are ultimately needed to support our prediction. Based on panel data for 128 developing countries for 1975 to 2011, we find that female gender imbalance results in more total and domestic terrorist attacks. This female gender imbalance does not affect transnational terrorism in developing countries or domestic and transnational terrorism in developed countries. Further tests show that gender imbalance affects terrorism only when bureaucratic institutions are weak. Many robustness tests support our results. PMID:28232755

Proximity to terror and post-traumatic stress: a follow-up survey of governmental employees after the 2011 Oslo bombing attack

PubMed Central

Hansen, Marianne B; Nissen, Alexander; Heir, Trond

2013-01-01

Objective To assess the prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms among governmental employees after the 2011 Oslo bombing attack targeted towards the Norwegian Ministries, and to explore the importance of proximity to the bomb explosion as a predictor of PTSD. Design A cross-sectional study. Setting Data were collected from a survey 10 months after the Oslo bombing on 22 July 2011. Participants A total of 3520 employees were invited to the study. Net samples comprised 1927 employees in 14 of the 17 Norwegian Ministries. Outcome measures The employees reported where they were at the time of the explosion. PTSD was assessed with the Norwegian version of the PTSD checklist (PCL). Results A total of 207 of the 1881 (11%) ministerial employees who completed the survey were present at work when the bomb exploded. Of these, a quarter (24%, 95% CI 18.4 to 30.0) had symptom levels equivalent to PTSD, while the prevalence was approximately 4% among those not present at work. In the latter group the prevalence was similar irrespective of whether their location was in Oslo, other places in Norway or abroad. Leadership responsibility was associated with lower risk for PTSD. Conclusions The risk of PTSD is mainly associated with being present at work at the time of a terror attack. For those not present at work, the risk of PTSD is low and independent of proximity to the terror scene. The findings may have implications for planning and priority of healthcare services after a work place terror attack. PMID:23872287

Proximity to terror and post-traumatic stress: a follow-up survey of governmental employees after the 2011 Oslo bombing attack.

PubMed

Hansen, Marianne B; Nissen, Alexander; Heir, Trond

2013-01-01

To assess the prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms among governmental employees after the 2011 Oslo bombing attack targeted towards the Norwegian Ministries, and to explore the importance of proximity to the bomb explosion as a predictor of PTSD. A cross-sectional study. Data were collected from a survey 10 months after the Oslo bombing on 22 July 2011. A total of 3520 employees were invited to the study. Net samples comprised 1927 employees in 14 of the 17 Norwegian Ministries. The employees reported where they were at the time of the explosion. PTSD was assessed with the Norwegian version of the PTSD checklist (PCL). A total of 207 of the 1881 (11%) ministerial employees who completed the survey were present at work when the bomb exploded. Of these, a quarter (24%, 95% CI 18.4 to 30.0) had symptom levels equivalent to PTSD, while the prevalence was approximately 4% among those not present at work. In the latter group the prevalence was similar irrespective of whether their location was in Oslo, other places in Norway or abroad. Leadership responsibility was associated with lower risk for PTSD. The risk of PTSD is mainly associated with being present at work at the time of a terror attack. For those not present at work, the risk of PTSD is low and independent of proximity to the terror scene. The findings may have implications for planning and priority of healthcare services after a work place terror attack.

Coping styles as moderating the relationships between terrorist attacks and well-being outcomes.

PubMed

Braun-Lewensohn, Orna; Celestin-Westreich, Smadar; Celestin, Leon-Patrice; Verleye, Gino; Verté, Dominique; Ponjaert-Kristoffersen, Ingrid

2009-06-01

This study aims to explore use of coping strategies among adolescents and their relationships with well being in the context of ongoing terrorism. Furthermore, we aim to explore to what extent coping styles in addition to exposure variables explain well being of adolescents facing ongoing terror. During September 2003, after three years of ongoing terror attacks, 913 Israeli adolescents aged 12-18 years, completed the following questionnaires during regular class sessions: Demographics, Achenbach's Youth Self Report; Exposure to Terror and Post Traumatic Stress (PTS) questionnaire; Adolescent Coping Scale (ACS) and Brief Symptoms Inventory. Adolescents employed mainly problem solving strategies which mean they have the capacity to cope well in spite of stressful events. Emotional focused coping was associated with PTS and mental health problems. Regression analysis of different exposure and coping variables revealed that exposure, appraisal (subjective exposure) and coping styles explained 26-37% of the variance of different psychological problems. The findings highlight the importance of appraisal (subjective exposure) and coping strategies, for understanding adolescents' mental health outcomes. Moreover, these findings are relevant to the development of prevention/intervention programs that facilitate youth's cognitive and emotional adjustments to ongoing trauma risks and terror threats.

Adjustment Among Area Youth After the Boston Marathon Bombing and Subsequent Manhunt

PubMed Central

Dantowitz, Annie; Chou, Tommy; Edson, Aubrey L.; Elkins, R. Meredith; Kerns, Caroline; Brown, Bonnie; Green, Jennifer Greif

2014-01-01

BACKGROUND: The majority of research on terrorism-exposed youth has examined large-scale terrorism with mass casualties. Limited research has examined children’s reactions to terrorism of the scope of the Boston Marathon bombing. Furthermore, the extraordinary postattack interagency manhunt and shelter-in-place warning made for a truly unprecedented experience in its own right for families. Understanding the psychological adjustment of Boston-area youth in the aftermath of these events is critical for informing clinical efforts. METHODS: Survey of Boston-area parents/caretakers (N = 460) reporting on their child’s experiences during the attack week, as well as psychosocial functioning in the first 6 attack months. RESULTS: There was heterogeneity across youth in attack- and manhunt-related experiences and clinical outcomes. The proportion of youth with likely attack/manhunt-related posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) was roughly 6 times higher among Boston Marathon–attending youth than nonattending youth. Attack and manhunt experiences each uniquely predicted 9% of PTSD symptom variance, with manhunt exposures more robustly associated than attack-related exposures with a range of psychosocial outcomes, including emotional symptoms, conduct problems, hyperactivity/inattention, and peer problems. One-fifth of youth watched >3 hours of televised coverage on the attack day, which was linked to PTSD symptoms, conduct problems, and total difficulties. Prosocial behavior and positive peer functioning buffered the impact of exposure. CONCLUSIONS: Clinical efforts must maintain a broadened focus beyond simply youth present at the blasts and must also include youth highly exposed to the intense interagency pursuit and manhunt. Continued research is needed to understand the adjustment of youth after mass traumas and large-scale manhunts in residential communities. PMID:24918223

The Madrid Train Bombings: A Decision-Making Model Analysis

DTIC Science & Technology

2009-12-11

train bombing terrorist attack AML Anti Money Laundering CFT Combating the Financing of Terrorism ETA Euzkadi Ta Azkatasuna otherwise known as the...Fund board of executives have ―adopted action plans to enhance efforts for AML / CFT [anti money laundering and combating the financing of terrorism...Anti-Money Laundering ( AML ) and Combating the Financing of Terrorism ( CFT ), X-2, http://www1.worldbank.org/finance/html/amlcft /docs/Ref_Guide_EN/v2/10

Civil Military Cooperation for Counterterrorism Operations within the United States

DTIC Science & Technology

2013-03-01

as well as the subsequent attempts to contaminate Americans with anthrax , dramatically exposed the nation’s vulnerabilities to domestic terrorism and...terrorism, natural disasters, large-scale cyber-attacks, and pandemics .”23 One of the primary concerns for the U.S. is the dangerous type of weapons that

Information and the War against Terrorism.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Strickland, Lee S.

2002-01-01

Considers the effectiveness of information and information theory as tools in the war against terrorism following the September 11 attacks, as well as the legal and political authority for their covert use. Topics include understanding the elements of an information network; and using organizational theory to disrupt the target information…

School Mental Health's Response to Terrorism and Disaster.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Weist, Mark D.; Sander, Mark A.; Lever, Nancy A.; Rosner, Leah E.; Pruitt, David B.; Lowie, Jennifer Axelrod; Hill, Susan; Lombardo, Sylvie; Christodulu, Kristin V.

2002-01-01

Explores the response of school mental health to terrorism and disaster, reviewing literature on child and adult reactions to trauma, discussing the development of crisis response teams, and presenting strategies for schools to respond to crises and disaster. One elementary school's experiences in response to the September 11th attacks are…

Gender Differences in PTSD in Israeli Youth Exposed to Terror Attacks

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Laufer, Avital; Solomon, Zahava

2009-01-01

Differences between boys' and girls' exposure to terror and posttraumatic symptoms were examined in a sample of 2,999 Israeli adolescents. Gender differences were also assessed regarding perceived social support, religious beliefs, and ideological commitment. Results indicate that girls reported more posttraumatic symptoms than boys, although boys…

Information and the War against Terrorism, Part V: The Business Implications.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Strickland, Lee S.

2002-01-01

Discussion of changes in business information protection since the September 11th terrorist attacks focuses on three planning goals: continuing to serve the customer in times of threat; implementing new communication paradigms; and establishing a comprehensive knowledge redundancy program. Considers threats other than terrorism, risk management…

Cyber terror.

PubMed

Haugh, Richard

2003-06-01

If terrorists attack America's health care info-tech systems, it probably won't be one big blow but rather a series of small incursions that are much more difficult to detect. How can your hospital protect its IT system before and after such insidious attacks.

Has successful terror gone to ground?

PubMed

Barnett, Arnold

2015-04-01

This article considers all 87 attacks worldwide against air and rail transport systems that killed at least two passengers over the 30-year period of 1982-2011. The data offer strong and statistically significant evidence that successful acts of terror have "gone to ground" in recent years: attacks against aviation were concentrated early in the three decades studied whereas those against rail were concentrated later. Recent data are used to make estimates of absolute and comparative risk for frequent flyers and subway/rail commuters. Point estimates in the "status quo" case imply that mortality risk from successful acts of terror was very low on both modes of transportation and that, whereas risk per trip is higher for air travelers than subway/rail commuters, the rail commuters experience greater risk per year than the frequent flyers. © 2015 Society for Risk Analysis.

Regional Variation in Causes of Injuries among Terrorism Victims for Mass Casualty Events

PubMed Central

Regens, James L.; Schultheiss, Amy; Mould, Nick

2015-01-01

The efficient allocation of medical resources to prepare for and respond to mass casualty events (MCEs) attributable to intentional acts of terrorism is a major challenge confronting disaster planners and emergency personnel. This research article examines variation in regional patterns in the causes of injures associated with 77,258 successful terrorist attacks that occurred between 1970 and 2013 involving the use of explosives, firearms, and/or incendiaries. The objective of this research is to estimate regional variation in the use of different conventional weapons in successful terrorist attacks in each world region on variation in injury cause distributions. Indeed, we find that the distributions of the number of injuries attributable to specific weapons types (i.e., by cause) vary greatly among the 13 world regions identified within the Global Terrorism Database. PMID:26347857

Terrorism threats and preparedness in Canada: the perspective of the Canadian public.

PubMed

Gibson, Stacey; Lemyre, Louise; Clément, Mélanie; Markon, Marie-Pierre L; Lee, Jennifer E C

2007-06-01

Although Canada has not experienced a major terrorist attack, an increased global pending threat has put preparedness at the top of the Canadian government's agenda. Given its strong multicultural community and close proximity to the recently targeted United States, the Canadian experience is unique. However, minimal research exists on the public's reactions to terrorism threats and related preparedness strategies. In order for response initiatives to be optimally effective, it is important that the public's opinions regarding terrorism and preparedness be considered. This qualitative study examined perceptions of terrorism threats among Canadians living in Central and Eastern Canada (N = 75) in the fall of 2004. Conceptualizations of terrorism threat, psychosocial impacts, and sense of preparedness were explored in a series of qualitative interviews. Findings revealed that the majority of Canadians did not feel overly threatened by terrorist attacks, due in part to a perception of terrorist threats as related to global sociopolitical events and a positive Canadian identity. In addition, while most respondents did not feel they were individually affected by the threat of terrorism, there was some concern regarding larger societal impacts, such as increased paranoia, discrimination, and threats to civil liberties. Participants' views on preparedness focused largely on the utility of emergency preparedness strategies and the factors that could mitigate or inhibit preparedness at the individual and institutional levels, with a specific focus on education. Finally, the significant relevance of these findings in shaping terrorism preparedness, both in Canada and generally, is discussed.

2013 Dade W. Moeller lecture: medical countermeasures against radiological terrorism.

PubMed

Moulder, John E

2014-08-01

Soon after the 9-11 attacks, politicians and scientists began to question our ability to cope with a large-scale radiological terrorism incident. The outline of what was needed was fairly obvious: the ability to prevent such an attack, methods to cope with the medical consequences, the ability to clean up afterward, and the tools to figure out who perpetrated the attack and bring them to justice. The medical response needed three components: the technology to determine rapidly the radiation doses received by a large number of people, methods for alleviating acute hematological radiation injuries, and therapies for mitigation and treatment of chronic radiation injuries. Research done to date has shown that a realistic medical response plan is scientifically possible, but the regulatory and financial barriers to achieving this may currently be insurmountable.

Associations between work environment and psychological distress after a workplace terror attack: the importance of role expectations, predictability and leader support.

PubMed

Birkeland, Marianne Skogbrott; Nielsen, Morten Birkeland; Knardahl, Stein; Heir, Trond

2015-01-01

Experiencing terrorism is associated with high levels of psychological distress among survivors. The aim of the present study was to examine whether work environmental factors such as role clarity and predictability, role conflicts, and leader support may protect against elevated levels of psychological distress after a workplace terrorist attack. Data from approximately 1800 ministerial employees were collected ten months after the 2011 Oslo bombing attack which targeted the Norwegian ministries. The results show that after a traumatic event, lower role conflicts, higher role clarity, higher predictability, and higher leader support were independently associated with lower psychological distress. These findings suggest that the workplace environment may be a facilitator of employees' mental health after stressful events.

National Counterterrorism Center: 2007 Report on Terrorism

DTIC Science & Technology

2008-04-30

Approximately one half of the attacks in the NCTC database involve no loss of life. An attack that damages a pipeline and a car bomb attack that kills 100...rose by about 30 percent and 20 percent, respectively. Overall, suicide bombing attacks rose by about 50 percent and suicide car bombings about 40...January 2007, in Nukhaib, Al Anbar, Iraq, armed assailants in three cars attacked two buses transporting Shiite pilgrims back from the Hajj in Mecca to Al

Help-Seeking Behaviours of Adolescents in Relation to Terrorist Attacks: The Perceptions of Israeli Parents

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Tatar, Moshe; Amram, Sima; Kelman, Talia

2011-01-01

Exposure to terrorism poses a challenge for children and adolescents as well as parents. For many years, Israeli citizens have been exposed to ongoing terrorist attacks. The present article is aimed at revealing the reactions of Israeli parents when facing terrorist attacks and their perceptions regarding the help-seeking behaviours of their…

Preparedness and catastrophic event management for the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2010-12-01

The devastating effects of terrorism are distinctly clear and realistic to our generation with the haunting September 11 attacks, the 2005 subway bombings in London, the 2009 attempted Christmas attack, and constant turmoil overseas. Therefore, it is...

Infants, Toddlers, and Terror: Supporting Parents, Helping Children.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Fenichel, Emily, Ed.

2002-01-01

"Zero to Three" is a single-focus bulletin of the National Center for Infants, Toddlers, and Families providing insight from multiple disciplines on the development of infants, toddlers, and their families. Responding to family needs in the wake of September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, this issue focuses on infants, toddlers, and terror.…

Political Ideology and Psychological Symptoms Following Terror

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Laufer, Avital; Solomon, Zahava

2010-01-01

The article examines the associations between political ideology and level of psychological symptoms in youth exposed to terror attacks. The study included 2,999 7th to 10th graders from various parts of Israel. Political ideology was examined in two ways: (a) as a content dimension: "political stand"--holding right, centrist, or left…

Crowdsourcing Intelligence to Combat Terrorism: Harnessing Bottom-Up Collection to Prevent Lone-Wolf Terror Attacks

DTIC Science & Technology

2015-03-01

websites and a YouTube station dedicated to radical Islamic topics. Also in April 2010, Chesser warned via email the creators of South Park, Trey...and severe depression .63 As with the issue of socially withdrawn individuals, not all people with the psychological problems listed above are

Terrorism and Resilience: Adolescents' and Teachers' Responses to September 11, 2001

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Noppe, Illene C.; Noppe, Lloyd D.; Bartell, Denise

2006-01-01

This study examined the impact of terrorism on adolescents, who may be resolving developmental issues regarding their vulnerability to death. Approximately 4 months after the September 11th attacks, a survey was given to 973 Upper Midwest adolescents and teachers. Quantitative analyses indicated that adolescents (especially girls) were frightened…

Epidemiological patterns of suicide terrorism in the civilian Pakistani population.

PubMed

Bhatti, Junaid Ahmad; Mehmood, Amber; Shahid, Muhammad; Bhatti, Sajjad Akbar; Akhtar, Umbreen; Razzak, Junaid Abdul

2011-09-01

In this study, we assessed the epidemiological patterns of suicide terrorism in the civilian population of Pakistan. Information about suicide terrorism-related events, deaths and injuries was extracted from the South-Asian Terrorism Portal (SATP) for the period from 2002 to October 2009. Of 198 events, civilians were involved in 194 events. Civilians accounted for 74.1% (N = 2017) of those who died and 93.8% (N = 6129) of those who were injured. In nine districts, mortality rates were more than one death per 100,000 inhabitants per year. The yearly trend showed a shift of attack targets from foreigners and sectarian targets in 2002-2005 to security forces or general public in 2006-2009. Attacks on public installations (mosques) or political gatherings resulted in a significantly greater (P ≤ 0.02) number of deaths (22 vs. 8) and injuries (59 vs. 24) per event compared with security installations. These results show that prevention might focus on political negotiation with armed groups and that appropriate measures should be taken to protect mosques and political gatherings.

Salivary Cortisol and Psychopathology in Adults Bereaved by the September 11, 2001 Terror Attacks

PubMed Central

Pfeffer, Cynthia R.; Altemus, Margaret; Heo, Moonseong; Jiang, Hong

2013-01-01

Objective This prospective study aimed to describe the nature and time course of HPA axis dysregulation and psychopathology among terror-bereaved spouses. Method Twenty-three spouses bereaved from September 11, 2001 terror attacks and 22 nonbereaved spouses were compared using a psychiatric diagnostic interview (SCID), three days of salivary cortisol collection, and a dexamethasone suppression test. Most subjects had repeated assessments at six month intervals during the two year study. Results After September 11, 2001, bereaved compared to nonbereaved had significantly higher rates of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) (68.1% versus 0%) and major depressive disorder (MDD) (45.5% versus 9.5%). Bereaved had significantly higher morning basal cortisol and less afternoon postdexamethasone cortisol suppression than nonbereaved. Among bereaved, those with PTSD without comorbid MDD had significantly greater afternoon postdexamethasone cortisol suppression than those without psychiatric disorders. Conclusions Terror-related spouse death is a severe stressor associated with persistent HPA axis activation, PTSD, and MDD. However, bereaved spouses who developed PTSD and were not depressed had enhanced postdexamethasone cortisol suppression, evidence of heightened glucocorticoid receptor sensitivity. PMID:19967896

Salivary cortisol and psychopathology in adults bereaved by the September 11, 2001 terror attacks.

PubMed

Pfeffer, Cynthia R; Altemus, Margaret; Heo, Moonseong; Jiang, Hong

2009-01-01

This prospective study aimed to describe the nature and time course of HPA axis dysregulation and psychopathology among terror-bereaved spouses. Twenty-three spouses bereaved from September 11, 2001 terror attacks and 22 nonbereaved spouses were compared using a psychiatric diagnostic interview (SCID), 3 days of salivary cortisol collection, and a dexamethasone suppression test. Most subjects had repeated assessments at 6 month intervals during the 2 year study. After September 11, 2001, bereaved compared to nonbereaved had significantly higher rates ofposttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD; 68.1% versus 0%) and major depressive disorder (MDD; 45.5% versus 9.5%). Bereaved had significantly higher morning basal cortisol and less afternoon postdexamethasone cortisol suppression than nonbereaved. Among bereaved, those with PTSD without comorbid MDD had significantly greater afternoon postdexamethasone cortisol suppression than those without psychiatric disorders. Terror-related spouse death is a severe stressor associated with persistent HPA axis activation, PTSD, and MDD. However, bereaved spouses who developed PTSD and were not depressed had enhanced postdexamethasone cortisol suppression, evidence of heightened glucocorticoid receptor sensitivity.

Post-traumatic stress among rescue workers after terror attacks in Norway.

PubMed

Skogstad, L; Heir, T; Hauff, E; Ekeberg, Ø

2016-10-01

On 22 July 2011, Norway was struck by two terror attacks. Seventy-seven people were killed, and many injured. Rescue workers from five occupational groups and unaffiliated volunteers faced death and despair to assist victims. To investigate the level of, and associations between, demographic variables, exposure and work-related variables and post-traumatic stress symptoms (PTSS). A cross-sectional study of general and psychosocial health care personnel, police officers, firefighters, affiliated and unaffiliated volunteers were conducted ~10 months after the terror attacks. The respondents answered a self-reported questionnaire. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) Checklist - specific (PCL-S) assessed PTSS. There were 1790 participants; response rate was 61%. About 70% of the professional rescue workers had previous work experience with similar tasks or had participated in training or disaster drills. They assessed the rescue work as a success. Firefighters and unaffiliated volunteers reported more perceived threat compared with the other groups. Among the professional personnel, the prevalence of sub-threshold PTSD (PCL 35-49) was 2% and possible PTSD (PCL ≥ 50) 0.3%. The corresponding figures among the unaffiliated volunteers were 24% and 15%, respectively. In the multivariate analysis, female gender (β = 1.7), witnessing injured/dead (β = 2.0), perceived threat (β = 1.1), perceived obstruction in rescue work (β = 1.6), lower degree of previous training (β = -0. 9) and being unaffiliated volunteers (β = 8.3) were significantly associated with PTSS. In the aftermath of a terror attack, professional rescue workers appear to be largely protected from post-traumatic stress reactions, while unaffiliated volunteers seem to be at higher risk. © The Author 2016. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Society of Occupational Medicine. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.

Preventing Terrorism Using Information Sharing Networks

DTIC Science & Technology

2006-09-01

in fusing information and providing valuable intelligence that thwarted a terrorist attack at Disneyland . A videotape was received that contained a...creditable threat of a Sarin gas attack at Disneyland . The LA TEW conducted the initial analysis of the tape and the initial investigation that

The impact of resource loss on Holocaust survivors facing war and terrorism in Israel

PubMed Central

Dekel, R.; Hobfoll, S. E.

2009-01-01

We examined the distress level of 102 Holocaust survivors in Israel during a recent period of continuous exposure of the Israeli population to terror and the threat of missile attack. Based on the Conservation of Resources (COR) theory, we explored the contribution of losses suffered during the Holocaust and of current loss of resources due to terror attacks on their distress level. Twenty one percent of the sample had probable PTSD and high psychological distress levels in general. Current loss of psychosocial resources contributed significantly to survivors’ current PTSD symptomatology and general psychological distress, above the contribution of the previous Holocaust-related loss. Our findings support COR theory, which states that traumatic events are associated with ongoing and often rapid loss of resources. Resource loss, in turn, is associated with higher distress levels. Moreover, current loss of resources compounds the impact of earlier resource losses incurred during the Holocaust. PMID:17453549

A systematic review of pathways to and processes associated with radicalization and extremism amongst Muslims in Western societies.

PubMed

McGilloway, Angela; Ghosh, Priyo; Bhui, Kamaldeep

2015-02-01

Following the terrorist attacks of 9/11 in the USA and 7/7 in the UK, academic interest in factors involved in radicalization and terrorism has increased dramatically. Many related social and psychological theories have been put forward, however terrorism literature still lacks empirical research. In particular, little is known about the early processes and pathways to radicalization. Our aim is to investigate original research on pathways and processes associated with radicalization and extremism amongst people of Muslim heritage living in Western societies, that is, the group prioritized by counter-terrorism policy. Studies included in the review were original qualitative or quantitative primary research published in peer-reviewed journals, identified by searching research databases. All disciplines of journals were included. No single cause or pathway was implicated in radicalization and violent extremism. Individuals may demonstrate vulnerabilities that increase exposure to radicalization; however, the only common characteristic determined that terrorists are generally well-integrated, 'normal' individuals. Engagement in such activity is dependent on a wide range of interacting variables influenced by personal, localized and externalized factors. Further research should examine broader determinants of radicalization in susceptible populations. Future policy should follow this public health approach rather than constructing from perpetrators already committed to engaging in terrorism.

Prevalence and Course of Symptom-Defined PTSD in Individuals Directly or Indirectly Exposed to Terror: A Longitudinal Study.

PubMed

Hansen, Marianne Bang; Birkeland, Marianne Skogbrott; Nissen, Alexander; Blix, Ines; Solberg, Øivind; Heir, Trond

2017-01-01

It is well established that direct exposure to terrorism can result in posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). However, individuals indirectly exposed to terrorism may also develop symptoms of PTSD. This study examined the prevalence and course of symptom-defined PTSD in employees who were present and not present at the site of a workplace terror attack. Survey data from ministerial employees were collected 10, 22, and 34 months after the 2011 bombing in the government district of Oslo. A total of 3,520 employees were initially invited to the study. Response rates of eligible participants were 56% (N = 1,974) at T1, 55% (N = 1,780) at T2, and 54% (N = 1,578) at T3. PTSD was measured using the Post-traumatic Stress Disorder Checklist-Specific (PCL-S). Symptom-defined PTSD was specified as meeting the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition, Text Revision (DSM-IV-TR), B, C, and D criteria. Our findings showed a low and declining prevalence of symptom-defined PTSD in employees indirectly exposed to a workplace terror attack (4%, 3%, and 2% at the three respective times). In employees present at the site of the explosion, PTSD was six- to eightfold more prevalent (24%, 17%, and 17%). Individuals indirectly exposed to terrorism may develop long-lasting posttraumatic stress reactions fulfilling PTSD symptom criteria. Due to the large number of individuals that may be indirectly exposed to terrorism, even a low risk of PTSD may result in high numbers of individuals with substantial posttraumatic stress. Our findings have implications for the planning and implementation of health care services beyond those directly exposed after large-scale terror events.

Lone Actor Terrorist Attack Planning and Preparation: A Data-Driven Analysis.

PubMed

Schuurman, Bart; Bakker, Edwin; Gill, Paul; Bouhana, Noémie

2017-10-23

This article provides an in-depth assessment of lone actor terrorists' attack planning and preparation. A codebook of 198 variables related to different aspects of pre-attack behavior is applied to a sample of 55 lone actor terrorists. Data were drawn from open-source materials and complemented where possible with primary sources. Most lone actors are not highly lethal or surreptitious attackers. They are generally poor at maintaining operational security, leak their motivations and capabilities in numerous ways, and generally do so months and even years before an attack. Moreover, the "loneness" thought to define this type of terrorism is generally absent; most lone actors uphold social ties that are crucial to their adoption and maintenance of the motivation and capability to commit terrorist violence. The results offer concrete input for those working to detect and prevent this form of terrorism and argue for a re-evaluation of the "lone actor" concept. © 2017 The Authors. Journal of Forensic Sciences published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of American Academy of Forensic Sciences.

Aftermath of Terror: A Nationwide Longitudinal Study of Posttraumatic Stress and Worry Across the Decade Following the September 11, 2001 Terrorist Attacks.

PubMed

Garfin, Dana Rose; Poulin, Michael J; Blum, Scott; Silver, Roxane Cohen

2018-02-01

Research conducted in the early years after the September 11, 2001 (9/11) terrorist attacks in New York, Pennsylvania, and Washington, DC demonstrated adverse psychological outcomes among residents of the United States who were exposed to the attacks both directly and indirectly via the media. However, less is known about the impact of this collective trauma over time. Beginning at the end of December 2006, a longitudinal study of a nationally representative sample of U.S. residents (Cohort 2, N = 1,613) examined the long-term effects of 9/11, with annual assessments administered every year for 3 years. We assessed rates of 9/11-related posttraumatic stress (PTS) annually during the first 2 years of the study; during the second and third years of the study, we assessed fear and worry regarding future terrorism. Rates of PTS among participants were compared with those assessed annually in a nationally representative sample between 2002 and 2004 (Cohort 1); results indicated a relatively stable pattern of 9/11-related PTS symptoms for 6 years following the attacks. Five to six years after 9/11, we found an association between 9/11-related PTS and both direct, B = 8.45, 95% CI [4.32, 12.59] and media-based (live television), B = 1.78, 95% CI [0.90, 2.65] exposure to the attacks. Six to 7 years post-9/11, fear and worry regarding future terrorism were predicted by 9/11-related PTS symptoms that had been reported approximately 5 years after the attacks, B = 0.04, 95% CI [0.03, 0.05]. The psychological legacy of 9/11 was perceptible among many U.S. residents throughout the decade that followed. Copyright © 2018 International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies.

Soviet News and Propaganda Analysis Based on RED STAR (The Official Newspaper of the Soviet Defense Establishment) for the Period 1-30 November 1982. Volume 2, Number 11, 1982.

DTIC Science & Technology

1982-01-01

massive propaganda war, based on lies. Patriotic Lebanese attack Israeli forces. • Israelis increase repression and terror against Lebanese. - For...e Israelis increase repression and terror against Lebanese. An analysis of the amount of space by topicp devoted to articles about Israel and Lebanon...Israeli repressions/ terror .............. 21% (4) United States aid/interactions .......... 4% 100% *Represents percent of space in Red Star for Israel

The exploding head syndrome.

PubMed

Green, M W

2001-06-01

This article reviews the features of an uncommon malady termed "the exploding head syndrome." Sufferers describe terrorizing attacks of a painless explosion within their head. Attacks tend to occur at the onset of sleep. The etiology of attacks is unknown, although they are considered to be benign. Treatment with clomipramine has been suggested, although most sufferers require only reassurance that the spells are benign in nature.

Growing up in the Shadow of Terrorism: Youth in America after 9/11

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Eisenberg, Nancy; Silver, Roxane Cohen

2011-01-01

Research conducted in the aftermath of the September 11th terrorist attacks (9/11) suggests that, except for those who directly witnessed or suffered loss from the attacks, for most children the emotional impact was relatively transitory. We review this literature as well as consider other ways in which the attacks may have played a role in the…

Social support buffers the effects of terrorism on adolescent depression: findings from Sderot, Israel.

PubMed

Henrich, Christopher C; Shahar, Golan

2008-09-01

This prospective study of 29 Israeli middle school students experiencing terror attacks by Qassam rockets addressed whether higher levels of baseline social support protected adolescents from adverse psychological effects of exposure to rocket attacks. Participants were assessed at two time points 5 months apart, before and after a period of military escalation from May to September 2007. Adolescent self-reported depression was measured at both time points, using the Center for Epidemiological Studies-Child Depression Scale. Social support from family, friends, and school was measured at time 1, via a short form of the Perceived Social Support Scale. Adolescents also reported their exposure to rocket attacks at both time points. There was a significant interaction between social support and exposure to rocket attacks predicting depression over time. As hypothesized, baseline levels of social support buffered against the effect of exposure to rocket attacks on increased depression. Conversely, social support was associated with increased depression for adolescents who were not exposed to rocket attacks. Findings highlight the potential importance of community mental health efforts to bolster schools, families, and peer groups as protective resources in times of traumatic stress.

Do ICBMs Have a Future

DTIC Science & Technology

2015-06-01

21st century signaled the beginning of a cultural shift towards stopping terror organizations. The initial problem was how to stop the attacks from...hardly deter militias such as the Taliban, or terrorists such as those who attacked New York, Washington, London, Madrid, and Mumbai in recent

The 2013 Dade W. Moeller Lecture: Medical Countermeasures Against Radiological Terrorism

PubMed Central

Moulder, John E.

2014-01-01

Soon after the 9–11 attacks, politicians and scientists began to question our ability to cope with a large-scale radiological terrorism incident. The outline of what was needed was fairly obvious: the ability to prevent such an attack; methods to cope with the medical consequences; the ability to clean up afterwards; and the tools to figure out who perpetrated the attack and bring them to justice. The medical response needed three components: the technology to rapidly determine the radiation doses received by a large number of people, methods for alleviating acute hematological radiation injuries, and therapies for mitigation and treatment of chronic radiation injuries. Research done to date has shown that a realistic medical response plan is scientifically possible, but the regulatory and financial barriers to achieving this may currently be insurmountable. PMID:24978287

The role of revenge, denial, and terrorism distress in restoring just world beliefs: the impact of the 2008 Mumbai attacks on British and Indian students.

PubMed

Ferguson, Neil; Kamble, Shanmukh V

2012-01-01

Just world beliefs for students (N = 413) from India and the United Kingdom were measured. The participants then read a scenario about the 2008 terrorist attacks on Mumbai. The participants were then assessed for terrorism distress and offered multiple strategies (revenge and denial) to restore their just world beliefs. The findings indicate that students resident in India along with those who hold strong just world beliefs felt more distress, held a greater desire for revenge, and demonstrated more denial than the British students and those who had weak beliefs in a just world. These results indicate the important role just world beliefs play in responding to the threat created by mass casualty terrorist attacks. The implications for just world theory are also discussed.

Breivik--the Norwegian terrorist case.

PubMed

Syse, Aslak

2014-01-01

On July 22, 2011, there were two murderous attacks in Norway. Both assaults - the bombing of governmental buildings in Oslo City center and the lethal shooting down of young members of the Labour Party on an island - were planned and accomplished by a lone perpetrator. These episodes give rise to several interesting questions. What happened really, and how could it happen? Was the perpetrator sane or insane? What was the ideological background for the attacks? It is unnecessary to discuss in any detail whether or not these acts should be categorized as terrorism. However, there is good reason to consider what these terror attacks imply for Norwegian society at large. What significance did the attacks have for Norwegian democracy, and did they have any impact on the 2013 parliamentary elections? What will be the future for the offender, both in the short term and in years to come? What will happen to the Norwegian insanity defense? These questions are addressed in this article. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Countermeasures against chemical terrorism in Japan.

PubMed

Okumura, Tetsu; Seto, Yasuo; Fuse, Akira

2013-04-10

Japan has experienced numerous incidents of chemical disasters and terrorist attacks. Here we review the history of changes in countermeasures against such incidents. Since 2004, the Civil Protection Law, more formally known as the "Law Concerning the Measures for Protection of the People in Armed Attack Situations etc" was enacted to fully prepare the nation for chemical terrorism. According to this law, the Japanese government must carry out Civil Protection Exercises on an annual basis to gauge response. Problem areas that remain are chosen and addressed one by one until they are judged to be resolved in subsequent exercises. Copyright © 2013. Published by Elsevier Ireland Ltd.

Health implications of radiological terrorism: Perspectives from Israel

PubMed Central

Hagby, Moti; Goldberg, Avishay; Becker, Steven; Schwartz, Dagan; Bar-Dayan, Yaron

2009-01-01

September 11th events taught us, members of the medical community, that we need to prepared for the worst. Nuclear terror is no longer science fiction. Radiological weapons of mass terror come in three flavors: The first one is nuclear. Since 1992, there have been six known cases of highly enriched uranium or plutonium being intercepted by authorities as it passed in or out of the former Soviet Union. Constructing a nuclear fission weapon requires high-level expertise, substantial facilities, and lots of money. All three of which would be difficult, although not impossible, for a terrorist group to pull off without state support. However, terrorists could carry out potential mass destruction without sophisticated weaponry by targeting nuclear facilities using conventional bombs or hijacked aircrafts. Terror attacks could also carry out mass panic and radioactive contamination of people and environment by dispersal of radioactive materials with or without the use of conventional explosive devices. Most medical and para-medical personnel are not familiar with CBRN terror and radiation casualties. To lessen the impact of those potential attacks and provide care for the greatest number of potential survivors, the community as a whole – and the medical community in particular – must acquire the knowledge of the various signs and symptoms of exposure to irradiation and radioactive contamination as well as have a planned response once such an attack has occurred. Based on knowledge of radiation hazards, medical emergency planers should analyze the risks of each scenario, offer feasible solutions and translate them into internationally accepted plans that would be simple to carry out once such an attack took place. The planned response should be questioned and tested by drills. Those drills should check the triage, evacuation routes, decontamination posts, evacuation centers and receiving hospitals. It is crucial that the drill will consist of simulated casualties that will follow the evacuation route from point zero to the ED. Knowledge and exercise will reduce terror (fear) from radiation and help the community as a whole better cope with such an event. This article will review the general information of radiation types, their biological damage, clinical appearance and general concepts of nuclear event planning, focusing on medical response and focus on the Israeli perspective. PMID:19561972

Terrorism and the behavioral sciences.

PubMed

Schouten, Ronald

2010-01-01

Terrorism has existed for millennia and is a phenomenon well-known to many parts of the world. Americans were forced to recognize this phenomenon, and our vulnerability to it, by two sets of events in 2001: the attacks on New York City and Washington, DC, and the anthrax mailings that followed shortly thereafter. Psychiatry, psychology, and other behavioral and social sciences have been looked to for assistance in collecting and analyzing intelligence data, understanding terrorism, and developing strategies to combat terrorism. In addition to reviewing areas in which the behavioral sciences have made contributions in addressing this problem, this article discusses the developing roles for behavioral scientists in this field.

Societal Responses to Endemic Terror: Evidence from Driving Behavior in Israel

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Stecklov, Guy; Goldstein, Joshua R.

2010-01-01

In this article, using data on traffic volume and fatal accident rates in Israel from 2001 to 2004--a period spanning much of the Second Intifada--we examine the population-level responses to endemic terror to uncover whether societies become habituated so that the response weakens following repeated attacks or whether they become increasingly…

Coping Styles as Moderating the Relationships between Terrorist Attacks and Well-Being Outcomes

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Braun-Lewensohn, Orna; Celestin-Westreich, Smadar; Celestin, Leon-Patrice; Verleye, Gino; Verte, Dominique; Ponjaert-Kristoffersen, Ingrid

2009-01-01

This study aims to explore use of coping strategies among adolescents and their relationships with well being in the context of ongoing terrorism. Furthermore, we aim to explore to what extent coping styles in addition to exposure variables explain well being of adolescents facing ongoing terror. During September 2003, after three years of ongoing…

Social Support Buffers the Effects of Terrorism on Adolescent Depression: Findings from Sderot, Israel

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Henrich, Christopher C.; Shahar, Golan

2008-01-01

A prospective study of 29 Israeli middle school students experiencing rocket attacks in Sderot, Israel, examined if higher levels of baseline social support acted as a buffer against the adverse psychological effects of terrorism on adolescent depression. Results demonstrate the importance of community mental health efforts to promote family,…

"Bin Laden Is Responsible; It Was Shown on Tape": Canadian High School Students' Historical Understanding of Terrorism

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Levesque, Stephane

2003-01-01

The terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, have had tragic effects for history teachers and students in Canada, the United States, and abroad. Yet, despite increased educational research in historical thinking, very little is known about students' historical understanding of terrorism. This exploratory study looks at some Canadian, but…

Fear of Terrorism in New York After the September 11 Terrorist Attacks: Implications for Emergency Mental Health and Preparedness

PubMed Central

Boscarino, Joseph A.; Figley, Charles R.; Adams, Richard E.

2009-01-01

To examine the public’s response to future terrorist attacks, we surveyed 1,001 New Yorkers in the community one year after the September 11 attacks. Overall, New Yorkers were very concerned about future terrorist attacks and also concerned about attacks involving biological or nuclear weapons. In addition, while most New Yorkers reported that if a biological or nuclear attack occurred they would evaluate available information before evacuating, a significant number reported they would immediately evacuate, regardless of police or public health communications to the contrary. The level of public concern was significantly higher on all measures among New York City and Long Island residents (downstate) compared to the rest of the state. A model predicting higher fear of terrorism indicated that downstate residents, women, those 45 to 64 years old, African Americans and Hispanics, those with less education/income, and those more likely to flee, were more fearful of future attacks. In addition, making disaster preparations and carefully evaluating emergency information also predicted a higher level of fear as well. A second model predicting who would flee suggested that those more likely to evaluate available information were less likely to immediately evacuate, while those with a higher fear of future attacks were more likely to flee the area. Given these findings and the possibility of future attacks, mental health professionals need to be more involved in preparedness efforts, especially related to the psychological impact of attacks involving weapons of mass destruction. PMID:14730761

Fear of terrorism in New York after the September 11 terrorist attacks: implications for emergency mental health and preparedness.

PubMed

Boscarino, Joseph A; Figley, Charles R; Adams, Richard E

2003-01-01

To examine the public's response to future terrorist attacks, we surveyed 1,001 New Yorkers in the community one year after the September 11 attacks. Overall, New Yorkers were very concerned about future terrorist attacks and also concerned about attacks involving biological or nuclear weapons. In addition, while most New Yorkers reported that if a biological or nuclear attack occurred they would evaluate available information before evacuating, a significant number reported they would immediately evacuate, regardless of police or public health communications to the contrary. The level of public concern was significantly higher on all measures among New York City and Long Island residents (downstate) compared to the rest of the state. A model predicting higher fear of terrorism indicated that downstate residents, women, those 45 to 64 years old, African Americans and Hispanics, those with less education/income, and those more likely to flee, were more fearful of future attacks. In addition, making disaster preparations and carefully evaluating emergency information also predicted a higher level of fear as well. A second model predicting who would flee suggested that those more likely to evaluate available information were less likely to immediately evacuate, while those with a higher fear of future attacks were more likely to flee the area. Given these findings and the possibility of future attacks, mental health professionals need to be more involved in preparedness efforts, especially related to the psychological impact of attacks involving weapons of mass destruction.

Violence-related Versus Terror-related Stabbings: Significant Differences in Injury Characteristics.

PubMed

Rozenfeld, Michael; Givon, Adi; Peleg, Kobi

2018-05-01

To demonstrate the gap between injury epidemiology of terror-related stabbings (TRS) and non-terror-related intentional stabbings. Terror attacks with sharp instruments have multiplied recently, with many victims of these incidents presented to hospitals with penetrating injuries. Because most practical experience of surgeons with intentional stabbing injuries comes from treating victims of interpersonal violence, potential gaps in knowledge may exist if injuries from TRS significantly differ from interpersonal stabbings (IPS). A retrospective study of 1615 patients from intentional stabbing events recorded in the Israeli National Trauma Registry during the period of "Knife Intifada" (January 2013-March 2016). All stabbings were divided into TRS and IPS. The 2 categories were compared in terms of sustained injuries, utilization of hospital resources, and clinical outcomes. TRS patients were older, comprised more females and were ethnically homogenous. Most IPS incidents happened on weekdays and at night hours, whereas TRS events peaked midweek during morning and afternoon hours. TRS patients had more injuries of head, face, and neck, and severe head and neck injuries. IPS patients had more abdomen injuries; however, respective injuries in the TRS group were more severe. Greater injury severity of the TRS patients reflected on their higher hospital resources utilization and greater in-hospital mortality. Victims of terror stabbings are profoundly different in their characteristics, sustain injuries of a different profile and greater severity, require more hospital resources, and have worse off clinical outcomes, emphasizing the need of the healthcare systems to adjust itself appropriately to deal successfully with future terror attacks.

Radicalization, Linkage, and Diversity: Current Trends in Terrorism in Europe

DTIC Science & Technology

2011-01-01

Restaurant in Exeter Only the attacker was injured Independent June 2008 Nicholas Roddis United Kingdom Unknown Attacker arrested Independent August...is evolving into a sort of franchise organ- isation, which acts as a point of reference for independent terrorist groups or individuals.5 Sageman’s

Americans Respond Politically to 9/11: Understanding the Impact of the Terrorist Attacks and Their Aftermath

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Huddy, Leonie; Feldman, Stanley

2011-01-01

The 9/11 terrorist attacks have had profound effect on U.S. domestic and foreign security policy, leading to several expensive wars and the erosion of civil liberties (under the USA PATRIOT Act). We review evidence on political reactions to the 9/11 attacks and conclude that subjective reactions to terrorism played an important role in shaping…

A benchmark system to optimize our defense against an attack on the US food supply using the Risk Reduction Effectiveness and Capabilities Assessment Program.

PubMed

Hodoh, Ofia; Dallas, Cham E; Williams, Paul; Jaine, Andrew M; Harris, Curt

2015-01-01

A predictive system was developed and tested in a series of exercises with the objective of evaluating the preparedness and effectiveness of the multiagency response to food terrorism attacks. A computerized simulation model, Risk Reduction Effectiveness and Capabilities Assessment Program (RRECAP), was developed to identify the key factors that influence the outcomes of an attack and quantify the relative reduction of such outcomes caused by each factor. The model was evaluated in a set of Tabletop and Full-Scale Exercises that simulate biological and chemical attacks on the food system. More than 300 participants representing more than 60 federal, state, local, and private sector agencies and organizations. The exercises showed that agencies could use RRECAP to identify and prioritize their advance preparation to mitigate such attacks with minimal expense. RRECAP also demonstrated the relative utility and limitations of the ability of medical resources to treat patients if responders do not recognize and mitigate the attack rapidly, and the exercise results showed that proper advance preparation would reduce these deficiencies. Using computer simulation prediction of the medical outcomes of food supply attacks to identify optimal remediation activities and quantify the benefits of various measures provides a significant tool to agencies in both the public and private sector as they seek to prepare for such an attack.

Cyber Operations and Cyber Terrorism, Handbook Number 1.02

DTIC Science & Technology

2005-08-15

Quinn, “Teen Hackers Plead Guilty to Stunning Pentagon Attacks,” Reuters, 31 July 1998, 1; available from http://www.geocities.com/ Area51 ...Hackers Plead Guilty to Stunning Pentagon Attacks.” Reuters, 31 July 1998, 1. Available from http://www.geocities.com/ Area51 /Shadowlands/6583

Using probabilistic terrorism risk modeling for regulatory benefit-cost analysis: application to the Western hemisphere travel initiative in the land environment.

PubMed

Willis, Henry H; LaTourrette, Tom

2008-04-01

This article presents a framework for using probabilistic terrorism risk modeling in regulatory analysis. We demonstrate the framework with an example application involving a regulation under consideration, the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative for the Land Environment, (WHTI-L). First, we estimate annualized loss from terrorist attacks with the Risk Management Solutions (RMS) Probabilistic Terrorism Model. We then estimate the critical risk reduction, which is the risk-reducing effectiveness of WHTI-L needed for its benefit, in terms of reduced terrorism loss in the United States, to exceed its cost. Our analysis indicates that the critical risk reduction depends strongly not only on uncertainties in the terrorism risk level, but also on uncertainty in the cost of regulation and how casualties are monetized. For a terrorism risk level based on the RMS standard risk estimate, the baseline regulatory cost estimate for WHTI-L, and a range of casualty cost estimates based on the willingness-to-pay approach, our estimate for the expected annualized loss from terrorism ranges from $2.7 billion to $5.2 billion. For this range in annualized loss, the critical risk reduction for WHTI-L ranges from 7% to 13%. Basing results on a lower risk level that results in halving the annualized terrorism loss would double the critical risk reduction (14-26%), and basing the results on a higher risk level that results in a doubling of the annualized terrorism loss would cut the critical risk reduction in half (3.5-6.6%). Ideally, decisions about terrorism security regulations and policies would be informed by true benefit-cost analyses in which the estimated benefits are compared to costs. Such analyses for terrorism security efforts face substantial impediments stemming from the great uncertainty in the terrorist threat and the very low recurrence interval for large attacks. Several approaches can be used to estimate how a terrorism security program or regulation reduces the distribution of risks it is intended to manage. But, continued research to develop additional tools and data is necessary to support application of these approaches. These include refinement of models and simulations, engagement of subject matter experts, implementation of program evaluation, and estimating the costs of casualties from terrorism events.

The Potential Impact of an Anthrax Attack on Real Estate Prices and Foreclosures in Seattle.

PubMed

Dormady, Noah; Szelazek, Thomas; Rose, Adam

2014-01-01

This article provides a methodology for the economic analysis of the potential consequences of a simulated anthrax terrorism attack on real estate within the Seattle metropolitan area. We estimate spatially disaggregated impacts on median sales price of residential housing within the Seattle metro area following an attack on the central business district (CBD). Using a combination of longitudinal panel regression and GIS analysis, we find that the median sales price in the CBD could decline by as much as $280,000, and by nearly $100,000 in nearby communities. These results indicate that total residential property values could decrease by over $50 billion for Seattle, or a 33% overall decline. We combine these estimates with HUD's 2009 American Housing Survey (AHS) to further predict 70,000 foreclosures in Seattle spatial zones following the terrorism event. © 2013 Society for Risk Analysis.

A Guide to Teaching about the War on Terrorism. Footnotes. Volume 8, Number 1

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Dickler, Paul

2003-01-01

Discussion of terrorism and the war against it has remained front and center in American's lives and America's classrooms since September 11, 2001. The author suggests four areas for examining this subject from the perspective of the 18 months since the attack: (1) Iraq (Fighting the War, Results of the War and the "endgame," Iraq and…

Recognition of Facial Expressions of Mixed Emotions in School-Age Children Exposed to Terrorism

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Scrimin, Sara; Moscardino, Ughetta; Capello, Fabia; Altoe, Gianmarco; Axia, Giovanna

2009-01-01

This exploratory study aims at investigating the effects of terrorism on children's ability to recognize emotions. A sample of 101 exposed and 102 nonexposed children (mean age = 11 years), balanced for age and gender, were assessed 20 months after a terrorist attack in Beslan, Russia. Two trials controlled for children's ability to match a facial…

Disrupting Islamophobia: Teaching the Social Construction of Terrorism in the Mass Media

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

McQueeney, Krista

2014-01-01

This article presents a critical media literacy technique for teaching about the social construction of terrorism. In a post-9/11 context where the human rights of Arabs and Muslims in the United States and overseas are threatened by drone attacks, profiling, detentions, and hate crimes, educators must not shy away from this issue. I use visual…

Staff Judge Advocate Deskbook. Revised

DTIC Science & Technology

1994-01-01

precision in defiming and interpreting the rules of customary law has been a principal motivation behind efforts to codify LOAC through treaties and...by state vessels or attacks without a profit motivation . Despite its romantic legends piracy is not a thing of the past, but an ongoing and very...common criminal activity. 0903 DEFINING TERRORISM International terrorism is the premeditated, politically motivated violence perpetrated against

Regulating Nation-State Cyber Attacks in Counterterrorism Operations

DTIC Science & Technology

2010-06-01

24 e. The 1973 United Nations Convention to Prevent and Punish Acts of Terrorism in the Form of Crimes Against...International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism ......................28 n. The 1998 Rome Statute and the Crime of Aggression...Intelligence Agency, https://www.cia.gov/news-information/ speeches -testimony/2000/cyberthreats_022300.html. 3 Peter Brookes, “The Cyberspy Threat

Adult Public Education for Nuclear Terrorism: An Analysis of Cold War and War on Terror Preparedness Discourses

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Fisher, Debra A.

2014-01-01

The nuclear terrorist threat is far greater today than ever before, but the United States is unprepared to respond to the aftermath of a nuclear attack, whether perpetrated by rogue nuclear countries or the terrorist groups they support. Following the detonation of an improvised nuclear device (IND), citizens, not government personnel, become the…

Applications for Navy Unmanned Aircraft Systems

DTIC Science & Technology

2010-01-01

ABUSE TERRORISM AND HOMELAND SECURITY TRANSPORTATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE WORKFORCE AND WORKPLACE The RAND Corporation is a nonprofit institution that... comunication intelligence (COMINT) collection, and airborne electronic attack applications. If the UCAS-D program is successful in addressing many of the...SATCOM availability to global war on terrorism and major combat operations in regions where SATCOM is denied by noise jamming or kinetic threats. As

Terrorism in Peru.

PubMed

Barrientos Hernandez, Dora H; Church, Adam L

2003-01-01

Two major domestic terrorist groups have plagued Peru over the past 20 years, the Sendero Luminoso or "Shining Path" (SL) and the Revolutionary Movement Túpac Amaru (MRTA). On 28 August 2003, the Peruvian Truth and Reconciliation Commission reported that an estimated 69,280 persons were killed in the internal conflict in Peru from 1980 to 2000. Most of the victims were farmers (56%), most attacks occurred in rural settings (79%), and the SL was responsible for most of the deaths (54%). Aggressive anti-terrorism efforts by police and military during this period, often at the expense of basic human rights, also contributed to this large burden of terrorism on Peru. During the 1990s, terrorist attacks in Peru had spread to its urban areas. On 17 December 1996, 22 members of MRTA took over the Japanese ambassador's residence in Lima, holding 72 hostages until the grounds were stormed by Peruvian special forces on 23 April 1997. Until recently, emergency planning and preparedness for terrorism-related events in Peru were largely underdeveloped. In the last five years, Peru has taken two key steps towards developing a mature emergency response system, with the establishment of the country's first emergency medicine residency training program and the construction of the first dedicated trauma center in Lima.

Development and validation of the coping with terror scale.

PubMed

Stein, Nathan R; Schorr, Yonit; Litz, Brett T; King, Lynda A; King, Daniel W; Solomon, Zahava; Horesh, Danny

2013-10-01

Terrorism creates lingering anxiety about future attacks. In prior terror research, the conceptualization and measurement of coping behaviors were constrained by the use of existing coping scales that index reactions to daily hassles and demands. The authors created and validated the Coping with Terror Scale to fill the measurement gap. The authors emphasized content validity, leveraging the knowledge of terror experts and groups of Israelis. A multistep approach involved construct definition and item generation, trimming and refining the measure, exploring the factor structure underlying item responses, and garnering evidence for reliability and validity. The final scale comprised six factors that were generally consistent with the authors' original construct specifications. Scores on items linked to these factors demonstrate good reliability and validity. Future studies using the Coping with Terror Scale with other populations facing terrorist threats are needed to test its ability to predict resilience, functional impairment, and psychological distress.

Terrorism and resilience: adolescents' and teachers' responses to September 11, 2001.

PubMed

Noppe, Illene C; Noppe, Lloyd D; Bartell, Denise

2006-01-01

This study examined the impact of terrorism on adolescents, who may be resolving developmental issues regarding their vulnerability to death. Approximately 4 months after the September 11th attacks, a survey was given to 973 Upper Midwest adolescents and teachers. Quantitative analyses indicated that adolescents (especially girls) were frightened and upset but also used many coping strategies. Qualitative analyses suggested that adolescents were angry as well as tired of hearing about the events. Teachers discussed the attack's historical significance, student safety, and a desire to resume "normalcy." Adolescence resilience was seen by the making of a coherent narrative of September 11th and by focusing on their daily living.

Is the Department of State Accountability Review Board Process adequate

DTIC Science & Technology

2017-05-25

of calculated terror campaigns, psychological conflict waged by nation or sub- group against nation, with an ever- broadening range of targets...the attack.11 However, the most politically significant attack occurred on November 4, when a large group of students and militants again stormed...the terrorist group Islamic Jihad carried out an attack against the US Embassy in Beirut, Lebanon. The bomb partially destroyed the U.S. Embassy and

Suicide Bombers in CONUS

DTIC Science & Technology

2007-05-07

example, the 1972 attack at Tel Aviv’s Lod airport by three Japanese Red Army members (24 dead, 78 wounded) would not qualify as suicide terrorism, since...such actions as the massive Japanese kamikaze (divine wind) campaign near the end of World War II. To put the kamikaze effort in perspective, in...casualties as were suffered during the Pearl Harbor and 9/11 attacks combined. However, the Japanese tactic of using suicidal attackers was regarded

The impact of ongoing national terror on the community of hospital nurses in Israel.

PubMed

Ron, Pnina; Shamai, Michal

2014-04-01

The main goal of this study was to explore the connections between the exposure of nurses in Israel to national terror and the levels of distress experienced due to ongoing terror attacks. The data were collected from 214 nurses from various parts of Israel who work in three types of heath services (mainly hospital departments) and provide help to victims of terror. The nurses reported very high levels of burnout, high levels of stress and medium-to high levels of intrusive memories. Levels of exposure were associated with burnout, intrusive memories and level of stress. More professional attention should be given to hospital nurses who provide care for trauma patients.

The normalisation of terror: the response of Israel's stock market to long periods of terrorism.

PubMed

Peleg, Kobi; Regens, James L; Gunter, James T; Jaffe, Dena H

2011-01-01

Man-made disasters such as acts of terrorism may affect a society's resiliency and sensitivity to prolonged physical and psychological stress. The Israeli Tel Aviv stock market TA-100 Index was used as an indicator of reactivity to suicide terror bombings. After accounting for factors such as world market changes and attack severity and intensity, the analysis reveals that although Israel's financial base remained sensitive to each act of terror across the entire period of the Second Intifada (2000-06), sustained psychological resilience was indicated with no apparent overall market shift. In other words, we saw a 'normalisation of terror' following an extended period of continued suicide bombings. The results suggest that investors responded to less transitory global market forces, indicating sustained resilience and long-term market confidence. Future studies directly measuring investor expectations and reactions to man-made disasters, such as terrorism, are warranted. © 2011 The Author(s). Disasters © Overseas Development Institute, 2011.

Psychosocial framework for understanding psychological distress among survivors of the November 26, 2008 Mumbai terror attack: beyond traumatic experiences and emergency medical care.

PubMed

Joseph, Jacquleen; Jaswal, Surinder

2014-06-01

The field of "Public Health in Disasters and Complex Emergencies" is replete with either epidemiological studies or studies in the area of hospital preparedness and emergency care. The field is dominated by hospital-based or emergency phase-related literature, with very little attention on long-term health and mental health consequences. The social science, or the public mental health perspective, too, is largely missing. It is in this context that the case report of the November 26, 2008 Mumbai terror attack survivors is presented to bring forth the multi-dimensional and dynamic long-term impacts, and their consequences for psychological well-being, two years after the incident. Based on literature, the report formulates a theoretical framework through which the lived experiences of the survivors is analyzed and understood from a social science perspective. This report is an outcome of the ongoing work with the survivors over a period of two years. A mixed methodology was used. It quantitatively captures the experience of 231 families following the attack, and also uses a self-reporting questionnaire (SRQ), SRQ20, to understand the psychological distress. In-depth qualitative case studies constructed from the process records and in-depth interviews focus on lived experiences of the survivors and explain the patterns emerging from the quantitative analysis. This report outlines the basic profile of the survivors, the immediate consequences of the attack, the support received, psychological consequences, and the key factors contributing to psychological distress. Through analysis of the key factors and the processes emerging from the lived experiences that explain the progression of vulnerability to psychological distress, this report puts forth a psychosocial framework for understanding psychological distress among survivors of the November 26, 2008 Mumbai terror attack.

Strategies for the War on Terrorism: Results of a Special Study

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

MOORE, JUDY H.

2002-08-01

On September 13, 2001, the first day after the attacks of September 11 that Sandia National Laboratories re-opened, Vice President Gerry Yonas entirely redirected the efforts of his organization, the Advanced Concepts Group (ACG), to the problem of terrorism. For the next several weeks, the ACG focused on trying to better characterize the international terrorist threat and the vulnerabilities of the US to further attacks. This work culminated in a presentation by Dr . Yonas to the Fall Leadership Focus meeting at Sandia National Laboratories on October 22. Following that meeting, President and Lab Director, Paul Robinson, asked Dr. Yonasmore » and the ACG to develop a long-term (3-5 year) technology roadmap showing how Sandia could direct efforts to making major contributions to the success of the nation's war on terrorism. The ACG effort would communicate with other Labs activities working on near-term responses to Federal calls for technological support. The ACG study was conducted in two phases. The first, more exploratory, stage divided the terrorism challenge into three broad parts, each examined by a team that included both permanent ACG staff and part-time staff and consultants from other Sandia organizations. The ''Red'' team looked at the problems of finding and stopping terrorists before they strike (or strike again). The ''Yellow'' team studied the problems of protecting people and facilities from terrorist attacks, as well as those of responding to attacks that occur. The ''Green'' team attempted to understand the long-term, ''root'' causes of terrorism, and how technology might help ameliorate the conditions that lead people to support, or even become, terrorists. In addition, a ''Purple'' team worked with the other teams to provide an integrating vision for them all, to help make appropriate connections among them, and to see that they left no important gaps between them. The findings of these teams were presented to a broad representation of laboratory staff and management on January 3, 2002. From the many ideas explored by the Red, Green, and Yellow teams, and keeping in mind criteria formulated by the Purple team, the ACG assembled a set of five major technology development goals. These goals, if pursued, could lead to major contributions to the war on terrorism. With some rearrangement of team members and coordinators, a new set of teams began fleshing out these five ''Big Hairy Audacious Goals'' for the consideration of Laboratory leadership. Dr. Yonas briefed Sandia upper management on the work of these teams on February 4, 2002. This report presents the essence of that work as applicable to the R&D community of the nation interested in the development of better tools for a long term ''War on Terrorism.''« less

Ethical dilemmas, work-related guilt, and posttraumatic stress reactions of news journalists covering the terror attack in Norway in 2011.

PubMed

Backholm, Klas; Idås, Trond

2015-04-01

News journalists working on crisis-related assignments may experience dilemmas with regard to how to conduct their work without causing additional harm to first-hand victims. In this study, we investigated how exposure to journalistic ethical dilemmas during the Oslo/Utøya terror attack in 2011 and subsequent work-related guilt were related to the development of posttraumatic stress (PTS) reactions. Norwegian journalists (N = 371) covering the terror attack participated in a web-based survey 8-9 months after the incident. We found that females reported more ethical dilemmas during the assignment than males (n = 356, d = 0.51). We also found that being on the scene was not related to more exposure to dilemmas (n = 311, d = 0.01). Moreover, we discovered that work-related guilt had a significant indirect effect on the relationship between exposure to ethical dilemmas and severity of PTS reactions (n = 344, completely standardized indirect effect size = .11, 95% CI [.04, .19]. The results showed that exposure to ethical dilemmas may affect the development of long-term psychological impairment. We concluded that media organizations can prevent postcrisis impairment by preparing employees for possible exposure to dilemmas during crisis-related assignments. Copyright © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc., A Wiley Company.

Evolving School-Crisis Management since 9/11

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Brickman, Heather K.; Jones, Stephanie E.; Groom, Sara E.

2004-01-01

The word "terrorism" has become commonplace in the headlines, workplaces, and homes since September 11, 2001. In the past, school crisis plans commonly addressed how to evacuate in the event of a gas leak or fire. Today, schools must be prepared to address biological, chemical, and radiological attacks, as well as car bombings, suicide attacks,…

The Threat Among Us: Insiders Intensify Aviation Terrorism

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Krull, Katie E.

Aviation terrorism is powerful and symbolic, and will likely remain a staple target for terrorists aiming to inflict chaos and cause mass casualties similar to the 9/11 attacks on the U.S. The majority of international and domestic aviation terrorist attacks involves outsiders, or people who do not have direct access to or affiliation with a target through employment. However, several significant attacks and plots against the industry involved malicious employees motivated by suicide or devotion to a terrorist organization. Malicious insiders’ access and knowledge of aviation security, systems, networks, and infrastructure is valuable to terrorists, providing a different pathway formore » attacking the industry through the insider threat. Indicators and warnings of insider threats in these cases exist, providing insight into how security agencies, such as the Transportation Security Administration, can better predict and identify insider involvement. Understanding previous aviation insider threat events will likely aid in stimulating proactive security measures, rather than reactive responses. However, similar to traditional airport security measures, there are social, political, and economic challenges in protecting against the insider threat, including privacy concerns and cost-benefit analysis.« less

Terrorism: National Security Policy and the Home Front.

DTIC Science & Technology

1995-05-15

militia commanders, linked by a common ideology and background. In addition, clans and families have dominated large factions within Hizbollah. In the ... placed significant weight on developing a strong military arm. The State Department’s 1993 report on international terrorism lists Hizbollah’s...with Syria and Lebanon. The most violent round of clashes since the Israeli invasion of Lebanon took place in July 1993, after Hizbollah attacks

The Long March. Building an Afghan National Army

DTIC Science & Technology

2009-01-01

UNDP, 2007). Illiteracy and gender discrimination remain widespread. Additionally, 2006 witnessed a significant rise in terror- ist attacks and a 59...TERRORISM AND HOMELAND SECURITY TRANSPORTATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE WORKFORCE AND WORKPLACE The RAND Corporation is a nonprofit research organization...ANA) is seen as a sine qua non for security in Afghanistan. The recent resurgence of the Taliban, operating out of bases in Pakistan and parts of

Terrorism--What Every Teacher Should Know. A Resource Guide for the Classroom.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Levy, Tedd, Ed.

The September 11, 2001 attack on the United States and the killing of thousands of innocent people mark the end of one world and the beginning of another for many. For the United States, global issues became personalized. This resource guide seeks to place terrorism in the context of world affairs, in the belief that students need to know how to…

Moments of Goodness: An Analysis of Ethical and Educational Dimensions of the Terror Attack on Utøya, Norway (July 22, 2011)

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kristiansen, Aslaug

2015-01-01

The analysis is based on some moral experiences taking place during a terrorist attack on the Norwegian Labor Party's youth camp on the island of Utøya (outside of Oslo) July 22, 2011, where 69 young people were killed and several seriously injured. After the attack many of the survivors told stories of how strangers spontaneous had helped and…

Mass casualty response in the 2008 Mumbai terrorist attacks.

PubMed

Roy, Nobhojit; Kapil, Vikas; Subbarao, Italo; Ashkenazi, Isaac

2011-12-01

The November 26-29, 2008, terrorist attacks on Mumbai were unique in its international media attention, multiple strategies of attack, and the disproportionate national fear they triggered. Everyone was a target: random members of the general population, iconic targets, and foreigners alike were under attack by the terrorists. A retrospective, descriptive study of the distribution of terror victims to various city hospitals, critical radius, surge capacity, and the nature of specialized medical interventions was gathered through police, legal reports, and interviews with key informants. Among the 172 killed and 304 injured people, about four-fifths were men (average age, 33 years) and 12% were foreign nationals. The case-fatality ratio for this event was 2.75:1, and the mortality rate among those who were critically injured was 12%. A total of 38.5% of patients arriving at the hospitals required major surgical intervention. Emergency surgical operations were mainly orthopedic (external fixation for compound fractures) and general surgical interventions (abdominal explorations for penetrating bullet/shrapnel injuries). The use of heavy-duty automatic weapons, explosives, hostages, and arson in these terrorist attacks alerts us to new challenges to medical counterterrorism response. The need for building central medical control for a coordinated response and for strengthening public hospital capacity are lessons learned for future attacks. These particular terrorist attacks had global consequences, in terms of increased security checks and alerts for and fears of further similar "Mumbai-style" attacks. The resilience of the citizens of Mumbai is a critical measure of the long-term effects of terror attacks.

The global war on terror: four years on.

PubMed

Rogers, Paul

2006-01-01

The progress of the global war on terror in the four years since the 9 September 2001 attack on New York and Washington is surveyed, with particular reference to its objective of curtailing the activities of al-Qaida, the situation in Afghanistan and Iraq, and the threat to the United States from the 'axis of evil'. It is suggested that the US is unlikely to withdraw from Iraq in particular because of its dependency upon access to Middle East oil in the foreseeable future, and accordingly that the global war on terror is likely to continue for several years at least.

Managing burn victims of suicide bombing attacks: outcomes, lessons learnt, and changes made from three attacks in Indonesia.

PubMed

Chim, Harvey; Yew, Woon Si; Song, Colin

2007-01-01

Terror attacks in Southeast Asia were almost nonexistent until the 2002 Bali bomb blast, considered the deadliest attack in Indonesian history. Further attacks in 2003 (Jakarta), 2004 (Jakarta), and 2005 (Bali) have turned terrorist attacks into an ever-present reality. The authors reviewed medical charts of victims evacuated to the Singapore General Hospital (SGH) Burns Centre during three suicide attacks involving Bali (2002 and 2005) and the Jakarta Marriott hotel (2003). Problems faced, lessons learnt, and costs incurred are discussed. A burns disaster plan drawing on lessons learnt from these attacks is presented. Thirty-one patients were treated at the SGH Burns Centre in three attacks (2002 Bali attack [n = 15], 2003 Jakarta attack [n = 14], and 2005 Bali attack [n = 2]). For the 2002 Bali attack, median age was 29 years (range 20 to 50 years), median percentage of total burn surface area (TBSA) was 29% (range 5% to 55%), and median abbreviated burn severity index (ABSI) was 6 (range 3 to 10). Eight of 15 patients were admitted to the intensive care unit. For the 2003 Jakarta attack, median age was 35 years (range 24 to 56 years), median percentage of TBSA was 10% (range 2% to 46%), and median ABSI was 4 (range 3 to 9). A large number of patients had other injuries. Problems faced included manpower issues, lack of bed space, shortage of blood products, and lack of cadaver skin. The changing nature of terror attacks mandates continued vigilance and disaster preparedness. The multidimensional burns patient, complicated by other injuries, is likely to become increasingly common. A burns disaster plan with emphasis on effective command, control, and communication as well as organisation of health care personnel following a 'team concept' will do much to ensure that the sudden onset of a crisis situation at an unexpected time does not overwhelm hospital manpower and resources.

Managing burn victims of suicide bombing attacks: outcomes, lessons learnt, and changes made from three attacks in Indonesia

PubMed Central

Chim, Harvey; Yew, Woon Si; Song, Colin

2007-01-01

Introduction Terror attacks in Southeast Asia were almost nonexistent until the 2002 Bali bomb blast, considered the deadliest attack in Indonesian history. Further attacks in 2003 (Jakarta), 2004 (Jakarta), and 2005 (Bali) have turned terrorist attacks into an ever-present reality. Methods The authors reviewed medical charts of victims evacuated to the Singapore General Hospital (SGH) Burns Centre during three suicide attacks involving Bali (2002 and 2005) and the Jakarta Marriott hotel (2003). Problems faced, lessons learnt, and costs incurred are discussed. A burns disaster plan drawing on lessons learnt from these attacks is presented. Results Thirty-one patients were treated at the SGH Burns Centre in three attacks (2002 Bali attack [n = 15], 2003 Jakarta attack [n = 14], and 2005 Bali attack [n = 2]). For the 2002 Bali attack, median age was 29 years (range 20 to 50 years), median percentage of total burn surface area (TBSA) was 29% (range 5% to 55%), and median abbreviated burn severity index (ABSI) was 6 (range 3 to 10). Eight of 15 patients were admitted to the intensive care unit. For the 2003 Jakarta attack, median age was 35 years (range 24 to 56 years), median percentage of TBSA was 10% (range 2% to 46%), and median ABSI was 4 (range 3 to 9). A large number of patients had other injuries. Problems faced included manpower issues, lack of bed space, shortage of blood products, and lack of cadaver skin. Conclusion The changing nature of terror attacks mandates continued vigilance and disaster preparedness. The multidimensional burns patient, complicated by other injuries, is likely to become increasingly common. A burns disaster plan with emphasis on effective command, control, and communication as well as organisation of health care personnel following a 'team concept' will do much to ensure that the sudden onset of a crisis situation at an unexpected time does not overwhelm hospital manpower and resources. PMID:17274813

Attention and Memory in School-Age Children Surviving the Terrorist Attack in Beslan, Russia

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Scrimin, Sara; Moscardino, Ughetta; Capello, Fabia; Axia, Giovanna

2009-01-01

Little is known about the impact of terrorism on children's cognitive functioning and school learning. The primary purpose of this study was to report on cognitive functioning among school-age children 20 months after a terrorist attack against their school. Participants included 203 directly and indirectly exposed children from Beslan and 100…

DefenseLink Special: September 11, 2006

Science.gov Websites

, when terrorists attacked the World Trade Center in New York and the Pentagon. | Story | Edmund G , Sept. 11, 2001, when he first heard of a plane hitting the World Trade Center. The first reports called , servicemembers share their memories of the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks when airliners hit New York's World

Hostile Times: Desi College Students Cope with Hate

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Isler, Hilal Nakiboglu

2006-01-01

The attacks of terror carried out on September 11, 2001 gave rise to waves of hate-fueled violence across the country. It has been argued that the attacks and the subsequent, current context of war have resulted in a heightened sense of American intolerance. They have led to discernable shifts in how certain minorities are perceived and treated in…

The effects of terrorism on teens' perceptions of dying: the new world is riskier than ever.

PubMed

Halpern-Felsher, Bonnie L; Millstein, Susan G

2002-05-01

Adolescents assessed after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks perceived the risk of dying from general causes, a tornado, and an earthquake as dramatically higher than did adolescents assessed years before the attacks. Adolescents' heightened perceptions of vulnerability to death extended beyond the terrorist acts, and generalized to unrelated risks.

Supervision Groups at a Time of Violent Social Conflict in Israel

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Nuttman-Shwartz, Orit; Shay, Sarit

2006-01-01

Beginning in September 2000, terror attacks and large numbers of casualties became part of Israel's harrowing daily routine. The attacks occurred throughout the country, putting everyone at risk. These events also shattered the illusion of coexistence between Jewish and Arab citizens of Israel and led to feelings of anger and suspicion between the…

Terrorism, Governance, and Development

DTIC Science & Technology

2016-01-13

Changes in unemployment are not positively correlated with changes in insurgent attacks in several important conflicts. Data from Afghanistan, Iraq...and the Philippines show no significant relationship between unemployment and the rate of insurgent attacks that kill civilians (Berman, et al...is that gainfully employed young men are less likely to participate in political violence, implying a positive correlation between unemployment and

September 11th, the Internet, and the Affects on Information Provision in Libraries.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hamilton, Stuart

The September 11th terrorist attacks on the United States have contributed greatly to a change in the information environment around the world. The weeks following the attacks saw governments around the world rush to pass legislation designed to prevent future acts of terrorism. Much of this legislation targeted information flow, especially on the…

U.S.-China Counterterrorism Cooperation: Issues for U.S. Policy

DTIC Science & Technology

2008-10-29

Resolution 1368 (to combat terrorism). On September 20, Beijing said that it offered “unconditional support” in fighting terrorism. On September 20-21...bilateral relationship pursued by President Bush since late 2001. In the short-term, U.S. security policy toward Beijing sought counterterrorism...attacks), and its image as a responsible world power helped explain China’s supportive stance. However, Beijing also worried about U.S. military action

Preparing for Beslan: Anti-Terrorism Recommendations for an American School

DTIC Science & Technology

2008-06-13

prepare for a terrorist attack. How could one American school be affected by anti-terrorism measures? Upgrades in materials , equipment, and personnel...be able to access restricted material ; therefore, only open source material was used. Significance This research provides school officials an...these materials were left to help the terrorists since most schools would have cleaned the area up prior to the first school day. To Tomaeva, this is

Inflamed by the flames? The impact of terrorism and war on immunity.

PubMed

Canetti, Daphna; Russ, Eric; Luborsky, Judith; Gerhart, James I; Hobfoll, Stevan E

2014-06-01

The physiological impact on citizens of prolonged exposure to violence and conflict is a crucial, yet underexplored, issue within the political science and biology literature. We examined the effect of high levels of exposure to rocket and terrorist attacks on biological markers of immunity and inflammation in a sample of 92 Israelis. A stratified random sample of individuals was drawn from a pool of subjects in Israel who had previously been interviewed regarding their stress exposure and psychological distress during a period of active rocket and terrorist attacks. These individuals were reinterviewed and blood samples were collected to assess antibodies to cytomegalovirus (CMV antibodies) and C-reactive protein (CRP). Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) was significantly related to CRP, β = .33, p = .034, with body mass index, depression, and exposure to terrorism included in the model. Depression scores were not significantly associated with CRP or CMV antibody levels. In contrast to the established convention that psychological distress is the sole outcome of terrorism exposure, these findings reveal that individuals exposed to terrorism experience higher levels of both PTSD/depression, and inflammation. This study has important ramifications for how policy makers and medical health professionals should formulate public health policies and medically treat individuals living in conflict zones. Copyright © 2014 International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies.

Sleep Disorders

MedlinePlus

... Narcolepsy - daytime "sleep attacks" Nightmares, night terrors, sleepwalking, sleep talking, head banging, wetting the bed and grinding your teeth are kinds of sleep problems called parasomnias. There are treatments for most ...

The Commons of the Tragedy: How the Internet Was Used by Millions after the Terror Attacks To Grieve, Console, Share News, and Debate the Country's Response.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Rainie, Lee; Kalsnes, Bente

This report presents the results of phone surveys that examined Internet use following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. Findings include: (1) in the first days after the attacks, the number of people using the Internet fell; (2) overall usage was down, but the people using the Internet were surfing aggressively; (3) there was a rise in…

Understanding public confidence in government to prevent terrorist attacks.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Baldwin, T. E.; Ramaprasad, A,; Samsa, M. E.

A primary goal of terrorism is to instill a sense of fear and vulnerability in a population and to erode its confidence in government and law enforcement agencies to protect citizens against future attacks. In recognition of its importance, the Department of Homeland Security includes public confidence as one of the principal metrics used to assess the consequences of terrorist attacks. Hence, a detailed understanding of the variations in public confidence among individuals, terrorist event types, and as a function of time is critical to developing this metric. In this exploratory study, a questionnaire was designed, tested, and administered tomore » small groups of individuals to measure public confidence in the ability of federal, state, and local governments and their public safety agencies to prevent acts of terrorism. Data was collected from three groups before and after they watched mock television news broadcasts portraying a smallpox attack, a series of suicide bomber attacks, a refinery explosion attack, and cyber intrusions on financial institutions, resulting in identity theft. Our findings are: (a) although the aggregate confidence level is low, there are optimists and pessimists; (b) the subjects are discriminating in interpreting the nature of a terrorist attack, the time horizon, and its impact; (c) confidence recovery after a terrorist event has an incubation period; and (d) the patterns of recovery of confidence of the optimists and the pessimists are different. These findings can affect the strategy and policies to manage public confidence after a terrorist event.« less

Risk Due to Radiological Terror Attacks With Natural Radionuclides

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Friedrich, Steinhaeusler; Lyudmila, Zaitseva; Stan, Rydell

The naturally occurring radionuclides radium (Ra-226) and polonium (Po-210) have the potential to be used for criminal acts. Analysis of international incident data contained in the Database on Nuclear Smuggling, Theft and Orphan Radiation Sources (CSTO), operated at the University of Salzburg, shows that several acts of murder and terrorism with natural radionuclides have already been carried out in Europe and Russia. Five different modes of attack (T) are possible: (1) Covert irradiation of an individual in order to deliver a high individual dose; (2) Covert irradiation of a group of persons delivering a large collective dose; (3) Contamination ofmore » food or drink; (4) Generation of radioactive aerosols or solutions; (5) Combination of Ra-226 with conventional explosives (Dirty Bomb).This paper assesses the risk (R) of such criminal acts in terms of: (a) Probability of terrorist motivation deploying a certain attack mode T; (b) Probability of success by the terrorists for the selected attack mode T; (c) Primary damage consequence (C) to the attacked target (activity, dose); (d) Secondary damage consequence (C') to the attacked target (psychological and socio-economic effects); (e) Probability that the consequences (C, C') cannot be brought under control, resulting in a failure to manage successfully the emergency situation due to logistical and/or technical deficits in implementing adequate countermeasures. Extensive computer modelling is used to determine the potential impact of such a criminal attack on directly affected victims and on the environment.« less

Risk Due to Radiological Terror Attacks With Natural Radionuclides

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Friedrich, Steinhäusler; Stan, Rydell; Lyudmila, Zaitseva

2008-08-01

The naturally occurring radionuclides radium (Ra-226) and polonium (Po-210) have the potential to be used for criminal acts. Analysis of international incident data contained in the Database on Nuclear Smuggling, Theft and Orphan Radiation Sources (CSTO), operated at the University of Salzburg, shows that several acts of murder and terrorism with natural radionuclides have already been carried out in Europe and Russia. Five different modes of attack (T) are possible: (1) Covert irradiation of an individual in order to deliver a high individual dose; (2) Covert irradiation of a group of persons delivering a large collective dose; (3) Contamination of food or drink; (4) Generation of radioactive aerosols or solutions; (5) Combination of Ra-226 with conventional explosives (Dirty Bomb). This paper assesses the risk (R) of such criminal acts in terms of: (a) Probability of terrorist motivation deploying a certain attack mode T; (b) Probability of success by the terrorists for the selected attack mode T; (c) Primary damage consequence (C) to the attacked target (activity, dose); (d) Secondary damage consequence (C') to the attacked target (psychological and socio-economic effects); (e) Probability that the consequences (C, C') cannot be brought under control, resulting in a failure to manage successfully the emergency situation due to logistical and/or technical deficits in implementing adequate countermeasures. Extensive computer modelling is used to determine the potential impact of such a criminal attack on directly affected victims and on the environment.

Global physics: from percolation to terrorism, guerilla warfare and clandestine activities

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Galam, Serge

2003-12-01

The September 11 attack on the US has revealed an unprecedented terrorism with worldwide range of destruction. It is argued to result from the first worldwide percolation of passive supporters. They are people sympathetic to the terrorism cause but without being involved with it. They just do not oppose it in case they could. This scheme puts suppression of the percolation as the major strategic issue in the fight against terrorism. Acting on the population is shown to be useless. Instead a new strategic scheme is suggested to increase the terrorism percolation threshold and in turn suppress the percolation. The relevant associated space is identified as a multi-dimensional social space including both the ground earth surface and all various independent flags displayed by the terrorist group. Some hints are given on how to shrink the geographical spreading of terrorism threat. The model apply to a large spectrum of clandestine activities including guerilla warfare as well as tax evasion, corruption, illegal gambling, illegal prostitution and black markets.

Psychiatry and terrorism.

PubMed

Stoddard, Frederick J; Gold, Joel; Henderson, Schuyler W; Merlino, Joseph P; Norwood, Ann; Post, Jerrold M; Shanfield, Stephen; Weine, Stevan; Katz, Craig L

2011-08-01

Terrorism has dominated the domestic and international landscape since 9/11. Like other fields, psychiatry was not well prepared. With the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 attack approaching, it is timely to consider what can be done to prepare before the next event. Much has been learned to provide knowledge and resources. The roles of psychiatrists are challenged by what is known of the causes of, consequences of, and responses to terrorism. Reflecting on knowledge from before and since 9/11 introduces concepts, how individuals become terrorists, how to evaluate the psychiatric and behavioral effects of terrorism, and how to expand treatments, behavioral health interventions, public policy initiatives, and other responses for its victims. New research, clinical approaches, and policy perspectives inform strategies to reduce fear and cope with the aftermath. This article identifies the psychiatric training, skills and services, and ethical considerations necessary to prevent or reduce terrorism and its tragic consequences and to enhance resilience.

International terrorism and mental health: recent research and future directions.

PubMed

Fischer, Peter; Ai, Amy L

2008-03-01

International terrorism has become a major global concern. Several studies conducted in North America and Europe in the aftermath of terrorist attacks reveal that international terrorism represents a significant short-term and long-term threat to mental health. In the present article, the authors clarify the concept and categories of terrorism and then present central findings from studies conducted in the United States and Europe, which mainly focus on negative impacts on mental health, such as emotional stress and PTSD. Furthermore, the authors outline experiments that focus on social interaction processes thought to be triggered by international terrorism and which are assumed to be related indirectly to mental health processes. Next, they highlight the potential positive outcomes on the resilience side, in line with the current theory on posttraumatic growth in adversity. Finally, theoretical and practical implications as well as limitations and future directions are discussed.

Media use and insomnia after terror attacks in France.

PubMed

Goodwin, Robin; Lemola, Sakari; Ben-Ezra, Menachem

2018-03-01

Direct exposure to traumatic events often precipitates sleep disorders. Sleep disturbance has also been observed amongst those indirectly exposed to trauma, via mass media. However, previous work has focused on traditional media use, rather than contemporary social media. We tested associations between both traditional and social media consumption and insomnia symptoms following 2015 terror attacks in Paris France, controlling for location and post-traumatic symptomology. 1878 respondents, selected to represent the national French population, completed an internet survey a month after the Bataclan attacks (response rate 72%). Respondents indicated different media use, post-traumatic stress and insomnia. Controlling for demographics, location and PTSD, insomnia was associated with both traditional (β 0.10, P = .001) and social media use (β 0.12, P = .001). Associations between social media and insomnia were independent of traditional media use. Interventions targeted at social media may be particularly important following mass trauma. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

The Swedish School Attack in Trollhättan.

PubMed

Erlandsson, Åsa; Reid Meloy, J

2018-04-23

This is a case report of the offender and offense characteristics of a targeted attack on a Swedish school using a sword, with a particular focus upon the offender's history, the relationship between mental disorder and ideology, and whether or not it was an act of terrorism. Findings indicate that the offender had no drug or psychiatric treatment history, but postoffense analysis suggests autism spectrum disorder, depression, and both suicidal ideation and intent. The offender planned and prepared for his attack, and the triggering event appeared to be the loss of a temporary job. He expressed chronic anger concerning immigrants to Sweden and blamed them for his failures. Comparison of the fact pattern to other cases of lone actor terrorism with the Terrorist Radicalization Assessment Protocol (TRAP-18) empirically demonstrates excellent criterion validity with other lone actor terrorists in Europe and North America-including right wing extremists-and contributes to further understanding of ideologically motivated mass murder. © 2018 American Academy of Forensic Sciences.

Clindamycin

MedlinePlus

... Antibiotics such as clindamycin will not kill the viruses that cause colds, flu, and other infections. ... be deliberately spread as part of a terror attack) and malaria (a serious infection that is spread ...

US public perspectives on security

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Herron, Kerry Gale; Jenkins-Smith, Hank C.; Silva, Carol L.

2012-02-01

We report findings from a national Internet survey and a subset of questions administered by telephone in mid-2011 on public assessments of contemporary and emerging interstate nuclear threats, support for strategic arms control, and preferences for responding to limited nuclear attacks on the United States. Additionally, we analyze public views of the threat of terrorism, including cyber attacks, assessments of progress in the struggle against terrorism, and preferences for responding to an act of radiological terrorism against the United States. Also, we report findings from an Internet survey and a subset of questions administered by telephone among the American publicmore » in mid-2011 on US energy and environmental security. Key areas of investigation include public views on energy requirements, preferences for energy sources, energy conservation versus development, energy independence, implications of events at Fukushima, Japan, for US public support of nuclear generation, preferences for managing used nuclear fuel, and trust in nuclear risk assessments from government and other public sources. Where possible, findings from each survey are compared with previous surveys in this series for analyses of trends.« less

The aftermath of terrorism: posttraumatic stress and functional impairment after the 2011 Oslo bombing

PubMed Central

Solberg, Øivind; Blix, Ines; Heir, Trond

2015-01-01

Objective: In the present study we wanted to investigate the link between exposure, posttraumatic stress symptomatology, and functional impairment in the aftermath of terrorism. Method: Posttraumatic stress symptomatology and functional impairment related to the Oslo bombing 22nd of July, 2011, in directly and indirectly exposed individuals (N = 1927) were assessed together with demographics, exposure, peri-traumatic reactions, and event centrality approximately 1 year after the attack. Results: Directly and indirectly exposed individuals qualifying for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) reported similar peri-traumatic reactions, event centrality, and functional impairment. However, clusters within the PTSD symptomatology were differentially associated with impairment as a function of their exposure. In the directly exposed group, all clusters within the PTSD symptomatology were associated with impairment in function, while only emotional numbing was associated with impairment within the indirectly exposed group. Conclusion: Considering that terror attacks frequently involve directly exposed individuals and a larger population of indirectly exposed individuals, this finding is of importance, especially in the design of intervention programs and the development of treatment policies. PMID:26300833

Explaining the unexplainable: designing a national strategy on classroom communication concerning the 22 July terror attack in Norway

PubMed Central

Schultz, Jon-Håkon; Langballe, Åse; Raundalen, Magne

2014-01-01

Background In the context of crisis and disasters, school-aged children are a vulnerable group with fewer coping resources than adults. The school is a key arena for preventive interventions; teachers can be given a key role in large-scale school-based interventions following a man-made or natural disaster. Objectives This paper describes a practical example of designing a school-based population-level intervention. Methods The preventive measures were delivered as a national communication strategy between teachers and pupils aged 6–19 concerning the terror attack on 22 July 2011 in Norway. The strategy is based on principles from international research. Results The presentation contributes to the discussion of defining the teacher's role in school-based crisis interventions and dealing with high-intensity media coverage of war, terror, and catastrophes. Conclusions The presentation provides educational and psychological perspectives on how teachers can take an active role in helping pupils to deal with such events through two approaches: the therapeutic approach, to restore calm and feelings of safety; and the educational approach, to foster reflection and deeper understanding. PMID:25018859

Explaining the unexplainable: designing a national strategy on classroom communication concerning the 22 July terror attack in Norway.

PubMed

Schultz, Jon-Håkon; Langballe, Ase; Raundalen, Magne

2014-01-01

In the context of crisis and disasters, school-aged children are a vulnerable group with fewer coping resources than adults. The school is a key arena for preventive interventions; teachers can be given a key role in large-scale school-based interventions following a man-made or natural disaster. This paper describes a practical example of designing a school-based population-level intervention. The preventive measures were delivered as a national communication strategy between teachers and pupils aged 6-19 concerning the terror attack on 22 July 2011 in Norway. The strategy is based on principles from international research. The presentation contributes to the discussion of defining the teacher's role in school-based crisis interventions and dealing with high-intensity media coverage of war, terror, and catastrophes. THE PRESENTATION PROVIDES EDUCATIONAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVES ON HOW TEACHERS CAN TAKE AN ACTIVE ROLE IN HELPING PUPILS TO DEAL WITH SUCH EVENTS THROUGH TWO APPROACHES: the therapeutic approach, to restore calm and feelings of safety; and the educational approach, to foster reflection and deeper understanding.

Shame and guilt in the aftermath of terror: the Utøya Island study.

PubMed

Aakvaag, Helene Flood; Thoresen, Siri; Wentzel-Larsen, Tore; Røysamb, Espen; Dyb, Grete

2014-10-01

In recent years, there has been increased interest in trauma-related shame and guilt and their relationship to mental health. Little is known, however, about shame and guilt following mass traumas, such as terrorism. This study investigates the potential associations of trauma-related shame and guilt with posttraumatic stress (PTS) reactions after the terrorist attack of July 22, 2011 on Utøya Island in Norway. Interviews were conducted with 325 of the 490 survivors 4 to 5 months after the event. Multiple linear regression analyses were employed to investigate associations. In the month previous to the interview, 44.1% (n = 143) of participants had experienced at least some guilt for what happened during the attack, and 30.5% (n = 99) had experienced at least some shame. Shame and guilt were both uniquely associated with PTS reactions after adjusting for terror exposure, gender, and other potential confounders (frequent shame: B = 0.54, frequent guilt: B = 0.33). We concluded that trauma-related shame and guilt are related to mental health after mass trauma. Copyright © 2014 International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies.

The Use of Military Force to Counter International Terrorism - A Policy Dilemma.

DTIC Science & Technology

1987-06-05

front ot U.S. attention . Secretary of State George Shultz emphasized U.S. concerns about this growing threat when he wrote: For we must understand...grow;ny. While it captures world attention with vioient *riu spectacular attacks, international terrorism is tacget.,, U.S. foreign interests and its... attention away from the real issue of imperialistic oppression, racism and colonialism.2 2 Critics of the resolution also maintained thaz tne proposal

Enhancing the NFLs Counter-Terrorism Efforts: Is the Leagues Security Scheme Able to Effectively Thwart Terrorist Attacks

DTIC Science & Technology

2016-09-01

League (EPL), football, mass gatherings, National Football League (NFL), safety manuals, soccer , sports security, soccer , terrorism, terrorist...fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of MASTER OF ARTS IN SECURITY STUDIES (HOMELAND SECURITY AND DEFENSE) from the NAVAL...kurtbadenhausen/2015/07/15/the-worlds-50-most-valuable-sports- teams-2015/. 3 professional league, the English Premier soccer league, earns $2.7 billion.6 In

Risk-based decision making for terrorism applications.

PubMed

Dillon, Robin L; Liebe, Robert M; Bestafka, Thomas

2009-03-01

This article describes the anti-terrorism risk-based decision aid (ARDA), a risk-based decision-making approach for prioritizing anti-terrorism measures. The ARDA model was developed as part of a larger effort to assess investments for protecting U.S. Navy assets at risk and determine whether the most effective anti-terrorism alternatives are being used to reduce the risk to the facilities and war-fighting assets. With ARDA and some support from subject matter experts, we examine thousands of scenarios composed of 15 attack modes against 160 facility types on two installations and hundreds of portfolios of 22 mitigation alternatives. ARDA uses multiattribute utility theory to solve some of the commonly identified challenges in security risk analysis. This article describes the process and documents lessons learned from applying the ARDA model for this application.

A View of Terrorism from the Classroom: Reactions of Elementary Students to the Events of September 11.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Howell, Lyn C.; Brown, Heidi J.

This qualitative study followed 41 fourth- and fifth-grade students from the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 through December of that year, in an attempt to understand how these students were affected by the attacks and subsequent government actions. Class assignments and teachers' anecdotal journals were analyzed. Through their work and…

The Psychology of Ongoing Threat: Relative Risk Appraisal, the September 11 Attacks, and Terrorism-Related Fears

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Marshall, Randall D.; Bryant, Richard A.; Amsel, Lawrence; Suh, Eun Jung; Cook, Joan M.; Neria, Yuval

2007-01-01

There are now replicated findings that posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms related to the September 11, 2001, attacks occurred in large numbers of persons who did not fit the traditional definition of exposure to a traumatic event. These data are not explained by traditional epidemiologic "bull's eye" disaster models, which assume the…

National Memorial Institute for the Prevention of Terrorism

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Reimer, Dennis J.; Houghton, Brian K.; Powell, Ellen L.

2004-09-01

The National Memorial Institute for the Prevention of Terrorism (MIPT) in Oklahoma City is a living memorial to the victims, survivors, family members and rescue workers affected by the April 19, 1995 bombing of the Murrah Federal Building. The Institute conducts research into the development of technologies to counter biological, nuclear and chemical weapons of mass destruction and cyberterrorism, as well as research into the social and political causes and effects of terrorism. This paper describes MIPT funded research in areas of detection, decontamination, personal protective equipment, attack simulations, treatments, awareness, improved public communication during and after an incident, as well as lessons learned from terrorist incidents.

National Memorial Institute for the Prevention of Terrorism

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Reimer, Dennis J.; Houghton, Brian K.; Ellis, James O., III

2003-09-01

The National Memorial Institute for the Prevention of Terrorism in Oklahoma City is a living memorial to the victims, survivors, family members and rescue workers affected by the April 19, 1995 bombing of the Murrah Federal Building. The Institute conducts research into the development of technologies to counter biological, nuclear and chemical weapons of mass destruction and cyberterrorism, as well as research into the social and political causes and effects of terrorism. This paper describes MIPT funded research in areas of detection, decontamination, personal protective equipment, attack simulations, treatments, awareness, improved public communication during and after an incident, as well as lessons learned from terrorist incidents.

Can News Draw Blood The Impact of Media Coverage on the Number and Severity of Terror Attacks

DTIC Science & Technology

2016-05-01

groups devote to carrying out attacks, p are the costs of a single attack, and E measures the effectiveness of terrorist attacks, e.g. the average...8i) h A. h · A ( b) (r r ) A 2(a+b)JP , w ere IS t e expressiOn = a+ jP u3 + s- u1 . s A2 + 4bEw > 0, all three eigenvalues will be elements of the...May 2016 164 Jahn, Vera ; Steinhardt, Max Friedrich : Innovation and Immigration - Insights from a Placement Policy, February 2016 163 Beckmann

An Estimation of a Nonlinear Dynamic Process Using Latent Class Extended Mixed Models: Affect Profiles After Terrorist Attacks.

PubMed

Burro, Roberto; Raccanello, Daniela; Pasini, Margherita; Brondino, Margherita

2018-01-01

Conceptualizing affect as a complex nonlinear dynamic process, we used latent class extended mixed models (LCMM) to understand whether there were unobserved groupings in a dataset including longitudinal measures. Our aim was to identify affect profiles over time in people vicariously exposed to terrorism, studying their relations with personality traits. The participants were 193 university students who completed online measures of affect during the seven days following two terrorist attacks (Paris, November 13, 2015; Brussels, March 22, 2016); Big Five personality traits; and antecedents of affect. After selecting students whose negative affect was influenced by the two attacks (33%), we analysed the data with the LCMM package of R. We identified two affect profiles, characterized by different trends over time: The first profile comprised students with lower positive affect and higher negative affect compared to the second profile. Concerning personality traits, conscientious-ness was lower for the first profile compared to the second profile, and vice versa for neuroticism. Findings are discussed for both their theoretical and applied relevance.

Panic Disorder

MedlinePlus

Panic disorder is a type of anxiety disorder. It causes panic attacks, which are sudden feelings of terror ... their lives and they cannot leave their homes. Panic disorder is more common in women than men. It ...

Knowledge and Attitude of Iranian Red Crescent Society Volunteers in Dealing with Chemical Attacks.

PubMed

Nadjafi, Maryam; Hamzeh Pour, Siavash

2017-04-01

To evaluate the knowledge, attitude, and preparedness of Mahabad Red Crescent Society volunteers in dealing with chemical attacks. This prospective cross-sectional study was conducted on 120 Red Crescent Society volunteers in Mahabad City, Iran, during 2014-2015.The knowledge of the volunteers was evaluated and rated using a questionnaire as poor, moderate, and good. Also, the attitude of the volunteers towards the chemical attacks and their preparedness were rated as appropriate and inappropriate using a questionnaire. Data were analyzed using the SPSS software version 21. From a total of 120 volunteers, 62.5% were males. The mean age of the volunteers was 32.0 ± 8.2 years. None of the volunteers had adequate knowledge regarding management of the consequences of chemical terrorist attacks. Only 10 volunteers (8.3%) had appropriate attitude and 7 (5.8%) stated their preparedness for being sent to the crisis zone. Also, 116 volunteers (96.7%) declared that Mahabad Red Crescent Society has an inappropriate level of preparedness to encounter chemical terrorism attacks and release of chemical agents related to petrochemical industrial chlorine resources into the water and wastewater. The findings of the present study show poor knowledge and inappropriate attitude of Mahabad Red Crescent Society volunteers, and rescuers in encountering probable chemical attacks and industrial accidents. Furthermore, the Red Crescent Society had an inappropriate level of preparedness in the field of chemical terrorism from the viewpoint of the studied volunteers.

TERROR 2000: The Future Face of Terrorism

DTIC Science & Technology

1994-06-24

defused a crude bomb planted near the local office of Ameri- can Airlines. In the other, two men attacked a Malaysian security guard stationed on the...Security system will be reformed. Those reforms will include means testing and taxation of benefits. 4. Rural land is being colonized by suburbs and...its present liabilities in the U.S. to become a major source of energy. .64 2018 57.43 US 4. Electric cars, augmented by solar panels, become available

The Fallacy of Leadership Removal Strategies in 21st Century Counterinsurgency

DTIC Science & Technology

2011-06-18

Kathryn Gregory, "Shining Path, Tupac Amaru (Peru, leftists)," Council on Foreign Relations, August 27, 2009, http://www.cfr.org/terrorism/shining-path... tupac -amaru-peru-leftists/p9276 (accessed November 28, 2010) 51 are still present and in 2008 alone they executed 64 attacks, killing police...34Shining Path, Tupac Amaru (Peru, leftists)." Council of Foreign Relations. August 27, 2009. http://www.cfr.org/terrorism/shining-path- tupac - amaru-peru

A Framework for Violence: Clarifying the Role of Motivation in Lone-Actor Terrorism

DTIC Science & Technology

2017-03-01

Within the timeframe included in this study , there was, on average, just over one case of lone-actor terrorism per year.60 Spaaij expanded his...informants and sting operations.63 Within the Becker study , twelve out of eighty-four attacks, relied on confidential informants.64 In certain cases , the...indicators of personal or ideological grievances. The data used for this research are publicly available and largely based on two case studies compiled

Technology Against Terrorism: Structuring Security

DTIC Science & Technology

1992-01-01

outbreak of non is global in scope and, unfortunately, continues hostilities in January 1991, the number of interna- to demand attention and protective...against non -combatants, ranging from attacks on clinics by foes of abortion to mass murder by sophisticated international terrorist groups (e.g., attacks...findings were reached The fourth chapter discusses strategies for design - that involved first, the overall Federal funding of ing integrated systems

Tokyo terror and chemical arms control

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Keeny, S.M. Jr.

The nerve gas attack in the Tokyo subway underscores the extreme vulnerability of urban society to terrorist attacks. The best defense is improved intelligence of potential terrorists and domestic laws permitting pre-emptive action when there is probable cause. If the 1993 Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) were in force, all 159 signatories would be required to have such laws. The author examies the threat and provides some political insights.

Terrorism-related fear and avoidance behavior in a multiethnic urban population.

PubMed

Eisenman, David P; Glik, Deborah; Ong, Michael; Zhou, Qiong; Tseng, Chi-Hong; Long, Anna; Fielding, Jonathan; Asch, Steven

2009-01-01

We sought to determine whether groups traditionally most vulnerable to disasters would be more likely than would be others to perceive population-level risk as high (as measured by the estimated color-coded alert level) would worry more about terrorism, and would avoid activities because of terrorism concerns. We conducted a random digit dial survey of the Los Angeles County population October 2004 through January 2005 in 6 languages. We asked respondents what color alert level the country was under, how often they worry about terrorist attacks, and how often they avoid activities because of terrorism. Multivariate regression modeled correlates of worry and avoidance, including mental illness, disability, demographic factors, and estimated color-coded alert level. Persons who are mentally ill, those who are disabled, African Americans, Latinos, Chinese Americans, Korean Americans, and non-US citizens were more likely to perceive population-level risk as high, as measured by the estimated color-coded alert level. These groups also reported more worry and avoidance behaviors because of concerns about terrorism. Vulnerable populations experience a disproportionate burden of the psychosocial impact of terrorism threats and our national response. Further studies should investigate the specific behaviors affected and further elucidate disparities in the disaster burden associated with terrorism and terrorism policies.

Terrorism-Related Fear and Avoidance Behavior in a Multiethnic Urban Population

PubMed Central

Glik, Deborah; Ong, Michael; Zhou, Qiong; Tseng, Chi-Hong; Long, Anna; Fielding, Jonathan; Asch, Steven

2009-01-01

Objectives. We sought to determine whether groups traditionally most vulnerable to disasters would be more likely than would be others to perceive population-level risk as high (as measured by the estimated color-coded alert level) would worry more about terrorism, and would avoid activities because of terrorism concerns. Methods. We conducted a random digit dial survey of the Los Angeles County population October 2004 through January 2005 in 6 languages. We asked respondents what color alert level the country was under, how often they worry about terrorist attacks, and how often they avoid activities because of terrorism. Multivariate regression modeled correlates of worry and avoidance, including mental illness, disability, demographic factors, and estimated color-coded alert level. Results. Persons who are mentally ill, those who are disabled, African Americans, Latinos, Chinese Americans, Korean Americans, and non-US citizens were more likely to perceive population-level risk as high, as measured by the estimated color-coded alert level. These groups also reported more worry and avoidance behaviors because of concerns about terrorism. Conclusions. Vulnerable populations experience a disproportionate burden of the psychosocial impact of terrorism threats and our national response. Further studies should investigate the specific behaviors affected and further elucidate disparities in the disaster burden associated with terrorism and terrorism policies. PMID:19008521

Reactions to terror attacks in ultra-orthodox jews: the cost of maintaining strict identity.

PubMed

Ankri, Yael L E; Bachar, Eytan; Shalev, Arieh Y

2010-01-01

Traumatic events can shatter faith and beliefs. The responses of Ultra-Orthodox survivors of deadly terrorist attacks illustrate an effort to reconcile dreadful experiences with deeply embedded beliefs. Qualified clinicians prospectively evaluated self-reported and interviewer-generated posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms and cognitive appraisal in Ultra-Orthodox (n = 20) and non-Ultra-Orthodox (n = 33) survivors of suicide bus-bombing incidents in Jerusalem. Ultra-Orthodox survivors reported higher levels of PTSD symptoms and more personal guilt. Their narratives reflected an unshaken belief in Just Providence, within which being a victim of terror was perceived as a Just retribution for known or unknown wrongdoing. Survivors' reactions to trauma often reflect an effort to reconcile incongruous experiences with previously held beliefs. When treating strict believers, helpers should be sensitive to the identity-preserving function of posttraumatic cognitions.

Lone-actor Terrorism and Impulsivity.

PubMed

Meloy, J Reid; Pollard, Jeffrey W

2017-11-01

In some recent cases of lone-actor terrorism, there is evidence the subject acted impulsively, often in response to a triggering event which contained a loss and humiliation. Evidence suggests the subjects acted precipitously, despite planning and preparation carried out in the preceding weeks or months, and their attacks failed to include the often considerable preparation that had been done. The pathway became a runway. The authors recommend the traditional assessment of impulsivity in persons of concern for lone acts of terrorism, as well as other proximal warning behaviors for targeted violence. Both indirect and direct assessment guidelines are proposed, with an emphasis upon self-report, psychological testing, collateral data gathering, and historical records. © 2017 American Academy of Forensic Sciences.

Deaths from international terrorism compared with road crash deaths in OECD countries.

PubMed

Wilson, N; Thomson, G

2005-12-01

To estimate the relative number of deaths in member countries of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) from international terrorism and road crashes. Data on deaths from international terrorism (US State Department database) were collated (1994-2003) and compared to the road injury deaths (year 2000 and 2001 data) from the OECD International Road Transport Accident Database. In the 29 OECD countries for which comparable data were available, the annual average death rate from road injury was approximately 390 times that from international terrorism. The ratio of annual road to international terrorism deaths (averaged over 10 years) was lowest for the United States at 142 times. In 2001, road crash deaths in the US were equal to those from a September 11 attack every 26 days. There is a large difference in the magnitude of these two causes of deaths from injury. Policy makers need to be aware of this when allocating resources to preventing these two avoidable causes of mortality.

Probabilistic risk analysis and terrorism risk.

PubMed

Ezell, Barry Charles; Bennett, Steven P; von Winterfeldt, Detlof; Sokolowski, John; Collins, Andrew J

2010-04-01

Since the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, and the subsequent establishment of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), considerable efforts have been made to estimate the risks of terrorism and the cost effectiveness of security policies to reduce these risks. DHS, industry, and the academic risk analysis communities have all invested heavily in the development of tools and approaches that can assist decisionmakers in effectively allocating limited resources across the vast array of potential investments that could mitigate risks from terrorism and other threats to the homeland. Decisionmakers demand models, analyses, and decision support that are useful for this task and based on the state of the art. Since terrorism risk analysis is new, no single method is likely to meet this challenge. In this article we explore a number of existing and potential approaches for terrorism risk analysis, focusing particularly on recent discussions regarding the applicability of probabilistic and decision analytic approaches to bioterrorism risks and the Bioterrorism Risk Assessment methodology used by the DHS and criticized by the National Academies and others.

Agent-based simulation for human-induced hazard analysis.

PubMed

Bulleit, William M; Drewek, Matthew W

2011-02-01

Terrorism could be treated as a hazard for design purposes. For instance, the terrorist hazard could be analyzed in a manner similar to the way that seismic hazard is handled. No matter how terrorism is dealt with in the design of systems, the need for predictions of the frequency and magnitude of the hazard will be required. And, if the human-induced hazard is to be designed for in a manner analogous to natural hazards, then the predictions should be probabilistic in nature. The model described in this article is a prototype model that used agent-based modeling (ABM) to analyze terrorist attacks. The basic approach in this article of using ABM to model human-induced hazards has been preliminarily validated in the sense that the attack magnitudes seem to be power-law distributed and attacks occur mostly in regions where high levels of wealth pass through, such as transit routes and markets. The model developed in this study indicates that ABM is a viable approach to modeling socioeconomic-based infrastructure systems for engineering design to deal with human-induced hazards. © 2010 Society for Risk Analysis.

Terrorism in the United States 1996

DTIC Science & Technology

1996-01-01

nuclear nature could be employed in future attacks with devastating results on citizens, police, and emergency “first responders.” T 2 TABLE of C O N T E N...themselves as U.S. citizens and refuse to pay federal income taxes . Membership in a militia organization is not an illegal activity in the United...blank) 2 . REPORT DATE 1/1/1996 3. REPORT TYPE AND DATES COVERED Report 1/1/1996 4. TITLE AND SUBTITLE Terrorism in the United States 1996 5. FUNDING

Guidelines to improve airport preparedness against chemical and biological terrorism.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Edwards, Donna M.; Price, Phillip N.; Gordon, Susanna P.

2005-05-01

Guidelines to Improve Airport Preparedness Against Chemical and Biological Terrorism is a 100-page document that makes concrete recommendations on improving security and assessing vulnerable areas and helps its readers understand the nature of chemical and biological attacks. The report has been turned over to Airports Council International (ACI) and the American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE), two organizations that together represent the interests of thousands of airport personnel and facilities in the U.S. and around the world.

Country Reports on Terrorism 2008

DTIC Science & Technology

2009-04-01

killing an estimated 13 people. Al-Qa‘ida in Yemen (AQY) carried out several attacks against tourism and U.S and Yemeni government targets. The...Philippines. The geography of the thousands of islands in the region made the area difficult for authorities to monitor. Worker migration, tourism ...efforts as al-Qa‘ida in Yemen (AQY) carried out several attacks against tourism and U.S and Yemeni government targets. The most notable was the

Achieving Homeland Security in a Time of Diminishing Resources

DTIC Science & Technology

2012-06-08

and merged over 22 federal agencies and programs under the DHS umbrella. The overall mission of DHS is to enact “ a concerted national effort to ensure... A concerted national effort to prevent terrorist attacks within the United States; reduce America’s vulnerability to terrorism, major disasters...activity or effort performed to protect a nation against attack or other threats National Security. Requirement to maintain the survival of the state

Responding to Terrorism: Challenges for Democracy. Teacher's Resource Book [and Student Text]. Public Policy Debate in the Classroom. Choices for the 21st Century Education Program.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Blackadar, Andy

This curriculum material, part of a continuing series on current and historical international issues, addresses the issues arising from the September 11, 2001, attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. On the morning of September 11, 2001, as people watched in horror, terrorist attacks were successfully launched against the United…

Genesis of suicide terrorism.

PubMed

Atran, Scott

2003-03-07

Contemporary suicide terrorists from the Middle East are publicly deemed crazed cowards bent on senseless destruction who thrive in poverty and ignorance. Recent research indicates they have no appreciable psychopathology and are as educated and economically well-off as surrounding populations. A first line of defense is to get the communities from which suicide attackers stem to stop the attacks by learning how to minimize the receptivity of mostly ordinary people to recruiting organizations.

Inflamed by the Flames?

PubMed Central

Canetti, Daphna; Russ, Eric; Luborsky, Judith; Gerhart, James; Hobfoll, Stevan

2015-01-01

The physiological impact of citizens’ prolonged exposure to violence and conflict is a crucial, yet underexplored issue within the political science and biology literature. We examined the impact of high levels of exposure to rocket and terrorist attacks on biological markers of immunity and inflammation in a sample of Israelis. A stratified random sample of individuals were drawn from a pool of subjects in Israel who have previously been interviewed regarding their stress exposure and psychological distress during a period of active rocket and terrorist attacks. These individuals were re-interviewed and blood samples were collected to assess antibodies to cytomegalovirus (CMV antibodies) and C-reactive protein (CRP). We concluded that PTSD was significantly related to CRP, controlling for BMI, depression, and exposure to terrorism. Depression scores did not significantly predict CRP (or CMV antibodies levels). In contrast to the established convention that psychological distress is the sole outcome of terrorism exposure, these findings reveal that individuals exposed to terrorism are at dual risk for PTSD/depression, and inflammation. This study has important ramifications for how policy makers and medical health professionals formulate public health policies and medically treat individuals living in conflict zones. PMID:24948537

Perceived Safety at Work in the Wake of Terror: The Importance of Security Measures and Emergency Preparedness.

PubMed

Nissen, Alexander; Heir, Trond

2016-12-01

We aimed to explore how perceived safety after terrorism is connected to views on security measures and emergency preparedness in a workplace setting. Using a questionnaire-based, cross-sectional study of ministerial employees in Norway who were targeted in a terrorist attack in 2011 (n=3344), we investigated how employees' perceived safety at work 9 to 10 months after the attack was associated with their perceptions of whether security measures were sufficiently prioritized at work, whether there had been sufficient escape and evacuation training, and whether they were confident with evacuation procedures. We found strong evidence of increasing perceived safety at work the more employees believed security measures were sufficiently prioritized at work (partially confounded by post-traumatic stress disorder), and the better their knowledge of evacuation procedures (modified by gender and education). The present study suggests that employers may enhance perceived safety at work for terror-exposed employees by showing a commitment to security measures and by ensuring employees know evacuation procedures well. More research is needed to investigate causality patterns behind the associations found in this cross-sectional study. (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2016;10:805-811).

78 FR 66603 - Critical Infrastructure Security and Resilience Month, 2013

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-11-05

... shore up our defenses against physical and cyber incidents. In tandem with my Executive Order on... hazards including terrorism and natural disasters, as well as cyber attacks. We must ensure that the...

Healthcare Needs, Experiences and Satisfaction after Terrorism: A Longitudinal Study of Survivors from the Utøya Attack

PubMed Central

Stene, Lise E.; Wentzel-Larsen, Tore; Dyb, Grete

2016-01-01

Background: Public health outreach programs have been developed in order to ensure that needs are met after disasters. However, little is known about survivors' experiences with post-terror healthcare. In the present study, our objectives were to (1) describe survivors' experiences with post-terror healthcare, (2) identify factors associated with reports of unmet healthcare needs, and (3) examine the relationship between socio-demographic characteristics, healthcare experiences and satisfaction. Methods: Our study comprised three waves of semi-structured interviews with 261/490 (53%) survivors of the Utøya mass shooting. We applied Pearson's chi-squared tests (categorical variables) and independent t-tests (continuous variables) to compare survivors by whether or not they reported higher perceived needs than received help for psychological reactions and physical health problems, respectively. Ordinal regression analyses were applied to examine whether socio-demographic characteristics and healthcare experiences were associated with dissatisfaction. Results: Altogether 127 (49%) survivors reported very high/high help needs for psychological reactions, and 43 (17%) for attack-related physical health problems. Unmet healthcare needs were associated with higher levels of posttraumatic stress, psychological distress, somatic symptoms and less social support. Survivors with immigrant backgrounds and injured survivors who were not admitted to hospital reported unmet needs for physical health problems more often. After adjustments for socio-demographic characteristics, immigrant origin was associated with dissatisfaction with post-terror healthcare. After additionally adjusting for healthcare experiences, poor rating of the overall organization and accessibility of healthcare remained significantly associated with dissatisfaction. Conclusions: Most survivors were satisfied with the post-terror healthcare they received, yet our findings indicate that increased attention to the physical health of non-hospitalized terrorism survivors is required. Furthermore, in future outreach, particular attention should be paid to the healthcare needs of survivors with immigrant background. PMID:27933008

A modeling framework for investment planning in interdependent infrastructures in multi-hazard environments.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Brown, Nathanael J. K.; Gearhart, Jared Lee; Jones, Dean A.

Currently, much of protection planning is conducted separately for each infrastructure and hazard. Limited funding requires a balance of expenditures between terrorism and natural hazards based on potential impacts. This report documents the results of a Laboratory Directed Research & Development (LDRD) project that created a modeling framework for investment planning in interdependent infrastructures focused on multiple hazards, including terrorism. To develop this framework, three modeling elements were integrated: natural hazards, terrorism, and interdependent infrastructures. For natural hazards, a methodology was created for specifying events consistent with regional hazards. For terrorism, we modeled the terrorists actions based on assumptions regardingmore » their knowledge, goals, and target identification strategy. For infrastructures, we focused on predicting post-event performance due to specific terrorist attacks and natural hazard events, tempered by appropriate infrastructure investments. We demonstrate the utility of this framework with various examples, including protection of electric power, roadway, and hospital networks.« less

Deaths from international terrorism compared with road crash deaths in OECD countries

PubMed Central

Wilson, N; Thomson, G

2005-01-01

Methods: Data on deaths from international terrorism (US State Department database) were collated (1994–2003) and compared to the road injury deaths (year 2000 and 2001 data) from the OECD International Road Transport Accident Database. Results: In the 29 OECD countries for which comparable data were available, the annual average death rate from road injury was approximately 390 times that from international terrorism. The ratio of annual road to international terrorism deaths (averaged over 10 years) was lowest for the United States at 142 times. In 2001, road crash deaths in the US were equal to those from a September 11 attack every 26 days. Conclusions: There is a large difference in the magnitude of these two causes of deaths from injury. Policy makers need to be aware of this when allocating resources to preventing these two avoidable causes of mortality. PMID:16326764

A national survey of terrorism preparedness training among pediatric, family practice, and emergency medicine programs.

PubMed

Martin, Shelly D; Bush, Anneke C; Lynch, Julia A

2006-09-01

Domestic terrorism is a real threat focusing on a need to engage in effective emergency preparedness planning and training. Front-line physicians are an important component of any emergency preparedness plan. Potential victims of an attack include children who have unique physiologic and psychological vulnerabilities in disasters. Front-line providers need to have adequate training to effectively participate in local planning initiatives and to recognize and treat casualties including children. The goal of the survey was to assess the current state of terrorism preparedness training, including child victims, by emergency medicine, family practice, and pediatric residency programs in the United States and to assess methods of training and barriers to establishing effective training. A survey was e-mailed to a comprehensive list of all US pediatric, family practice, and emergency medicine residency programs 3 times between September 2003 and January 2004. The survey measured the perceived risk of terrorist attack, level of training by type of attack, level of training regarding children, method of training, and barriers to training. Overall, 21% of programs responded (46 of 182 pediatric, 75 of 400 family practice, and 29 of 125 emergency medicine programs). Across all of the event types, emergency medicine programs were more likely to report adequate/comprehensive training. However, < 50% of emergency medicine programs report adequate training for children. Didactic classroom-based lectures were the most commonly used method of training. Emergency medicine programs were more likely to use scenario-based exercises. Among programs that use scenario exercises, 93% report that they never (40%) or only sometimes (53%) incorporate child victims into the scenarios. Time, funding, access to subject matter experts, and availability of training material are the most important barriers to effective training. Children are a precious national resource and a vulnerable population in disasters. Despite the availability of terrorism preparedness funding, these data suggest that we are failing to provide adequate training to front-line providers who may care for children in a catastrophic domestic terrorist event.

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs): a new tool in counterterrorism operations?

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dörtbudak, Mehmet F.

2015-05-01

Terrorism is not a new phenomenon to the world, yet it remains difficult to define and counter. Countering terrorism requires several measures that must be taken simultaneously; however, counterterrorism strategies of many countries mostly depend on military measures. In the aftermath of the 2001 terrorist attack on the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center, the United States (U.S.) has started and led the campaign of Global War on Terrorism. They have invaded Afghanistan and Iraq and have encountered insurgencies run by terrorist organizations, such as al-Qaeda and its affiliates. The U.S. made the utilization of Air and Space Power very intensively during these operations. In order to implement operations; Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) assets were used to collect the necessary information. Before the successful insertion of a small number of U.S. Special Operation Force (SOF) teams into Afghanistan, the U.S. Air Force attacked al-Qaeda and Taliban's targets such as infrastructure, airfields, ground forces, command-control facilities etc. As soon as the U.S. troops got on the ground and started to marshal to Kabul, the Air Force supported them by attacking jointly determined targets. The Air Force continued to carry out the missions and played a significant role to achieve the objective of operation during all the time. This is not the only example of utilization of Air and Space Power in counterterrorism and counterinsurgency operations. All around the world, many countries have also made the utilization of Air Power in different missions ranging from ISR to attacking. Thinking that terrorism has a psychological dimension and losing a pilot during operations may result in decreasing the population support to operations, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) started to be used by practitioners and took priority over other assets. Although UAVs have been on the theatre for a long time used for ISR mission in conventional conflicts, with the advent of drones, UAVs have also started to be used for attack missions in counterterrorism operations. In this study, it is aimed to determine whether UAVs are appropriate assets that can be used in counterterrorism operations. The study starts by examining the term terrorism and counterterrorism and discusses the role of the Air and Space Power in counterterrorism operations. After proposing that UAVs are appropriate assets for counterterrorism operations, it continues by explaining types and common usage concepts of UAVs. The advantages and disadvantages of UAVs are put forward from the counterterrorism operations' perspectives. It finally examines the utilization of UAVs in counterterrorism operations. In this context, as much as obtained from open sources, countries' roadmaps, usage concepts, experience, and current structure are examined to determine whether UAVs are appropriate assets in counterterrorism operations. When the advantages of UAVs and the disadvantages of manned systems are analyzed, other findings of our survey will show us that UAVs will be increasingly used in counterterrorism operations

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Hoffman, B.

This report examines recent trends and future prospects of terrorism in the United States and assesses their implications for the possibility of a terrorist group attempting an act of nuclear terrorism involving either the theft of a weapons system or strategic nuclear material or an attack on a weapons facility. An emerging trend of ideologically motivated terrorism by groups espousing white supremacist and anti-federalist beliefs or opposing specific issues such as abortion has largely supplanted the ethnic centered violence that dominated earlier domestic terrorist activity. The threat to U.S. nuclear weapons facilities from unknown terrorist groups in this country cannotmore » be considered high at this time. There is no evidence to suggest that any of the organizations reviewed in this study have seriously contemplated a nuclear-related act, nor is there any indication that any group is poised to undertake such an attack in the future. Nevertheless, trends in the terrorist activities of certain groups must be considered in the context of possible operations directed against nuclear weapons sites. Members of these groups are considerably more skilled with weapons than are other terrorist in this country, they possess large stockpiles of sophisticated weapons, they are well trained guerrilla warfare and survival techniques, and they possess an apocalyptic vision of the future-factors that make them the most likely domestic terrorists to attempt an act of nuclear terrorism. In sum, while the volume of annual terrorist incidents in the United States is relatively small, the emerging trends merit intensive and continuing attention.« less

The intelligence community and the war on terror: the role of behavioral science.

PubMed

Busch, Kenneth G; Weissman, Sidney H

2005-01-01

The United States intelligence community has been under intense scrutiny from both inside and outside in the aftermath of September 11. Post mortem assessments of intelligence breakdowns may judge the events as more predictable than was in fact the actual reality. In a troubled world, when threats to national security can materialize very quickly, the intelligence community must be able to effectively and swiftly develop and implement plans to prevent further terrorist attacks on the homeland. Numerous scenarios need to be considered for the management of crisis situations. Intelligence actions must make it more difficult for terrorists to strike at their targets. The war on terror must confront a new generation of enemies who threaten to attack the United States with weapons of mass destruction. This essay will focus on the role of behavioral science and how related reforms within the intelligence community could improve its capability to respond to a huge challenge.

Terrorism-preparedness training for non-clinical hospital workers: tailoring content and presentation to meet workers' needs.

PubMed

Thorne, Craig D; Oliver, Marc; Al-Ibrahim, Mohamed; Gucer, Patricia W; McDiarmid, Melissa A

2004-07-01

Clinicians have been the primary focus of health care worker training in response to the 2001 terrorist and anthrax attacks. However, many nonclinical hospital workers also are critical in providing medical care during any large-scale emergency. We designed a training program, guided by focus groups, to provide them with information to recognize unusual events and to protect themselves. We compared four different training methods: workbook, video, lecture, and a small-group discussion. One hundred and ninety-one workers participated. After the training, they were more confident in their employer's preparedness to respond to a terrorist attack but specific knowledge did not change substantially. Fortunately, the self-directed workbook (the more economical and least disruptive method) was as effective as the other methods. Our experience may be useful to others who are planning terrorism-preparedness training programs.

Is there a dissociative process in sleepwalking and night terrors?

PubMed Central

Hartman, D; Crisp, A; Sedgwick, P; Borrow, S

2001-01-01

The enduring and contentious hypothesis that sleepwalking and night terrors are symptomatic of a protective dissociative mechanism is examined. This is mobilised when intolerable impulses, feelings and memories escape, within sleep, the diminished control of mental defence mechanisms. They then erupt but in a limited motoric or affective form with restricted awareness and subsequent amnesia for the event. It has also been suggested that such processes are more likely when the patient has a history of major psychological trauma. In a group of 22 adult patients, referred to a tertiary sleep disorders service with possible sleepwalking/night terrors, diagnosis was confirmed both clinically and polysomnographically, and only six patients had a history of such trauma. More commonly these described sleepwalking/night terrors are associated with vivid dream-like experiences or behaviour related to flight from attack. Two such cases, suggestive of a dissociative process, are described in more detail.
The results of this study are presented largely on account of the negative findings. Scores on the dissociation questionnaire (DIS-Q) were normal, although generally higher in the small "trauma" subgroup. These were similar to scores characterising individuals with post-traumatic stress disorder. This "trauma" group also scored particularly highly on the anxiety, phobic, and depression scales of the Crown-Crisp experiential index. In contrast the "no trauma" group scored more specifically highly on the anxiety scale, along with major trends to high depression and hysteria scale scores. Two cases are presented which illustrate exceptional occurrence of later onset of sleepwalking/night terrors with accompanying post-traumatic symptoms during wakefulness. It is concluded that a history of major psychological trauma exists in only a minority of adult patients presenting with sleepwalking/night terror syndrome. In this subgroup trauma appears to dictate the subsequent content of the attacks. However, the symptoms express themselves within the form of the sleepwalking/night terror syndrome rather than as rapid eye movement sleep related nightmares. The main group of subjects with the syndrome and with no history of major psychological trauma show no clinical or DIS-Q evidence of dissociation during wakefulness. The proposition that, within the character structure of this group, the mechanism still operates but exclusively within sleep remains a possibility.


Keywords: sleepwalking; night terrors; dissociation; post-traumatic stress disorder PMID:11264487

SIGAR Special Inspector General For Afghanistan Reconstruction

DTIC Science & Technology

2017-07-30

soldiers. One of the worst terror attacks of the Afghan war occurred on May 31, when a truck bomb exploded in the center of Kabul’s diplomatic quarter...RISK-FREE A devastating bomb attack near Afghanistan’s presidential palace in Kabul on May 31, 2017, killed more than 150 people and wounded hundreds...truck- bomb explosion heavily damaged several embassies and injured staff from the German, Japanese, and Pakistani embassies, as well as some U.S

Is terror gender-blind? Gender differences in reaction to terror events.

PubMed

Solomon, Zahava; Gelkopf, Marc; Bleich, Avraham

2005-12-01

This study examines gender differences in posttraumatic vulnerability in the face of the terror attacks that occurred during the Al-Aqsa Intifada. In addition, the contribution of level of exposure, sense of safety, self-efficacy, and coping strategies is assessed. Participants were 250 men and 262 women, who constitute a representative sample of Israel's adult population. Data were collected via a structured questionnaire consisting of 51 items that were drawn from several questionnaires widely used in the study of trauma. The findings indicate that women endorsed posttraumatic and depressive symptoms more than men and that, generally, their odds of developing posttraumatic stress symptoms are six times higher than those of men. Results also revealed that women's sense of safety and self-efficacy are lower than men's and that there are gender differences in coping strategies in the face of terror. Gender differences in vulnerability to terror may be attributable to a number of factors, among these are women's higher sense of threat and lower self-efficacy, as well as their tendency to use less effective coping strategies than men. Level of exposure to terror was ruled out as a possible explanation for the gender differences in vulnerability.

Psychological and emotional effects of the September 11 attacks on the World Trade Center--Connecticut, New Jersey, and New York, 2001.

PubMed

2002-09-06

To measure the psychological and emotional effects of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center (WTC), Connecticut, New Jersey, and New York added a terrorism module to their ongoing Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS). This report summarizes the results of the survey, which suggest widespread psychological and emotional effects in all segments of the three states' populations. The findings underscore the importance of collaboration among public health professionals to address the physical and emotional needs of persons affected by the September 11 attacks.

77 FR 56515 - Continuation of the National Emergency With Respect to Certain Terrorist Attacks

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-09-12

... Terrorism #0; #0; #0; Presidential Documents #0; #0; #0;#0;Federal Register / Vol. 77 , No. 177 / Wednesday, September 12, 2012 / Presidential Documents#0;#0; #0; #0;Title 3-- #0;The President [[Page 56517

Federal Research and Development Funding: FY2009

DTIC Science & Technology

2009-05-22

for acquisition under Project BioShield of medical countermeasures, such as vaccines , against biological terror attacks.2 The Office of Management...Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee. d. Separate account in the Interior/Environment appropriations for NIEHS research activities related to

The effect of terrorism on public confidence : an exploratory study.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Berry, M. S.; Baldwin, T. E.; Samsa, M. E.

A primary goal of terrorism is to instill a sense of fear and vulnerability in a population and to erode confidence in government and law enforcement agencies to protect citizens against future attacks. In recognition of its importance, the Department of Homeland Security includes public confidence as one of the metrics it uses to assess the consequences of terrorist attacks. Hence, several factors--including a detailed understanding of the variations in public confidence among individuals, by type of terrorist event, and as a function of time--are critical to developing this metric. In this exploratory study, a questionnaire was designed, tested, andmore » administered to small groups of individuals to measure public confidence in the ability of federal, state, and local governments and their public safety agencies to prevent acts of terrorism. Data were collected from the groups before and after they watched mock television news broadcasts portraying a smallpox attack, a series of suicide bomber attacks, a refinery bombing, and cyber intrusions on financial institutions that resulted in identity theft and financial losses. Our findings include the following: (a) the subjects can be classified into at least three distinct groups on the basis of their baseline outlook--optimistic, pessimistic, and unaffected; (b) the subjects make discriminations in their interpretations of an event on the basis of the nature of a terrorist attack, the time horizon, and its impact; (c) the recovery of confidence after a terrorist event has an incubation period and typically does not return to its initial level in the long-term; (d) the patterns of recovery of confidence differ between the optimists and the pessimists; and (e) individuals are able to associate a monetary value with a loss or gain in confidence, and the value associated with a loss is greater than the value associated with a gain. These findings illustrate the importance the public places in their confidence in government and law enforcement and also indicate that the level of importance is clearly of a magnitude on the order of other major terrorist event consequences, such as loss of human life and impacts to the economy.« less

[Rehabilitation outcomes of terror victims with multiple trauma: the experience in Hadassah University Hospital 2000-2004].

PubMed

Meiner, Zeev; Tuchner, Maya; Shiri, Shimon; Tsenter, Jeanna; Shochina, Mara; Shoshan, Yigal; Katz-Leurer, Michal; Schwartz, Isabella

2008-11-01

From late September 2000 until 2005, the State of Israel was attacked by continuing acts of terrorism known as the Al Aqsa Intifada. During this period the number of terror victims treated in rehabilitation facilities has escalated significantly. The city of Jerusalem has a unique place in the heart of the Israel-Palestinian conflict and, therefore, almost 20% of national atrocities have been carried out in Jerusalem. Between September.2000 and September 2004, 72 terror victims were treated in the department of rehabilitation in Hadassah University Hospital. Among them, 47 (65%) suffered from multiple trauma without CNS involvment, 19 (26%) suffered from traumatic brain injury and 6 (8%) suffered from spinal cord injury. The rehabilitation outcomes of terror victims was compared to the rehabilitation outcomes of non-terror multiple trauma patients treated in the same rehabilitation facility over the same period. The rehabilitation outcomes were evaluted using the following parameters: length of hospitalization (LOH) in acute care departments, inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation departments, functional outcome (Functional Independence Measurement, FIM), occupational outcome (returning to previous occupation) and psychological outcome (Salomon PTSD questionnaire). The mean LOH of terror victims was 218 +/- 131 days as opposed to 152 +/- 114 days for the non-terror group (p < 0.01). The difference between FIM value at entry and discharge (delta FIM) was significantlly higher in terror victims as compared to controls (41.1 +/- 21.6 vs. 30.8 +/- 21.8, p = 0.002). The rate of PTSD was higher among terror victims than non-terror control (40.9% vs. 24.2%, p = 0.04). The rate of returning to previous occupation was similar between terror and non-terror victims (53% vs. 46.9% respectively). Long term study showed that terror victims still suffer from lower quality of life and life satisfaction 2 years after the insult. In summary, terror victims spent longer periods in rehabilitation and regained most of the Activities of Daily Living (ADL) functions similar to the non-terror group. In spite of the higher rate of PTSD, terror victims succeeded in returning to their previous occupation similar to the non-terror group.

Trends in Terrorism, Threats to the United States and the Future of the Terrorism Risk Insurance Act

DTIC Science & Technology

2005-01-01

radicalism has emerged that appears to be based on the spreading phenomenon of anti-globalization (AG). The AG movement has had an impact on at least...such as those that were witnessed in Kenya and Tanzania in 19981 and New York and Washington, D.C., three years later.5 3 For an excellent overview of...this period, see Rashid, 2000, chapter 10. 4 The attacks in Kenya and Tanzania-which were against the U.S. embassies in Nairobi and Dar es Salaam-are

Worrying about terrorism and other acute environmental health hazard events.

PubMed

Greenberg, Michael; Babcock-Dunning, Lauren

2012-04-01

To better understand why some people worry more about terrorism compared with others, we measured how much US residents worried about a terrorist event in their area and examined the association of their fears with their concerns about acute and chronic hazards and other correlates. In 2008 (n = 600) and 2010 (n = 651), we performed a random-digit dialing national landline telephone survey. We asked about worries about terrorism and 5 other environmental health hazard issues. We also collected demographic and socioeconomic data. Only 15% worried "a great deal" about a terrorist event in their area and 18% to 33% were greatly concerned about other environmental issues. Fear about acute hazard events was a stronger predictor of a great deal of concern about terrorism than were age, race/ethnicity, gender, educational achievement, and other correlates. Those who worried most about acute environmental health hazard events were most likely to worry about terrorism. Also, those who were older, poorer, Blacks, or Latinos, or who lived in populous urban areas felt they were most vulnerable to terrorist attacks. We recommend methods to involve US citizens as part of disaster planning.

Design of multifunction anti-terrorism robotic system based on police dog

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

You, Bo; Liu, Suju; Xu, Jun; Li, Dongjie

2007-11-01

Aimed at some typical constraints of police dogs and robots used in the areas of reconnaissance and counterterrorism currently, the multifunction anti-terrorism robotic system based on police dog has been introduced. The system is made up of two parts: portable commanding device and police dog robotic system. The portable commanding device consists of power supply module, microprocessor module, LCD display module, wireless data receiving and dispatching module and commanding module, which implements the remote control to the police dogs and takes real time monitor to the video and images. The police dog robotic system consists of microprocessor module, micro video module, wireless data transmission module, power supply module and offence weapon module, which real time collects and transmits video and image data of the counter-terrorism sites, and gives military attack based on commands. The system combines police dogs' biological intelligence with micro robot. Not only does it avoid the complexity of general anti-terrorism robots' mechanical structure and the control algorithm, but it also widens the working scope of police dog, which meets the requirements of anti-terrorism in the new era.

Terror-inflicted thermal injury: A retrospective analysis of burns in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict between the years 1997 and 2003.

PubMed

Haik, Josef; Tessone, Ariel; Givon, Adi; Liran, Alon; Winkler, Eyal; Mendes, David; Goldan, Oren; Bar-Meir, Eran; Regev, Eli; Orenstein, Arie; Peleg, Kobi

2006-12-01

Terror attacks have changed in the past decade, with a growing tendency toward explosives and suicide bombings, which led to a rise in the incidence of thermal injuries among victims. The Israeli-Palestinian conflict of October 2000 marked a turning point when an organized terror campaign commenced. This article presents data of terror-associated burns from the Israeli National Trauma Registry (ITR) during the years 1997 to September 2000 and October 2000 to 2003. We analyzed demographic and clinical characteristics of 219 terror-related burn patients and 6,546 other burn patients admitted to hospitals in Israel between 1997 and 2003. Data were obtained from the ITR. Burns contributed about 9% of all terror related trauma and about 5% of all other trauma (p < 0.0001). These percentages have not changed significantly before and after October 2000. Terror-related burns afflict Jewish males more than predicted by their percentage in the population, whereas other burns afflict non-Jewish males more than predicted. Adults and young adults (15-59 years) are the predominant group in terror-related burns (80%), whereas children younger than 15 years are the predominant group in other burns (50%). Large burns (20% to 89% total body surface area) are more common in terror casualties, with greater mortality (6.4% in terror-related versus 3.4% in others; p = 0.0258). Although the incidence of burns has risen because of an organized campaign, this change was noticeable in other trauma forms as well in similar proportions. Terror-related burns afflict a targeted population, and generally take on a more severe course with greater mortality rates, thus requiring appropriate medical treatment.

The impact of communication materials on public responses to a radiological dispersal device (RDD) attack.

PubMed

Rogers, M Brooke; Amlôt, Richard; Rubin, G James

2013-03-01

It is a common assumption that, in the event of a chemical, biological, radiological, or nuclear (CBRN) attack, a well-prepared and informed public is more likely to follow official recommendations regarding the appropriate safety measures to take. We present findings from a UK study investigating the ability of crisis communication to influence perceptions of risk and behavioral intentions in the general public in response to CBRN terrorism. We conducted a focus group study involving a scenario presented in mock news broadcasts to explore levels of public knowledge, information needs, and intended behavioral reactions to an attack involving an overt radiological dispersal device (RDD), or dirty bomb. We used the findings from these focus groups to design messages for the public that could be presented in a short leaflet. We then tested the effects of the leaflet on reactions to the same scenario in 8 further focus groups. The impact of the new messages on levels of knowledge, information needs, and intended compliance with official recommendations was assessed. The provision of information increased the perceived credibility of official messages and increased reported levels of intended compliance with advice to return to normal/stop sheltering, attend a facility for assessment and treatment, and return to a previously contaminated area after decontamination of the environment has taken place. Should a real attack with an RDD occur, having pretested messages available to address common concerns and information needs should facilitate the public health response to the attack.

Treatment Approach to Sleep Terror: Two Case Reports.

PubMed

Sodan Turan, Hatice; Gündüz, Nermin; Polat, Aslıhan; Tural, Ümit

2015-06-01

Parasomnias are a group of disorders characterized by abnormal behaviors, physical activities, and autonomic arousal symptoms while transition to sleep or continuation of sleep. Sleep terror (ST) is classified under parasomnias characterized by sudden fear attacks beginning with crying attacks or high-frequency screams and continuing with increased autonomic symptoms. ST occurs in the first few hours of sleep during the delta phase. Further, the lifetime prevalence of ST in adults is less than 1%. It is important to obtain; anamnesis from patients' bed partner for a clinical evaluation of ST. Methods, such as evaluating sleep diaries and video recordings, can help ST diagnosis. It is also important to evaluate patients' medical history, history of substance or alcohol abuse, psychological traumatic experiences, primary or secondary incomes, and detailed neurological aspects. Physician can select some serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) or tricyclic antidepressants (TCADs) as medical treatment if patients have a high frequency of attacks. Because of addiction and relapse of ST episodes, benzodiazepines are not preferred as the first-line treatment. In this study, we will discuss ST, which is rare in adulthood, and use of long-acting benzodiazepine based on two cases.

Physical Injury and Somatic Complaints: The Mediating Role of Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms in Young Survivors of a Terror Attack.

PubMed

Bugge, Ingrid; Dyb, Grete; Stensland, Synne Øien; Ekeberg, Øivind; Wentzel-Larsen, Tore; Diseth, Trond H

2017-06-01

Physically injured trauma survivors have particularly high risk for later somatic complaints and posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS). However, the potential mediating role of PTSS linking injury to later somatic complaints has been poorly investigated. In this study, survivors (N = 255) were interviewed longitudinally at 2 timepoints after the terror attack on Utøya Island, Norway, in 2011. Assessments included injury sustained during the attack, PTSS (after 4-5 months), somatic complaints (after 14-15 months), and background factors. Causal mediation analysis was conducted to evaluate the potential mediating role of PTSS in linking injury to somatic complaints comparing 2 groups of injured survivors with noninjured survivors. For the nonhospitalized injured versus the noninjured survivors, the mediated pathway was significant (average causal mediation effect; ACME = 0.09, p = .028, proportion = 55.8%). For the hospitalized versus the noninjured survivors, the mediated pathway was not significant (ACME = 0.04, p = .453, proportion = 11.6%). PTSS may play a significant mediating role in the development of somatic complaints among nonhospitalized injured trauma survivors. Intervening health professionals should be aware of this possible pathway to somatic complaints. Copyright © 2017 International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies.

Annotated Bibliography of Government Documents Related to the Threat of Terrorism and the Attacks of September 11, 2001

DTIC Science & Technology

2002-04-17

Responders. 2001. ix, 41p. Sudocs classification number: J 28. 8/ 3: 101-00 Wheelis, Mary. Investigating Disease Outbreaks under a Protocol to the...101. 43: 47/ 3 Personal stories of the actions of Army Reservists immediately following the September 11 attacks. U.S. Congress. House...of the Press Secretary. President Promotes Funding for Emergency First Responders: Remarks by the President to South Carolina first responders

Jewish -- Zionist Terrorism and the Establishment of Israel

DTIC Science & Technology

1977-12-01

Passover festival, "next year in Jerusalem ." Although Jews were resettling in Palestine as early as the 14th century, for the most part these people were...and the Sanjuk of Jerusalem . The "Sublime Porte" would not consider a new state carved from its Empire although immigration to Palestine was sanctioned...Arab population. In 1920, Arabs attacked Jews in Jerusalem . In 1921, 1929 and 1930, Jews in Jaffa were attacked by marauding Arab gangs. Arabs felt

The Importance of Enduring Partnership Between the US and Pakistan in Combating Terrorism

DTIC Science & Technology

2008-01-01

Hundreds of Pakistanis including armed forces members have so far been killed in these terrorist attacks. The most high profile personality that has so...far been killed in such attacks was Mrs Benazir Bhutto, Pakistan’s ex Prime Minister. Pakistan has so far provided following assistance to the US: a...Pakistan Army conducted operation in South Waziristan in 2004, during which 302 militants were killed while 656 were detained. Some 80% of these

World at Risk: The Report of the Commission on the Prevention of WMD Proliferation and Terrorism

DTIC Science & Technology

2008-12-01

we brought together a staff of more than two dozen profes- sionals and subject matter experts from across the national security, intelli - gence, and...cities or time-phased attacks (i.e., “reload”). For federal planning purposes, it will be assumed that the Universal Adversary ( UA ) will attack five...that biologists will become terrorists. The last point bears repeating. We accept the validity of intelli - gence estimates about the current

A psychosocial risk assessment and management framework to enhance response to CBRN terrorism threats and attacks.

PubMed

Lemyre, Louise; Clément, Mélanie; Corneil, Wayne; Craig, Lorraine; Boutette, Paul; Tyshenko, Michael; Karyakina, Nataliya; Clarke, Robert; Krewski, Daniel

2005-01-01

Evidence in the disaster mental health literature indicates that psychosocial consequences of terrorism are a critical component of chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) events, both at the clinical level and the normal behavioral and emotional levels. Planning for such psychosocial aspects should be an integral part of emergency preparedness. As Canada and other countries build the capacity to prevent, mitigate, and manage CBRN threats and events, it is important to recognize the range of social, psychological, emotional, spiritual, behavioral, and cognitive factors that may affect victims and their families, communities, children, the elderly, responders, decision makers, and others at all phases of terrorism, from threat to post-impact recovery. A structured process to assist CBRN emergency planners, decision makers, and responders in identifying psychosocial risks, vulnerable populations, resources, and interventions at various phases of a CBRN event to limit negative psychosocial impacts and promote resilience and adaptive responses is the essence of our psychosocial risk assessment and management (P-RAM) framework. This article presents the evidence base and conceptual underpinnings of the framework, the principles underlying its design, its key elements, and its use in the development of decision tools for responders, planners, decision makers, and the general public to better assess and manage psychosocial aspects of CBRN threats or attacks.

Coping responses in the midst of terror: the July 22 terror attack at Utøya Island in Norway.

PubMed

Jensen, Tine K; Thoresen, Siri; Dyb, Grete

2015-02-01

This study examined the peri-trauma coping responses of 325 survivors, mostly youth, after the July 22, 2011 terror attack on Utøya Island in Norway. The aim was to understand peri-trauma coping responses and their relation to subsequent post-traumatic stress (PTS) reactions. Respondents were interviewed face-to-face 4-5 months after the shooting, and most were interviewed at their homes. Peri-trauma coping was assessed using ten selected items from the "How I Cope Under Pressure Scale" (HICUPS), covering the dimensions of problem solving, positive cognitive restructuring, avoidance, support seeking, seeking understanding, and religious coping. PTS reactions were assessed with the UCLA PTSD Reaction Index. The participants reported using a wide variety of coping strategies. Problem solving, positive cognitive restructuring, and seeking understanding strategies were reported most often. Men reported using more problem-solving strategies, whereas women reported more emotion-focused strategies. There were no significant associations between age and the use of coping strategies. Problem solving and positive cognitive restructuring were significantly associated with fewer PTS reactions. The results are discussed in light of previous research and may help to inform early intervention efforts for survivors of traumatic events. © 2014 Scandinavian Psychological Associations and John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Otolaryngological Presentations in Times of Terror: Profile from a Tertiary Health Center in North-Central Nigeria.

PubMed

Adoga, Adeyi A; Kokong, Daniel D; Ozoilo, Kenneth N

2017-07-01

To report the incidence, socio-demographic characteristics, otorhinolaryngological presentations and outcomes of management of patients at the Jos University Teaching Hospital following terror attacks. A prospective descriptive hospital based study of consecutive patients presenting with ear, nose and throat injuries as a result of bomb blasts and ethno-religious crises within a six-year period and managed at the Jos University Teaching Hospital were studied for age, gender, ear, nose and throat presentations, injury mechanism, interventions and outcome of interventions. A designed proforma was used for data collection. There were 107 ear, nose and throat injuries from a total 468 terror-related injuries consisting of 66 (61.7%) males and 41 (38.3%) females (M:F ratio of 1.6:1), aged between 5 and 77 years (mean= 36.7 years; SD= +/- 16.2). Two peak age incidences of injuries in the first and third decades were recorded. The commonest source of injuries was bomb blasts in 47 (44%) patients. Multiple facial fractures with soft tissue injuries were the commonest seen in 78 (72.9%) patients. The commonest associated injuries were head injuries (n= 36). Ninety-four (87.9%) patients presented via the Accident and Emergency department, 16 (15%) received pre-hospital care. Patients with multiple injuries stayed longer in the hospital ( p -value= 0.028). Complications were recorded in 19 (17.8%) patients. A case fatality rate of 5.6% was recorded. Bomb blasts were the major form of terror attacks in our region. The presence of multiple injuries is a significant negative predictor of patient outcomes.

On reducing terrorism power: a hint from physics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Galam, Serge; Mauger, Alain

2003-05-01

The September 11 attack on the US has revealed an unprecedented terrorism worldwide range of destruction. Recently, it has been related to the percolation of worldwide spread passive supporters. This scheme puts the suppression of the percolation effect as the major strategic issue in the fight against terrorism. Accordingly the world density of passive supporters should be reduced below the percolation threshold. In terms of solid policy, it means to neutralize millions of random passive supporters, which is contrary to ethics and out of any sound practical scheme. Given this impossibility we suggest instead a new strategic scheme to act directly on the value of the terrorism percolation threshold itself without harming the passive supporters. Accordingly we identify the space hosting the percolation phenomenon to be a multi-dimensional virtual social space which extends the ground earth surface to include the various independent terrorist-fighting goals. The associated percolating cluster is then found to create long-range ground connections to terrorism activity. We are thus able to modify the percolation threshold pc in the virtual space to reach p

Terrorism in Mexico.

PubMed

Nordin, Yannick; Cruz-Vega, Felipe; Roman, Fernando

2003-01-01

Even though Mexico is considered internationally as a pacifist country, its economic, social, and geopolitical characteristics during the last half of the 20th century have resulted in internal events that can be considered acts of terrorism. Most of the acts of terrorism during the last 15 years have had to do either with political movements or drug-dealing actions. After the 11 September 2001 attacks in the United States, Mexican Health Authorities have strengthened the epidemiological surveillance system. More than 1,372 calls asking for information or reporting suspicious envelopes were received between 16 October and 21 October 2001. Following the earthquake in 1985 that caused great damage and many deaths in Mexico, the National Civil Protection System was created in 1986. This protection system is led by the President and the Secretary of Government. It was developed to improve preparedness for disaster coordination more than for terrorism responses. In addition, the emergency medical systems continue to lack organization, even though some states have shown significant progress in their emergency medical system.

Protecting emergency responders, volume 3 : safety management in disaster and terrorism response.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2004-01-01

When disaster strikes, the nation depends on the emergency response community. : No events demonstrated this truth as dramatically as the catastrophic terrorist attacks : of September 11, 2001. But the same holds true every time the nation faces a ma...

Federal Research and Development Funding: FY2009

DTIC Science & Technology

2009-03-17

for acquisition under Project BioShield of medical countermeasures, such as vaccines , against biological terror attacks.2 The Office of Management and...0.983 million from Office of the Secretary to administer the Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee. d. Separate account in the Interior

Aviation security : long-standing problems impair airport screeners' performance

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2000-06-01

The threat of attacks on aircraft by terrorists or others remains a persistent and growing concern for the United States. According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the trend in terrorism against U.S. targets is toward large-scale incidents de...

Reviving America’s National Will for the Global War on Terror

DTIC Science & Technology

2009-03-12

Republican and Democratic candidates touched on the subject of GWOT. Since the day of President Bush’s second inauguration, the mention of GWOT in news has...economy, because this is where the public’s attention has gone. Following September 11, 2001 the apparent intent of President Bush was to reassure the...following the attack President Franklin D. Roosevelt proclaimed that it was “a day that will live in infamy.” The attack on US military facilities and

Disrupting Emerging Networks: Analyzing and Evaluating Jamaat al-Muslimeen (JAM) and the Development of an Extremist Threat in the Caribbean

DTIC Science & Technology

2012-06-01

New York’s JFK Airport that was to be executed by Muslim extremists with apparent ties to the Caribbean and Jamaat al-Muslimeen.4 This incident...is a known militant organization because of the 1990 coup attempt in Trinidad and the attempted attack on JFK airport in 2007. However, other Islamic...international terrorism with their alleged involvement in the planned attack on JFK airport in New York. The exposure of this plot brought forward the

Emergency Preparedness and Role Clarity among Rescue Workers during the Terror Attacks in Norway July 22, 2011.

PubMed

Pedersen, May Janne Botha; Gjerland, Astrid; Rund, Bjørn Rishovd; Ekeberg, Øivind; Skogstad, Laila

2016-01-01

Few studies address preparedness and role clarity in rescue workers after a disaster. On July 22, 2011, Norway was struck by two terror attacks; 77 people were killed and many injured. Healthcare providers, police officers and firefighters worked under demanding conditions. The aims of this study were to examine the level of preparedness, exposure and role clarity. In addition, the relationship between demographic variables, preparedness and exposure and a) role clarity during the rescue operations and; b) achieved mastering for future disaster operations. In this cross-sectional study, healthcare providers (n = 859), police officers (n = 252) and firefighters (n = 102) returned a questionnaire approximately 10 months after the terror attacks. The rescue personnel were trained and experienced, and the majority knew their professional role (healthcare providers M = 4.1 vs. police officers: M = 3.9 vs. firefighters: M = 4.2, p < .001, [scale 1-5]). The police officers reported significantly more lack of control (p < .001). In the multivariable analysis, being female (OR 1.4, p < .05), having more years of work experience (OR 2.3, p = < .001), previous training (OR 1.6, p < .05) and the experience of an event with > 5 fatalities (OR 1.6, p < .05) were all associated with role clarity, together with a feeling of control, not being obstructed in work and perceiving the rescue work as a success. Moreover, independent predictors of being more prepared for future operations were arousal during the operation (OR 2.0, p < .001) and perceiving the rescue work as a success (OR 1.5, p < .001). Most of the rescue workers were experienced and knew their professional role. Training and everyday-work-experience must be a focal point when preparing rescue workers for disaster.

Emergency Preparedness and Role Clarity among Rescue Workers during the Terror Attacks in Norway July 22, 2011

PubMed Central

Pedersen, May Janne Botha; Gjerland, Astrid; Rund, Bjørn Rishovd; Ekeberg, Øivind; Skogstad, Laila

2016-01-01

Background Few studies address preparedness and role clarity in rescue workers after a disaster. On July 22, 2011, Norway was struck by two terror attacks; 77 people were killed and many injured. Healthcare providers, police officers and firefighters worked under demanding conditions. The aims of this study were to examine the level of preparedness, exposure and role clarity. In addition, the relationship between demographic variables, preparedness and exposure and a) role clarity during the rescue operations and; b) achieved mastering for future disaster operations. Methods In this cross-sectional study, healthcare providers (n = 859), police officers (n = 252) and firefighters (n = 102) returned a questionnaire approximately 10 months after the terror attacks. Results The rescue personnel were trained and experienced, and the majority knew their professional role (healthcare providers M = 4.1 vs. police officers: M = 3.9 vs. firefighters: M = 4.2, p < .001, [scale 1–5]). The police officers reported significantly more lack of control (p < .001). In the multivariable analysis, being female (OR 1.4, p < .05), having more years of work experience (OR 2.3, p = < .001), previous training (OR 1.6, p < .05) and the experience of an event with > 5 fatalities (OR 1.6, p < .05) were all associated with role clarity, together with a feeling of control, not being obstructed in work and perceiving the rescue work as a success. Moreover, independent predictors of being more prepared for future operations were arousal during the operation (OR 2.0, p < .001) and perceiving the rescue work as a success (OR 1.5, p < .001). Conclusion Most of the rescue workers were experienced and knew their professional role. Training and everyday-work-experience must be a focal point when preparing rescue workers for disaster. PMID:27280520

Perception of Risk and Terrorism-Related Behavior Change: Dual Influences of Probabilistic Reasoning and Reality Testing.

PubMed

Denovan, Andrew; Dagnall, Neil; Drinkwater, Kenneth; Parker, Andrew; Clough, Peter

2017-01-01

The present study assessed the degree to which probabilistic reasoning performance and thinking style influenced perception of risk and self-reported levels of terrorism-related behavior change. A sample of 263 respondents, recruited via convenience sampling, completed a series of measures comprising probabilistic reasoning tasks (perception of randomness, base rate, probability, and conjunction fallacy), the Reality Testing subscale of the Inventory of Personality Organization (IPO-RT), the Domain-Specific Risk-Taking Scale, and a terrorism-related behavior change scale. Structural equation modeling examined three progressive models. Firstly, the Independence Model assumed that probabilistic reasoning, perception of risk and reality testing independently predicted terrorism-related behavior change. Secondly, the Mediation Model supposed that probabilistic reasoning and reality testing correlated, and indirectly predicted terrorism-related behavior change through perception of risk. Lastly, the Dual-Influence Model proposed that probabilistic reasoning indirectly predicted terrorism-related behavior change via perception of risk, independent of reality testing. Results indicated that performance on probabilistic reasoning tasks most strongly predicted perception of risk, and preference for an intuitive thinking style (measured by the IPO-RT) best explained terrorism-related behavior change. The combination of perception of risk with probabilistic reasoning ability in the Dual-Influence Model enhanced the predictive power of the analytical-rational route, with conjunction fallacy having a significant indirect effect on terrorism-related behavior change via perception of risk. The Dual-Influence Model possessed superior fit and reported similar predictive relations between intuitive-experiential and analytical-rational routes and terrorism-related behavior change. The discussion critically examines these findings in relation to dual-processing frameworks. This includes considering the limitations of current operationalisations and recommendations for future research that align outcomes and subsequent work more closely to specific dual-process models.

Perception of Risk and Terrorism-Related Behavior Change: Dual Influences of Probabilistic Reasoning and Reality Testing

PubMed Central

Denovan, Andrew; Dagnall, Neil; Drinkwater, Kenneth; Parker, Andrew; Clough, Peter

2017-01-01

The present study assessed the degree to which probabilistic reasoning performance and thinking style influenced perception of risk and self-reported levels of terrorism-related behavior change. A sample of 263 respondents, recruited via convenience sampling, completed a series of measures comprising probabilistic reasoning tasks (perception of randomness, base rate, probability, and conjunction fallacy), the Reality Testing subscale of the Inventory of Personality Organization (IPO-RT), the Domain-Specific Risk-Taking Scale, and a terrorism-related behavior change scale. Structural equation modeling examined three progressive models. Firstly, the Independence Model assumed that probabilistic reasoning, perception of risk and reality testing independently predicted terrorism-related behavior change. Secondly, the Mediation Model supposed that probabilistic reasoning and reality testing correlated, and indirectly predicted terrorism-related behavior change through perception of risk. Lastly, the Dual-Influence Model proposed that probabilistic reasoning indirectly predicted terrorism-related behavior change via perception of risk, independent of reality testing. Results indicated that performance on probabilistic reasoning tasks most strongly predicted perception of risk, and preference for an intuitive thinking style (measured by the IPO-RT) best explained terrorism-related behavior change. The combination of perception of risk with probabilistic reasoning ability in the Dual-Influence Model enhanced the predictive power of the analytical-rational route, with conjunction fallacy having a significant indirect effect on terrorism-related behavior change via perception of risk. The Dual-Influence Model possessed superior fit and reported similar predictive relations between intuitive-experiential and analytical-rational routes and terrorism-related behavior change. The discussion critically examines these findings in relation to dual-processing frameworks. This includes considering the limitations of current operationalisations and recommendations for future research that align outcomes and subsequent work more closely to specific dual-process models. PMID:29062288

Effect of 7 July 2005 terrorist attacks in London on suicide in England and Wales.

PubMed

Salib, Emad; Cortina-Borja, Mario

2009-01-01

A reduction in suicide in England and Wales has been reported after the attacks of 11 September 2001 in the USA. It may be plausible therefore to expect a much greater impact on suicide in the UK in response to the events of 7 July 2005, caused by the first suicide terrorist attack by Islamic extremists on British soil. To examine the effect of the 7 July 2005 terrorist attacks in London on suicide rates in England and Wales. Analysis of number of suicide (ICD-10 codes X60-X84) and undetermined injury deaths (ICD-10 codes Y10-Y34) reported in England and Wales in the 12 weeks before and after 7 July 2005. We used Shewhart Control Charts based on Poisson rates to explore adjusted daily and weekly suicide rates and rate differences with respect to 7 July 2005. A brief but significant reduction in daily suicide rate was observed a few days after the terrorist attack in London on 7 July 2005. Further reduction was also observed on the 21 July 2005, coinciding with the second wave of attacks. No similar reduction in suicide was seen during the same period in the previous 4 years. Poisson regression models with indicator variables for each day in July 2005 revealed a reduction of 40% of the expected daily rate for these 2 days only. We found no evidence of any longer-term effect on suicide. The study findings are contrary to our expectation and only weakly support Durkheim's theory that periods of national threat lower the suicide rate through the impact on social cohesion. It is possible that previous experience of IRA terrorism in the UK may have limited the effect of the 7 July 2005 attacks on suicide in England and Wales. The shock value of suicide terrorism and its psychological potency appear to diminish over time as the tactic becomes overused.

The challenge of protecting transit and passenger rail : understanding how security works against terrorism.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2017-02-01

Terrorists see transit and passenger rail as an attractive target. Designed for public convenience, trains and stations offer terrorists easy access to crowds of people in confined environments where there are minimal security risks and attacks can c...

The USA PATRIOT Act.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Minow, Mary; Coyle, Karen; Kaufman, Paula

2002-01-01

Explains the USA PATRIOT (Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism) Act, passed after the September 11 terrorist attacks, and its implications for libraries and patron records. Considers past dealings with the FBI; court orders; search warrants; wiretaps; and subpoenas. Includes:…

Countermeasures and vaccination against terrorism using smallpox: pre-event and post-event smallpox vaccination and its contraindications.

PubMed

Sato, Hajime

2011-09-01

Smallpox, when used as a biological weapon, presents a serious threat to civilian populations. Core components of the public health management of a terrorism attack using smallpox are: vaccination (ring vaccination and mass vaccination), adverse event monitoring, confirmed and suspected smallpox case management, contact management, identifying, tracing, monitoring contacts, and quarantine. Above all, pre-event and post-event vaccination is an indispensable part of the strategies. Since smallpox patients are most infectious from onset of the rash through the first 7-10 days of the rash, vaccination should be administered promptly within a limited time frame. However, vaccination can accompany complications, such as postvaccinial encephalitis, progressive vaccinia, eczema vaccinatum, and generalized vaccinia. Therefore, vaccination is not recommended for certain groups. Public health professionals, as well as physicians and government officials, should also be well equipped with all information necessary for appropriate and effective smallpox management in the face of such a bioterrorism attack.

Research participation after terrorism: an open cohort study of survivors and parents after the 2011 Utøya attack in Norway.

PubMed

Stene, Lise Eilin; Dyb, Grete

2016-02-01

Reliable estimates of treatment needs after terrorism are essential to develop an effective public health response. More knowledge is required on research participation among survivors of terrorism to interpret the results properly and advance disaster research methodology. This article reports factors associated with participation in an open cohort study of survivors of the Utøya youth camp attack and their parents. Overall, 490 survivors were invited to two semi-structured interviews that were performed 4-5 and 14-15 months after the attack. The parents of 482 survivors aged 13-32 years were eligible for a complementary study. The study had an open cohort design in which all of the eligible survivors were invited to both waves. Pearson's Chi squared tests (categorical variables) and independent t tests (continuous variables) were used to compare survivors by participation. Altogether, 355 (72.4 %) survivors participated: 255 in both waves, 70 in wave 1 only, and 30 in wave 2 only. Compared with the two-wave participants, wave-1-only participants were more often non-Norwegian and reported higher exposure, whereas wave-2-only participants reported more posttraumatic stress, anxiety/depression, and somatic symptoms. In total, 331 (68.7 %) survivors had ≥1 participating parents, including 311 (64.5 %) with maternal and 243 (50.4 %) with paternal participation. Parental non-participation was associated with non-Norwegian origin, somatic symptoms and less social support. Additionally, paternal non-participation was associated with having divorced parents, and maternal non-participation was associated with higher age, not living with parents, posttraumatic stress and anxiety/depression symptoms. Survivors with initial non-participation had more symptoms than did the other participants. Thus, an open cohort design in post-terrorism studies might improve the participation among survivors with higher morbidity. Because the factors associated with maternal and paternal participation differed, it is important to consider potential disparities in the selection of mothers and fathers when interpreting parental data.

Worrying About Terrorism and Other Acute Environmental Health Hazard Events

PubMed Central

Babcock-Dunning, Lauren

2012-01-01

Objectives. To better understand why some people worry more about terrorism compared with others, we measured how much US residents worried about a terrorist event in their area and examined the association of their fears with their concerns about acute and chronic hazards and other correlates. Methods. In 2008 (n = 600) and 2010 (n = 651), we performed a random-digit dialing national landline telephone survey. We asked about worries about terrorism and 5 other environmental health hazard issues. We also collected demographic and socioeconomic data. Results. Only 15% worried “a great deal” about a terrorist event in their area and 18% to 33% were greatly concerned about other environmental issues. Fear about acute hazard events was a stronger predictor of a great deal of concern about terrorism than were age, race/ethnicity, gender, educational achievement, and other correlates. Conclusions. Those who worried most about acute environmental health hazard events were most likely to worry about terrorism. Also, those who were older, poorer, Blacks, or Latinos, or who lived in populous urban areas felt they were most vulnerable to terrorist attacks. We recommend methods to involve US citizens as part of disaster planning. PMID:22397346

Terrorism and mental health in the rural Midwest.

PubMed

Hawley, Suzanne R; Ablah, Elizabeth; Hawley, Gary C; Cook, David J; Orr, Shirley A; Molgaard, Craig A

2006-01-01

Since the terrorist attacks of 11 September 2001, the amount of terrorism preparedness training has increased substantially. However, gaps continue to exist in training for the mental health casualties that result from such events. Responders must be aware of the mental health effects of terrorism and how to prepare for and buffer these effects. However, the degree to which responders possess or value this knowledge has not been studied. Multi-disciplinary terrorism preparedness training for healthcare professionals was conducted in Kansas in 2003. In order to assess knowledge and attitudes related to mental health preparedness training, post-test surveys were provided to 314 respondents 10 months after completion of the training. Respondents returned 197 completed surveys for an analysis response rate of 63%. In general, the results indicated that respondents have knowledge of and value the importance of mental health preparedness issues. The respondents who reported greater knowledge or value of mental health preparedness also indicated significantly higher ability levels in nationally recognized bioterrorism competencies (p < 0.001). These results support the need for mental health components to be incorporated into terrorism preparedness training. Further studies to determine the most effective mental health preparedness training content and instruction modalities are needed.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Ackerman, G; Bale, J; Moran, K

Certain types of infrastructure--critical infrastructure (CI)--play vital roles in underpinning our economy, security, and way of life. One particular type of CI--that relating to chemicals--constitutes both an important element of our nation's infrastructure and a particularly attractive set of potential targets. This is primarily because of the large quantities of toxic industrial chemicals (TICs) it employs in various operations and because of the essential economic functions it serves. This study attempts to minimize some of the ambiguities that presently impede chemical infrastructure threat assessments by providing new insight into the key motivational factors that affect terrorist organizations propensity to attackmore » chemical facilities. Prepared as a companion piece to the Center for Nonproliferation Studies August 2004 study--''Assessing Terrorist Motivations for Attacking Critical Infrastructure''--it investigates three overarching research questions: (1) why do terrorists choose to attack chemical-related infrastructure over other targets; (2) what specific factors influence their target selection decisions concerning chemical facilities; and (3) which, if any, types of groups are most inclined to attack chemical infrastructure targets? The study involved a multi-pronged research design, which made use of four discrete investigative techniques to answer the above questions as comprehensively as possible. These include: (1) a review of terrorism and threat assessment literature to glean expert consensus regarding terrorist interest in targeting chemical facilities; (2) the preparation of case studies to help identify internal group factors and contextual influences that have played a significant role in leading some terrorist groups to attack chemical facilities; (3) an examination of data from the Critical Infrastructure Terrorist Incident Catalog (CrITIC) to further illuminate the nature of terrorist attacks against chemical facilities to date; and (4) the refinement of the DECIDe--the Determinants Effecting Critical Infrastructure Decisions--analytical framework to make the factors and dynamics identified by the study more ''usable'' in future efforts to assess terrorist intentions to target chemical-related infrastructure.« less

Coping with terrorism

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Kerr, D.M.

1985-01-01

Terrorism has emerged as a tool of low-intensity conflict used to undermine Western and moderate governments. There is evidence that the US faces a new threshold of terrorist threat both at home and abroad because the tools are available, media attention is global and often undisciplined, and the motives for terrorist attack span a wide spectrum. The US has no internal consensus of how to respond to acts of terrorism. The goal of the terrorists is to erode faith in the government and the democratic system. The author analyzes the threat and examines opportunities for an adequate response. Among hismore » recommendations are to make infrastructure networks more robust and less vulnerable, the use of new technologies that enhance security, clear guidelines for intelligence gathering and analysis, specially trained response forces, and political moderation and cooperation.« less

A Course on Terror Medicine: Content and Evaluations.

PubMed

Cole, Leonard A; Natal, Brenda; Fox, Adam; Cooper, Arthur; Kennedy, Cheryl A; Connell, Nancy D; Sugalski, Gregory; Kulkarni, Miriam; Feravolo, Michael; Lamba, Sangeeta

2016-02-01

The development of medical school courses on medical responses for disaster victims has been deemed largely inadequate. To address this gap, a 2-week elective course on Terror Medicine (a field related to Disaster and Emergency Medicine) has been designed for fourth year students at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School in Newark, New Jersey (USA). This elective is part of an overall curricular plan to broaden exposure to topics related to Terror Medicine throughout the undergraduate medical education. A course on Terror Medicine necessarily includes key aspects of Disaster and Emergency Medicine, though the converse is not the case. Courses on Disaster Medicine may not address features distinctively associated with a terror attack. Thus, a terror-related focus not only assures attention to this important subject but to accidental or naturally occurring incidents as well. The course, implemented in 2014, uses a variety of teaching modalities including lectures, videos, and tabletop and hands-on simulation exercises. The subject matter includes biological and chemical terrorism, disaster management, mechanisms of injury, and psychiatry. This report outlines the elective's goals and objectives, describes the course syllabus, and presents outcomes based on student evaluations of the initial iterations of the elective offering. All students rated the course as "excellent" or "very good." Evaluations included enthusiastic comments about the content, methods of instruction, and especially the value of the simulation exercises. Students also reported finding the course novel and engaging. An elective course on Terror Medicine, as described, is shown to be feasible and successful. The student participants found the content relevant to their education and the manner of instruction effective. This course may serve as a model for other medical schools contemplating the expansion or inclusion of Terror Medicine-related topics in their curriculum.

Science Publishing in the Age of Bioterrorism

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Atlas, Ronald

2003-01-01

Following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, and the subsequent anthrax bioterrorism mailings, the science community and others worried that technical articles might inadvertently aid those planning acts of terrorism. Some authors asked the American Society for Microbiology (ASM) for permission to withhold critical information from…

Federal Research and Development Funding: FY2009

DTIC Science & Technology

2008-08-15

Security (DHS) for acquisition under Project BioShield of medical countermeasures, such as vaccines , against biological terror attacks.2 The Office of...e. FY2008 NIMH has $0.983m from Office of the Secretary to administer the Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee. f. Separate account in the

Federal Research and Development Funding: FY2009

DTIC Science & Technology

2008-04-10

of Homeland Security (DHS) for acquisition under Project BioShield of medical countermeasures, such as vaccines , against biological terror attacks.2...NIAID and OD). e. FY2008 NIMH has $0.983m from Office of the Secretary to administer Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee. f. Separate account in

9/11 Event

NASA Image and Video Library

2015-09-11

A memorial to the 343 first responder victims of the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks stands at Fire Station 1 at NASA's Kennedy Space Center during its dedication on Sept. 11, 2015. A section of steel I-beam from the World Trade Center in New York forms the centerpiece of the monument.

Communicating about the Risks of Terrorism (or Anything Else)

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Fischhoff, Baruch

2011-01-01

Communication is essential to preventing terrorists from achieving their objectives. Effective communication can reduce terrorists' chances of mounting successful operations, creating threats that disrupt everyday life, and undermining the legitimacy of the societies that they attack. Psychological research has essential roles to play in that…

Training in the Post-Terrorism Era.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Caudron, Shari

2002-01-01

A survey of training professionals revealed how the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 changed employee attitudes toward training. Decreased travel, increased use of distance technologies, development of security and evacuation plans, and emphasis on such topics as diversity, stress management, and security are some of the changes. (JOW)

Family Therapy of Terroristic Trauma: Psychological Syndromes and Treatment Strategies.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Miller, Laurence

2003-01-01

Reviews pertinent literature on terroristic trauma and combines this information with the author's experience in treating adults, children, and family victims and survivors of recent terrorist attacks. Describes the psychological syndromes resulting from terrorism and discusses the relevant individual and family therapy modalities for treating…

Terrorist Capabilities for Cyberattack: Overview and Policy Issues

DTIC Science & Technology

2007-01-22

originated in the United States and in China (although some of the attacks apparently only traversed through networks in China, casting some doubt on the...detection. CRS-21 86 Louise Shelly , Organized Crime, Cybercrime and Terrorism, Computer Crime Research Center, September 27, 2004, [http://www.crime

Hedging against terrorism: Are US businesses prepared?

PubMed

Kahan, Jerome H

2015-01-01

Private US companies face risks in connection with financial matters, but are not necessarily prepared to cope with risks that can seriously disrupt or even halt their operations, notably terrorist attacks and natural disasters. Enhancing the resilience of businesses when dealing with terrorism is especially challenging, as these groups or individuals can adapt tactics to exploit the vulnerabilities of companies they wish to target. Business managers need to formulate flexible preparedness plans that reduce risks from large-scale natural disasters as well as terrorist attacks. In doing so, they can take advantage of post-9/11 US government guidance for these endeavours as well as programmes that eliminate risks to private insurance entities so they can issue policies that cover terrorist strikes of high consequences. Just as business executives use hedging strategies in the world of finance, they also need operational hedging strategies as a means of exploiting as well as lowering the risks surrounding future uncertainties. Resources devoted to planning and hedging are investments that can increase the odds of businesses surviving and thriving, even if they experience high-impact terrorist attacks, threats or large-scale natural disasters, making suppliers, customers and stakeholders happy. The purpose of this paper is to give executives the incentive to take steps to do just that.

Managing terror: differences between Jews and Arabs in Israel.

PubMed

Somer, Eli; Maguen, Shira; Or-Chen, Keren; Litz, Brett T

2009-04-01

Using telephone surveys, we examined exposure to terror, coping, and mental health response in randomly selected Jewish-Israelis (n = 100) and Arab-Israelis (n = 100) living in five Israeli cities affected by terrorism. Jewish-Israelis and Arab-Israelis were randomly selected for study participation and completed telephone surveys in May 2002, following an extended string of terror attacks and hostilities. Although terrorism is designed to target Jewish-Israelis, the rates of exposure were similar in the two groups. Arab-Israelis reported using a wider array of coping strategies, yet also endorsed more frequent PTSD and more severe depression symptoms than Jewish-Israelis. We examined a variety of demographic, ethnic, and religious predictors of different coping styles and found varying results. For example, acceptance coping was best predicted by Arab-Israeli ethnicity, being female, greater religiosity, and lower education. Predictors of mental health response to terror were also examined, with Arab-Israeli ethnicity, being female, adaptation coping and collaborative coping best predicting PTSD and depression symptoms. Arab-Israelis may not have the same access to overarching sources of patriotic support that are readily available to their Jewish compatriots, and civilian and economic inequity experienced by the Arab minority may add to a sense of diminished resources. Our findings justify outreach efforts to overlooked minorities at risk for posttraumatic distress. Women seem to be at particular risk for the development of mental health symptoms following terrorism, which should also be noted for outreach purposes.

Otolaryngological Presentations in Times of Terror: Profile from a Tertiary Health Center in North-Central Nigeria

PubMed Central

Adoga, Adeyi A.; Kokong, Daniel D.; Ozoilo, Kenneth N.

2017-01-01

Objectives: To report the incidence, socio-demographic characteristics, otorhinolaryngological presentations and outcomes of management of patients at the Jos University Teaching Hospital following terror attacks. Methods: A prospective descriptive hospital based study of consecutive patients presenting with ear, nose and throat injuries as a result of bomb blasts and ethno-religious crises within a six-year period and managed at the Jos University Teaching Hospital were studied for age, gender, ear, nose and throat presentations, injury mechanism, interventions and outcome of interventions. A designed proforma was used for data collection. Results: There were 107 ear, nose and throat injuries from a total 468 terror-related injuries consisting of 66 (61.7%) males and 41 (38.3%) females (M:F ratio of 1.6:1), aged between 5 and 77 years (mean= 36.7 years; SD= +/- 16.2). Two peak age incidences of injuries in the first and third decades were recorded. The commonest source of injuries was bomb blasts in 47 (44%) patients. Multiple facial fractures with soft tissue injuries were the commonest seen in 78 (72.9%) patients. The commonest associated injuries were head injuries (n= 36). Ninety-four (87.9%) patients presented via the Accident and Emergency department, 16 (15%) received pre-hospital care. Patients with multiple injuries stayed longer in the hospital (p-value= 0.028). Complications were recorded in 19 (17.8%) patients. A case fatality rate of 5.6% was recorded. Conclusion: Bomb blasts were the major form of terror attacks in our region. The presence of multiple injuries is a significant negative predictor of patient outcomes. PMID:28795066

The Developmental Dynamics of Terrorist Organizations

PubMed Central

Clauset, Aaron; Gleditsch, Kristian Skrede

2012-01-01

We identify robust statistical patterns in the frequency and severity of violent attacks by terrorist organizations as they grow and age. Using group-level static and dynamic analyses of terrorist events worldwide from 1968–2008 and a simulation model of organizational dynamics, we show that the production of violent events tends to accelerate with increasing size and experience. This coupling of frequency, experience and size arises from a fundamental positive feedback loop in which attacks lead to growth which leads to increased production of new attacks. In contrast, event severity is independent of both size and experience. Thus larger, more experienced organizations are more deadly because they attack more frequently, not because their attacks are more deadly, and large events are equally likely to come from large and small organizations. These results hold across political ideologies and time, suggesting that the frequency and severity of terrorism may be constrained by fundamental processes. PMID:23185267

The psychological impact of terrorism: an epidemiologic study of posttraumatic stress disorder and associated factors in victims of the 1995-1996 bombings in France.

PubMed

Verger, Pierre; Dab, William; Lamping, Donna L; Loze, Jean-Yves; Deschaseaux-Voinet, Céline; Abenhaim, Lucien; Rouillon, Frédéric

2004-08-01

A wave of bombings struck France in 1995 and 1996, killing 12 people and injuring more than 200. The authors conducted follow-up evaluations with the victims in 1998 to determine the prevalence of and factors associated with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Victims directly exposed to the bombings (N=228) were recruited into a retrospective, cross-sectional study. Computer-assisted telephone interviews were conducted to evaluate PTSD, per DSM-IV criteria, and to assess health status before the attack, initial injury severity and perceived threat at the time of attack, and psychological symptoms, cosmetic impairment, hearing problems, and health service use at the time of the follow-up evaluation. Factors associated with PTSD were investigated with univariate logistic regression followed by multiple logistic regression analyses. A total of 196 respondents (86%) participated in the study. Of these, 19% had severe initial physical injuries (hospitalization exceeding 1 week). Problems reported at the follow-up evaluation included attack-related hearing problems (51%), cosmetic impairment (33%), and PTSD (31%) (95% confidence interval=24.5%-37.5%). Results of logistic regression analyses indicated that the risk of PTSD was significantly higher among women (odds ratio=2.54), participants age 35-54 (odds ratio=2.83), and those who had severe initial injuries (odds ratio=2.79) or cosmetic impairment (odds ratio=2.74) or who perceived substantial threat during the attack (odds ratio=3.99). The high prevalence of PTSD 2.6 years on average after a terrorist attack emphasizes the need for improved health services to address the intermediate and long-term consequences of terrorism.

Relative risk perception for terrorism: implications for preparedness and risk communication.

PubMed

Caponecchia, Carlo

2012-09-01

Terrorism presents a significant risk that is often approached at public policy, infrastructure, or emergency management level. Public perceptions of the likelihood of terrorist events, and how this may relate to individual preparedness, are not always extensively examined. The tendency to think that negative events are less likely to happen to oneself than to the average person is known as optimism bias. Optimism bias is relevant to perceptions of terrorism, because it is thought to be related to a reduction in precaution use. Using an online survey of 164 participants, this study aimed to determine whether Sydney residents thought they had a lower likelihood of experiencing terrorist events than other Australians. Significant optimism bias was observed for witnessing terrorist events, but not for personally experiencing terrorist events. In addition, Sydney residents tended to think that terrorist attacks were more likely to occur in Sydney than another major Australian city in the next five years. At the same time, household and workplace preparedness for terrorism was quite low, as was awareness of emergency strategies in the central business district. Perceptions of high likelihood of terrorism happening in one's own city, yet low preparedness present a challenge for risk communication and emergency management strategies. The diversity of possible terrorist targets, and the simple plans that can moderate the effects of a disaster may need to be emphasized in future anti-terrorism initiatives. © 2012 Society for Risk Analysis.

Suicide Terrorism: Deadly Tactic or Operational Art at Work?

DTIC Science & Technology

2009-05-04

clerical leader, opined in a 1996 interview printed in an Egyptian newspaper that “suicide puts an end to his life out of selfish considerations...attacks in support of their strategic objectives. Following the February 1994 massacre in the Tomb of the Patriarchs-Khalili Mosque perpetrated by

A 5TH GENERATION FIGHTER FOR BELGIUM:LUXURY OR NECESSITY

DTIC Science & Technology

2016-02-16

violence to assert power. Overall, 3 we see threats, old and new, from piracy to terrorism to cyber-attacks. Based on these increased threats, NATO...share information seamlessly and contribute to a Common Operating Picture ( COP ). This construct will balance speed with accuracy to deliver the

9/11 Event

NASA Image and Video Library

2015-09-11

Firefighters stand at attention as a memorial to the 343 first responder victims of the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks is dedicated at Fire Station 1 at NASA's Kennedy Space Center on Sept. 11, 2015. A section of steel I-beam from the World Trade Center in New York forms the centerpiece of the monument.

Perspectives on Privacy and Terrorism: All Is not Lost--Yet.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Gellman, Robert

2002-01-01

Discusses implications of the U.S.A. Patriot Act, antiterrorism legislation that was passed after the September 11 attacks, regarding privacy issues. Highlights include information privacy; privacy and government, including increases in the surveillance powers of government; privacy and the private sector; and future possibilities. (Author/LRW)

Understanding Islam and Its Impact on Latin America

DTIC Science & Technology

2004-04-01

30 Tri-Border Area ...in Islamic fundamentalism, and its impact to the area south of our border. v Abstract Islamic terrorism has become arguably one of the most...history of Islamic terrorist attacks in the region. Within certain lawless areas of Latin America known for illicit activities and Arab immigration

Terrorism in Southeast Asia

DTIC Science & Technology

2005-02-07

than the military — realm. In the near term, barring another major terrorist attack, it is difficult to foresee these features of CRS-36 131 Rohan ...maintain credibility in Southeast Asia.143 CRS-40 144 See Seng Tan and Kumar Ramakrishna , “Interstate and Intrastate Dynamics in Southeast Asia’s War on

When Terrorists Strike: What School Counselors Can Do. ERIC Digest.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Juhnke, Gerald A.

Terrorist attacks in New York City and Washington, DC, and the continued threats of terrorism have the potential to engender negative psychological effects upon school age children and their families. School counselors and mental health professionals working with children need to be knowledgeable regarding interventions which allow students to…

Executive Power in an Age of Terror

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Landman, James H.

2006-01-01

One week after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, the Congress passed an Authorization for the Use of Military Force (The Authorization) that authorized the president--"... to use all necessary and appropriate force against those nations, organizations, or persons he determines planned, authorized, committed, or aided the terrorist…

75 FR 3966 - Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-01-25

...: Terrorism Risk Insurance Program Rebuttal of Controlling Influence Submission. Description: 31 CFR 50.8... regulatory presumption of ``controlling influence'' over another insurer under the Terrorism Risk Insurance...

78 FR 17469 - Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-03-21

...: Terrorism Risk Insurance Program Rebuttal of Controlling Influence Submission. Abstract: Title 31 CFR 50.8... regulatory presumption of ``controlling influence'' over another insurer under the Terrorism Risk Insurance...

Terrorism preparedness in state health departments--United States, 2001-2003.

PubMed

2003-10-31

The anthrax attacks in fall 2001 highlighted the role of infectious disease (ID) epidemiologists in terrorism preparedness and response. Beginning in 2002, state health departments (SHDs) received approximately 1 billion dollars in new federal funding to prepare for and respond to terrorism, infectious disease outbreaks, and other public health threats and emergencies. This funding is being used in part to improve epidemiologic and surveillance capabilities. To determine how states have used a portion of their new funding to increase ID epidemiology capacity, the Iowa Department of Public Health's Center for Acute Disease Epidemiology and the Iowa State University Department of Microbiology conducted two surveys of U.S. state epidemiologists during September 2000-August 2001 and October 2002-June 2003. This report summarizes the results of these surveys, which determined that although the number of SHD epidemiology workers assigned to ID and terrorism preparedness increased by 132%, concerns remained regarding the ability of SHDs to hire qualified personnel. These findings underscore the need to develop additional and more diverse training venues for current and future ID epidemiologists.

Strategic Analysis of Terrorism

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Arce, Daniel G.; Sandler, Todd

Two areas that are increasingly studied in the game-theoretic literature on terrorism and counterterrorism are collective action and asymmetric information. One contribution of this chapter is a survey and extension of continuous policy models with differentiable payoff functions. In this way, policies can be characterized as strategic substitutes (e. g., proactive measures), or strategic complements (e. g., defensive measures). Mixed substitute-complement models are also introduced. We show that the efficiency of counterterror policy depends upon (i) the strategic substitutes-complements characterization, and (ii) who initiates the action. Surprisingly, in mixed-models the dichotomy between individual and collective action may disappear. A second contribution is the consideration of a signaling model where indiscriminant spectacular terrorist attacks may erode terrorists’ support among its constituency, and proactive government responses can create a backlash effect in favor of terrorists. A novel equilibrium of this model reflects the well-documented ineffectiveness of terrorism in achieving its stated goals.

Are we ready for terrorism? Emergency medical technicians' and paramedics' training and self-perceived competence since September 11.

PubMed

Clawson, Art; Menachemi, Nir; Kim, Unho; Brooks, Robert G

2007-01-01

The US continues to be a target for terrorist activities that threaten the lives of the populace. Training on preparedness and response for emergency medical technicians (EMTs) and paramedics is critical to the success of an early response to any such attack. Previous surveys have suggested that terrorism-specific training has been modest at best since September 11. In order to gain further insight into emergency personnel's level of training and competence, we sent surveys to 4,000 EMTs and paramedics in the state of Florida in late 2005 and early 2006. Results show a much higher level of training than previously reported from other states and suggest a direct correlation between the amount and type of training and self-reported competence. Our results suggest that most emergency personnel are receiving terrorism-specific training, but gaps in competencies exist and require the attention of educators and policymakers.

31 CFR 50.8 - Procedure for requesting determinations of controlling influence.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... the Treasury TERRORISM RISK INSURANCE PROGRAM General Provisions § 50.8 Procedure for requesting... controlling influence. Such submissions shall be made to the Terrorism Risk Insurance Program Office...

31 CFR 50.8 - Procedure for requesting determinations of controlling influence.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... the Treasury TERRORISM RISK INSURANCE PROGRAM General Provisions § 50.8 Procedure for requesting... controlling influence. Such submissions shall be made to the Terrorism Risk Insurance Program Office...

31 CFR 50.8 - Procedure for requesting determinations of controlling influence.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... the Treasury TERRORISM RISK INSURANCE PROGRAM General Provisions § 50.8 Procedure for requesting... controlling influence. Such submissions shall be made to the Terrorism Risk Insurance Program Office...

31 CFR 50.8 - Procedure for requesting determinations of controlling influence.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... the Treasury TERRORISM RISK INSURANCE PROGRAM General Provisions § 50.8 Procedure for requesting... controlling influence. Such submissions shall be made to the Terrorism Risk Insurance Program Office...

31 CFR 50.8 - Procedure for requesting determinations of controlling influence.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... the Treasury TERRORISM RISK INSURANCE PROGRAM General Provisions § 50.8 Procedure for requesting... controlling influence. Such submissions shall be made to the Terrorism Risk Insurance Program Office...

Public views on multiple dimensions of security : nuclear waepons, terrorism, energy, and the environment : 2007.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Herron, Kerry Gale; Jenkins-Smith, Hank C.

2008-01-01

We analyze and compare findings from identical national surveys of the US general public on nuclear security and terrorism administered by telephone and Internet in mid-2007. Key areas of investigation include assessments of threats to US security; valuations of US nuclear weapons and nuclear deterrence; perspectives on nuclear proliferation, including the specific cases of North Korea and Iran; and support for investments in nuclear weapons capabilities. Our analysis of public views on terrorism include assessments of the current threat, progress in the struggle against terrorism, preferences for responding to terrorist attacks at different levels of assumed casualties, and support formore » domestic policies intended to reduce the threat of terrorism. Also we report findings from an Internet survey conducted in mid 2007 that investigates public views of US energy security, to include: energy supplies and reliability; energy vulnerabilities and threats, and relationships among security, costs, energy dependence, alternative sources, and research and investment priorities. We analyze public assessments of nuclear energy risks and benefits, nuclear materials management issues, and preferences for the future of nuclear energy in the US. Additionally, we investigate environmental issues as they relate to energy security, to include expected implications of global climate change, and relationships among environmental issues and potential policy options.« less

Childhood reactions to terrorism-induced trauma: a review of the past 10 years.

PubMed

Fremont, Wanda P

2004-04-01

To summarize the literature about the clinical presentation and treatment interventions of childhood reactions to terrorism-induced trauma. The literature on children's responses to terrorist activities was reviewed. Over the past 10 years, more research has emerged on the subject of terrorism in children. Many of the effects of terrorism-induced trauma are similar to the effects of natural and man-made trauma. Children's responses include acute stress disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder, anxiety, depression, regressive behaviors, separation problems, sleep difficulties, and behavioral problems. However, several aspects of terrorist attacks result in unique stressors and reactions and pose specific challenges for treatment. The unpredictable, indefinite threat of terrorist events, the profound effect on adults and communities, and the effect of extensive terrorist-related media coverage exacerbates underlying anxieties and contributes to a continuous state of stress and anxiety. Intervention strategies include early community-based interventions, screening of children at risk, triage and referral, and trauma-loss-focused treatment programs. Advances have been made in the research of childhood reactions to terrorism-induced trauma. Further research is needed to identify children at risk and to determine the long-term impact on children's development. Although the preliminary results of interventions developed to help children are promising, outcome data have not been examined, and further research is needed to evaluate their effectiveness.

Public health consequences of terrorism on maternal-child health in New York City and Madrid.

PubMed

Sherrieb, Kathleen; Norris, Fran H

2013-06-01

Past research provides evidence for trajectories of health and wellness among individuals following disasters that follow specific pathways of resilience, resistance, recovery, or continued dysfunction. These individual responses are influenced by event type and pre-event capacities. This study was designed to utilize the trajectories of health model to determine if it translates to population health. We identified terrorist attacks that could potentially impact population health rather than only selected individuals within the areas of the attacks. We chose to examine a time series of population birth outcomes before and after the terrorist events of the New York City (NYC) World Trade Center (WTC) attacks of 2001 and the Madrid, Spain train bombings of 2004 to determine if the events affected maternal-child health of those cities and, if so, for how long. For percentages of low birth weight (LBW) and preterm births, we found no significant effects from the WTC attacks in NYC and transient but significant effects on rates of LBW and preterm births following the bombings in Madrid. We did find a significant positive and sustained effect on infant mortality rate in NYC following the WTC attacks but no similar effect in Madrid. There were no effects on any of the indicator variables in the comparison regions of New York state and the remainder of Spain. Thus, population maternal-health in New York and Madrid showed unique adverse effects after the terrorist attacks in those cities. Short-term effects on LBW and preterm birth rates in Madrid and long-term effects on infant mortality rates in NYC were found when quarterly data were analyzed from 1990 through 2008/2009. These findings raise questions about chronic changes in the population's quality of life following catastrophic terrorist attacks. Public health should be monitored and interventions designed to address chronic stress, environmental, and socioeconomic threats beyond the acute aftermath of events.

Terrorism involving cyanide: the prospect of improving preparedness in the prehospital setting.

PubMed

Keim, Mark E

2006-01-01

The potential for domestic or international terrorism involving cyanide has not diminished and in fact may have increased in recent years. This paper discusses cyanide as a terrorist weapon and the current state of readiness for a cyanide attack in the United States. Many of the factors that render cyanide appealing to terrorists are difficult to modify sufficiently to decrease the probability of a cyanide attack. For example, the relative ease with which cyanide can be used as a weapon without special training, its versatile means of delivery to intended victims, and to a large degree, its ready availability cannot be significantly modified through preparedness efforts. On the other hand, the impact of an attack can be mitigated through preparedness measures designed to minimize the physical, psychological, and social consequences of cyanide exposure. Although the nation remains ill-equipped to manage a cyanide disaster, significant progress is being realized in some aspects of preparedness. Hydroxocobalamin-a cyanide antidote that may be appropriate for use in the prehospital setting for presumptive cases of cyanide poisoning-currently is under development for potential introduction in the US. If it becomes available in the US, hydroxocobalamin could enhance the role of the prehospital emergency responder in providing care to victims of a cyanide disaster. Additional progress is required in the areas of ensuring local and regional availability of antidotal treatment and supportive interventions, educating emergency healthcare providers about cyanide poisoning and its management, and raising public awareness of the potential for a cyanide attack and how to respond.

The San Bernardino, California, Terror Attack: Two Emergency Departments' Response.

PubMed

Lee, Carol; Walters, Elizabeth; Borger, Rodney; Clem, Kathleen; Fenati, Gregory; Kiemeney, Michael; Seng, Sakona; Yuen, Ho-Wang; Neeki, Michael; Smith, Dustin

2016-01-01

On December 2, 2015, a terror attack in the city of San Bernardino, California killed 14 Americans and injured 22 in the deadliest attack on U.S. soil since September 11, 2001. Although emergency personnel and law enforcement officials frequently deal with multi-casualty incidents (MCIs), what occurred that day required an unprecedented response. Most of the severely injured victims were transported to either Loma Linda University Medical Center (LLUMC) or Arrowhead Regional Medical Center (ARMC). These two hospitals operate two designated trauma centers in the region and played crucial roles during the massive response that followed this attack. In an effort to shed a light on our response to others, we provide an account of how these two teaching hospitals prepared for and coordinated the medical care of these victims. In general, both centers were able to quickly mobilize large number of staff and resources. Prior disaster drills proved to be invaluable. Both centers witnessed excellent teamwork and coordination involving first responders, law enforcement, administration, and medical personnel from multiple specialty services. Those of us working that day felt safe and protected. Although we did identify areas we could have improved upon, including patchy communication and crowd-control, they were minor in nature and did not affect patient care. MCIs pose major challenges to emergency departments and trauma centers across the country. Responding to such incidents requires an ever-evolving approach as no two incidents will present exactly alike. It is our hope that this article will foster discussion and lead to improvements in management of future MCIs.

Real Time Big Data Analytics for Predicting Terrorist Incidents

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Toure, Ibrahim

2017-01-01

Terrorism is a complex and evolving phenomenon. In the past few decades, we have witnessed an increase in the number of terrorist incidents in the world. The security and stability of many countries is threatened by terrorist groups. Perpetrators now use sophisticated weapons and the attacks are more and more lethal. Currently, terrorist incidents…

Foreign Aid versus Military Intervention in the War on Terror

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Azam, Jean-Paul; Thelen, Veronique

2010-01-01

This article presents a theoretical framework and some empirical results showing that the level of foreign aid received reduces the supply of terrorist attacks from recipient countries, while U.S. military interventions are liable to increase this supply. Due account is taken of endogeneity problems in producing these results. They suggest that…

Responding to Terrorism Victims: Oklahoma City and Beyond.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Dinsmore, Janet

This report identifies the special measures needed to protect the rights and meet the needs of victims of a large-scale terrorist attack involving mass casualties. In particular, it demonstrates efforts required to ensure an effective response to victims' rights and their short- and long-term emotional and psychological needs as an integral part…

Contextual and Personal Predictors of Adaptive Outcomes under Terror Attack: The Case of Israeli Adolescents

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Zeidner, Moshe

2005-01-01

This paper explores individual differences in perceptions of political violence, strategies for coping with violence, and adaptive outcomes. Data on political violence stress, personal variables, coping strategies, and stress reactions were gathered on a sample of 227 Israeli adolescents in Haifa and Northern Israel confronted with a prolonged…

Preventing Terror Attacks in the Homeland: A New Mission for State and Local Police

DTIC Science & Technology

2005-09-01

18 Dale Couprie, Alan Goodbrand, Bin Li, and David Zhu, “ Soft Systems Methodology ,” Department of Computer Science (University of Calgary, 2002...Activities Authorization Act.” (50 USC. 403-1). June 2005. Couprie, Dale, Alan Goodbrand, Bin Li, and David Zhu. “ Soft Systems Methodology .” Department

Fears of American Children Following Terrorism

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Burnham, Joy J.; Hooper, Lisa M.

2008-01-01

Two months after 9/11, the fears of children and adolescents in Grades 2-12 were examined utilizing the American Fear Survey Schedule for Children and Adolescents (FSSC-AM). Fear intensity scores and age and gender differences are reported. Terrorist-related content on the FSSC-AM (e.g., terrorist attacks, our country being invading by enemies)…

The Meaning of Collective Terrorist Threat: Understanding the Subjective Causes of Terrorism Reduces Its Negative Psychological Impact

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Fischer, Peter; Postmes, Tom; Koeppl, Julia; Conway, Lianne; Fredriksson, Tom

2011-01-01

This article hypothesized that the possibility to construct intellectual meaning of a terrorist attack (i.e., whether participants can cognitively understand why the perpetrators did their crime) reduces the negative psychological consequences typically associated with increased terrorist threat. Concretely, the authors investigated the effect of…

9/11 Event

NASA Image and Video Library

2015-09-11

Officials and firefighters at NASA's Kennedy Space Center observe the dedication service for a memorial to the 343 first responder victims of the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks at Fire Station 1 at Kennedy on Sept. 11, 2015. The ceremony dedicated a monument that includes a section of steel I-beam from the World Trade Center in New York.

9/11 Event

NASA Image and Video Library

2015-09-11

A memorial to the 343 first responder victims of the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks stands at Fire Station 1 at NASA's Kennedy Space Center prior to its dedication on Sept. 11, 2015. Beneath the American flag is a section of steel I-beam from the World Trade Center in New York that forms the centerpiece of the monument.

Early Rockets

NASA Image and Video Library

2004-04-15

One of the earliest recorded instances of the use of rockets was as military weapons against the Mongols by the Chinese at the siege of Kai Fung Foo in 1232 A.D. An arrow with a tube of gunpowder produced an arrow of flying fire. The Mongol attackers fled in terror, even though the rockets were inaccurate and relatively harmless.

Transformative Learning, Adult Learners and the September 11 Terrorism Incidents in North America.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Williams, Theresia

Despite their tremendous tragedy, the terrorist attacks that occurred on September 11, 2001, have also produced a juncture for transformative learning. Several transformative learning opportunities that may enable some adult learners find and use knowledge as the tool to transcend a tragedy into a learning experience have been identified. Although…

9/11 Event

NASA Image and Video Library

2015-09-11

Firefighters place the American flag at half-staff during dedication services for a memorial to the 343 first responder victims of the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks at Fire Station 1 at NASA's Kennedy Space Center on Sept. 11, 2015. A section of steel I-beam from the World Trade Center in New York forms the centerpiece of the monument.

The Role of Social Context in Terrorist Attacks

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Argo, Nichole

2006-01-01

An increasing number of studies on suicide bombing suggest that terrorism is not necessarily bound to religious extremism. The authors of this body of work, primarily drawn from political science and social psychology, agree that suicide bombings, with or without the trappings of religion, are largely a response to occupation, or, since September…

The Contradiction in the "Prevent Duty": Democracy vs "British Values"

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Wolton, Suke

2017-01-01

The duty to monitor "the failure to uphold British Values" in the "Prevent" strategy, introduced in the Counter-Terrorism and Security Act 2015, is itself an attack on British democracy. This article explains the contradictory nature of the "Prevent Duty." First, the current state of democracy in Britain is examined…

PROTECTING THE NATION'S CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE: THE VULNERABILITY OF U.S. WATER SUPPLY SYSTEMS

EPA Science Inventory

Terrorism in the United States was not considered a serious threat until the second half of the 1990s. However, recent attacks both at home and abroad have forced government planners to consider the possibility that critical elements of the U.S. infrastructure might in fact be vu...

The link between death anxiety and post-traumatic symptomatology during terror: Direct links and possible moderators.

PubMed

Hamama-Raz, Yaira; Mahat-Shamir, Michal; Pitcho-Prelorentzos, Shani; Zaken, Adi; David, Udi Y; Ben-Ezra, Menachem; Bergman, Yoav S

2016-11-30

The current wave of terrorism which is taking place in Israel is characterized by increased arbitrary attacks by individual terrorists, acting independently, with reduced ability to anticipate when and where the next attack will take place. This situation creates an atmosphere of fear and insecurity in the lives of many citizens. Accordingly, the current study aims to establish a connection between death anxiety and PTSD symptom severity, as well as to examine whether major personality characteristics may moderate this connection. Using an online survey, 429 adult participants were recruited, and filled out death anxiety and PTSD symptomatology scales, as well as a short version of the Big Five personality scale. Findings revealed that death anxiety was a significant predictor of posttraumatic symptom severity, as were personality characteristics. Moreover, two personality traits, emotional stability and conscientiousness, moderated the association between death anxiety and PTSD symptomatology. The importance of death anxiety as a factor which is associated with PTSD symptomatology is discussed. Copyright © 2016. Published by Elsevier Ireland Ltd.

Plastic Surgery Management of Victims of Terrorist Violence in Ankara, Turkey.

PubMed

İğde, Murat; Kaplan, Ahmet

2017-12-01

Terror attacks have been progressively increasing worldwide through the present era. The management of the consequences of terrorism events is under debate in almost every scientific area. The organization and advancement of health services constitute important components of the crisis management. Similar to other specialty areas in medicine, the medical management of terrorist attacks is becoming important in terms of plastic and reconstructive surgery.Ankara, the capital of Turkey, has been subject to 2 terrorist events in public places within a year. The total number of patients involved in both cases was 434. Ankara Numune Training and Research Hospital is a tertiary health care institution and one of the most important trauma centers in the region. A total of 178 Patients exposed to these events referred to our hospital. Of the total, 34 patients were completely or partially treated in the plastic and reconstructive surgery clinic. In this study, we tried to discuss the difficulties encountered in the classification of patients and plastic surgery during the treatment period of patients who experienced these attacks.Data were obtained from The National News Agency, hospital, and our own clinic registries. Patient classification was based on the injured parts of the body. Statistical analysis was performed for all data. In conclusion, the role and the importance of plastic surgery department especially in trauma management have been emphasized in the light of our findings.

The constant threat of terrorism: stress levels and coping strategies amongst university students of Karachi.

PubMed

Ahmed, Ayesha Ejaz; Masood, Komal; Dean, Sohni Vicky; Shakir, Tanzila; Kardar, Ahmed Abdul Hafeez; Barlass, Usman; Imam, Syed Haider; Mohmand, Mohammad Ghawar Khan; Ibrahim, Hussain; Khan, Imad Saeed; Akram, Usman; Hasnain, Farid

2011-04-01

To assess the levels of stress in the face of terrorism and the adopted coping strategies, amongst the student population of universities in Karachi. A descriptive, cross sectional study was conducted on undergraduate students from four universities of Karachi. Self-administered questionnaires were filled out by 291 students. Pearson Chi-Square test was used to assess associations between stress levels and different variables at a level of significance of 0.05%. A total of 65.8% of the students had mild stress levels, 91.5% of university students were exposed to terrorism through television, while only 26.5% students reported personal exposure to terrorism. 67.4% students were forbidden by their parents to go out (p = 0.002). Most of those who had self exposure to an attack were the ones whose parents forbade them from going out (p = 0.00). Most commonly used coping strategy was increased faith in religion. Irritability was the most common stress symptom. A majority of students studying in universities of Karachi had mild stress levels due to the constant threat of terrorism whereas a minority had severe stress levels. Possible reasons for resilience and only mild stress levels could be the history of Karachi's internal conflicts and its prolonged duration of being exposed to terrorism. These students who are positive for stress need to be targeted for counseling either through the media or through their universities. More extensive research is needed in this area.

Current and Projected National Security Threats to the United States. Hearing before the Select Committee on Intelligence of the United States Senate, One Hundred Eleventh Congress, Second Session

DTIC Science & Technology

2010-02-02

attacks at Fort Hood and the Little Rock recruiting station to the failed attack on Christmas Day, we have seen an alarming number of terrorist threats...performances, so we must create new methods and tradecraft to recognize terror threats we haven’t seen before. Unfortunately, the process of intelligence...about al-Qa’ida itself, al-Qa’ida-associated groups and al-Qa’ida-inspired terrorists striking the United States. And we’ve seen the reality of all

How Cyberattacks Terrorize: Cortisol and Personal Insecurity Jump in the Wake of Cyberattacks.

PubMed

Canetti, Daphna; Gross, Michael; Waismel-Manor, Israel; Levanon, Asaf; Cohen, Hagit

2017-02-01

Do cyberattacks fuel the politics of threat? By what mechanism does it do so? To address these questions, we employ a technological and physiological experiment (2 × 2) involving a simulated cyberattack. Participants were randomly assigned to "cyberattack" (treatment) or "no attack" (control) conditions. We find that cyber-attacks make people more likely to express threat perceptions; we suggest salivary cortisol, a measure of stress, as the mechanism bridging cyber and the politics of threat. Contrary to existing evidence, salivary cortisol is the mechanism that translates simulated exposure to cyberattacks into political threat perceptions.

Increased Incidence Rate of Trauma- and Stressor-related Disorders in Denmark After the Breivik Attacks in Norway.

PubMed

Hansen, Bertel T; Dinesen, Peter T; Østergaard, Søren D

2017-11-01

On 22 July 2011, Anders Breivik killed 77 adults and children in Norway. Having recently documented increases in the incidence of trauma- and stressor-related disorders in Denmark after the 9/11 attacks, we hypothesized that the Breivik attacks-due to their geographic proximity-would be followed by even larger increases in Denmark. Using population-based data from the Danish Psychiatric Central Research Register (1995-2012), we conducted an intervention analysis of the change in the incidence of trauma- and stressor-related disorders after the Breivik attacks. The incidence rate increased by 16% over the following 1½ years after the Breivik attacks, corresponding to 2736 additional cases. In comparison, 9/11 was followed by a 4% increase. We also present evidence of a subsequent surge in incidence stimulated by media attention. This study bolsters previous findings on extra-national consequences of terrorism and indicates that geographic proximity and media coverage may exacerbate effects.

Violent extremist group ecologies under stress

PubMed Central

Cebrian, Manuel; Torres, Manuel R.; Huerta, Ramon; Fowler, James H.

2013-01-01

Violent extremist groups are currently making intensive use of Internet fora for recruitment to terrorism. These fora are under constant scrutiny by security agencies, private vigilante groups, and hackers, who sometimes shut them down with cybernetic attacks. However, there is a lack of experimental and formal understanding of the recruitment dynamics of online extremist fora and the effect of strategies to control them. Here, we utilize data on ten extremist fora that we collected for four years to develop a data-driven mathematical model that is the first attempt to measure whether (and how) these external attacks induce extremist fora to self-regulate. The results suggest that an increase in the number of groups targeted for attack causes an exponential increase in the cost of enforcement and an exponential decrease in its effectiveness. Thus, a policy to occasionally attack large groups can be very efficient for limiting violent output from these fora. PMID:23536118

Violent extremist group ecologies under stress.

PubMed

Cebrian, Manuel; Torres, Manuel R; Huerta, Ramon; Fowler, James H

2013-01-01

Violent extremist groups are currently making intensive use of Internet fora for recruitment to terrorism. These fora are under constant scrutiny by security agencies, private vigilante groups, and hackers, who sometimes shut them down with cybernetic attacks. However, there is a lack of experimental and formal understanding of the recruitment dynamics of online extremist fora and the effect of strategies to control them. Here, we utilize data on ten extremist fora that we collected for four years to develop a data-driven mathematical model that is the first attempt to measure whether (and how) these external attacks induce extremist fora to self-regulate. The results suggest that an increase in the number of groups targeted for attack causes an exponential increase in the cost of enforcement and an exponential decrease in its effectiveness. Thus, a policy to occasionally attack large groups can be very efficient for limiting violent output from these fora.

Project GUARDIAN: proposals for the development of information technology policy in context of the war on terror

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gallington, Daniel J.

2004-09-01

Heretofore, we always thought of our greatest national security threats as being external. Now, however, the threat is pervasive, i.e., internal as well. As the attacks of September 11, 2001 exhibited, the old methods of collecting and analyzing information have failed to protect us from the terrorist threat. While new technologies exist to counter terrorism, there is a hesitation to accept many of these for fear that they intrude upon personal privacy. Hence, the Potomac Institute is seeking to create the policy paradigm that will allow for the use of new information technologies that will enable the disruption of terrorist before they occur, while protecting our fundamental civil liberties.

Communicating about the risks of terrorism (or anything else).

PubMed

Fischhoff, Baruch

2011-09-01

Communication is essential to preventing terrorists from achieving their objectives. Effective communication can reduce terrorists' chances of mounting successful operations, creating threats that disrupt everyday life, and undermining the legitimacy of the societies that they attack. Psychological research has essential roles to play in that communication, identifying the public's information needs, designing responsive communications, and evaluating their success. Fulfilling those roles requires policies that treat two-way communication with the public as central to ensuring that a society is strengthened, rather than weakened, by its struggle with terror. There are scientific, organizational, and political barriers to achieving those goals. Psychological research can help to overcome them-and advance its science in the process. © 2011 American Psychological Association

War, terrorism, and children.

PubMed

DeRanieri, Joseph T; Clements, Paul T; Clark, Kathleen; Kuhn, Douglas Wolcik; Manno, Martin S

2004-04-01

Many caregivers are encountering the issue of communicating with children and adolescents about current world events, specifically war and terrorism. As health care providers, it is important to raise awareness of how children may understand, interpret, and respond to related fears and concerns. Although honesty and reassurance are clearly the best approach, it is important to provide information that is developmentally appropriate. Providing education and guidance can reduce stress and enhance understanding of the chaotic events confronting our nation. It also provides a platform for communication and exploration should additional terrorist attacks or acts of war occur. It is important to examine how to approach children and adolescents to communicate with them about these sensitive issues.

9/11 Leaves Small Imprint on Curricula

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Robelen, Erik W.

2011-01-01

Ten years after terrorists crashed planes into the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, the profound impact on the United States is not hard to see, from heightened domestic-security measures to the U.S. role in conflicts deemed part of a war on terror. What's less obvious is how the attacks have filtered into American classrooms. Some observers…

Combating Transnational Terrorism in the East African Region: The Role of the African Union Mission in Somalia

DTIC Science & Technology

2017-06-01

four main groups : prevention; disruption; prosecution; and coordination and information sharing. Under prevention, counterterrorism forces are... group has transformed into small active units capable of conducting assassinations, kidnapping, planting improvised explosive devices, and attacking...remaining challenges and highlights 1 International Crisis Group , “Working to Prevent Conflict Worldwide

Islamophobia: What Teachers Can Do to Reduce It in the Classroom

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hossain, Kazi

2017-01-01

The year 2017 marked the sixteenth year anniversary of the destruction of the World Trade Center, the worst domestic attack in U.S. history. The global environment has been very different since September 11, 2001. Prior to that date, terms such as terrorism, terroristic actions, and Islamophobia were not commonly heard. The world environment has…

Resilience and Political Violence: A Cross-Cultural Study of Moderating Effects among Jewish- and Arab-Israeli Youth

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lavi, Iris; Slone, Michelle

2011-01-01

Children in countries involved in violent national conflicts experience difficult and, at times, extreme events such as spending long hours in shelters, witnessing terror attacks, or having a family member absent or injured while participating in battle. This study explores the moderating effect of resilience factors, self-esteem, and…

Terrorism Outsourced: The FARC’s Criminal Alliances

DTIC Science & Technology

2014-12-01

of victims],” Revista Española De Ciencia Política 10 (2004): 53‒79. 108 This is the same terrorist that planned and executed the attack on El Nogal...victims].” Revista Española De Ciencia Política 10, (2004): 53‒79. De Nooy, Wouter, Andrej Mrvar, and Vladimir Batagelj. Exploratory Social

From downtrodden to influential: the global campaign to empower nurses.

PubMed

2017-06-07

Nurses have spent decades trying to shake off the image of being doctors' handmaidens, yet still the stereotype exists. In recent weeks their professionalism, skills and expertise have been highlighted by responses to terror attacks in Manchester and London, but dented by constant references in the general election campaign to nurses using food banks.

Lessons Learned from MG George Crook’s Apache Campaigns with Applicability for the Current Global War on Terror

DTIC Science & Technology

2003-04-07

in Saudi Arabian internal politics. Islamism has other modern roots as well. In 1928 Hassan al- Banna formed the Islamic Brotherhood in Egypt.13...Soon afterward the Kandahar raid, the Northern Alliance / 5th SFG attacks increased the pace of peeling apart the opposition forces from each other

9/11 Event

NASA Image and Video Library

2015-09-11

An honor guard folds an American flag during the dedication service for a memorial to the 343 first responder victims of the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks at Fire Station 1 at NASA's Kennedy Space Center on Sept. 11, 2015. The ceremony dedicated a monument that includes a section of steel I-beam from the World Trade Center in New York.

Desperate Times, Desperate Measures: Executive Powers, Individual Rights, and Guantanamo Bay Prison

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

O'Brien, Jason L.; Barbieri, Kyle T.

2012-01-01

In the recent past, and especially since September 11, 2001, many democratic nations have been forced to deal with the threat of attacks on their land. Former U.S. President George W. Bush famously labeled this challenge the "War on Terror." Examining how nations address this issue offers a golden opportunity for social studies teachers…

9/11 Event

NASA Image and Video Library

2015-09-11

Kelvin Manning, associate director of NASA's Kennedy Space Center, speaks during the dedication service for a memorial to the 343 first responder victims of the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks at Fire Station 1 at Kennedy on Sept. 11, 2015. The ceremony dedicated a monument that includes a section of steel I-beam from the World Trade Center in New York.

9/11 Event

NASA Image and Video Library

2015-09-11

An honor guard prepares to fold an American flag during the dedication service for a memorial to the 343 first responder victims of the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks at Fire Station 1 at NASA's Kennedy Space Center on Sept. 11, 2015. The ceremony dedicated a monument that includes a section of steel I-beam from the World Trade Center in New York.

Impact of Maternal Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Depression Following Exposure to the September 11 Attacks on Preschool Children's Behavior

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Chemtob, Claude M.; Nomura, Yoko; Rajendran, Khushmand; Yehuda, Rachel; Schwartz, Deena; Abramovitz, Robert

2010-01-01

To evaluate whether conjoined maternal posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression are associated with increased behavioral problems among terrorism-exposed preschool children (N = 116; 18-54 months), this study compared clinically significant child behavioral problem rates among the preschool children of mothers with PTSD and depression,…

Children's Fears of War and Terrorism: A Resource for Teachers and Parents.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Moses, Lisa F.; Aldridge, Jerry; Cellitti, Anarella; McCorquodale, Gwenyth

Noting that children in every corner of the planet are affected by war or the threat of war, this booklet for parents and early childhood educators provides an introduction to children's fears concerning armed conflict and terrorist attacks and offers strategies for helping children work through their fears. The chapters are as follows: (1)…

Coping with Terrorism: Age and Gender Differences in Effortful and Involuntary Responses to September 11th

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Wadsworth, Martha E.; Gudmundsen, Gretchen R.; Raviv, Tali; Ahlkvist, Jarl A.; McIntosh, Daniel N.; Kline, Galena H.; Rea, Jacqueline; Burwell, Rebecca A.

2004-01-01

This study examined age and gender differences and similarities in stress responses to September 11th. Adolescents, young adults, and adults reported using a variety of strategies to cope with the terrorist attacks including acceptance, positive thinking, and emotional expression. In addition, involuntary stress responses such as physiological…

A Call to Action for National Foreign Language Capabilities

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

US Department of Defense, 2005

2005-01-01

The terrorist attacks of September 11th, the Global War on Terrorism, and the continued threat to the Homeland have defined the critical need to take action to improve the foreign language and cultural capabilities of the Nation. The government must act now to improve the gathering and analysis of information, advance international diplomacy, and…

9/11 Event

NASA Image and Video Library

2015-09-11

The honor guard for the Fire Department at NASA's Kennedy Space Center conducts the dedication service for a memorial to the 343 first responder victims of the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks at Fire Station 1 at Kennedy on Sept. 11, 2015. The ceremony dedicated a monument that includes a section of steel I-beam from the World Trade Center in New York.

9/11 Event

NASA Image and Video Library

2015-09-11

The Brevard Police and Fire Pipe and Drum corps open the dedication service for a memorial to the 343 first responder victims of the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks at Fire Station 1 at NASA's Kennedy Space Center on Sept. 11, 2015. The ceremony dedicated a monument that includes a section of steel I-beam from the World Trade Center in New York.

9/11 Event

NASA Image and Video Library

2015-09-11

The Brevard Police and Fire Pipe and Drum corps perform during the dedication service for a memorial to the 343 first responder victims of the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks at Fire Station 1 at NASA's Kennedy Space Center on Sept. 11, 2015. The ceremony dedicated a monument that includes a section of steel I-beam from the World Trade Center in New York.

Terrorism and WMD in the Contemporary Operational Environment

DTIC Science & Technology

2007-08-20

350 people experienced health effects from the chlorine. According to an Iraqi spokesperson, “The chlorine attack was a kind of punishment against...aftereffects. Similar permanent or temporary health effects can occur from toxic industrial materials too...term effects on a regional population remain an open-ended issue. Health , economic, and agricultural impacts are still being assessed as various

Lawsuits by Victims of Terrorism Imperil Archaeological Studies

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Schmidt, Peter

2011-01-01

In lawsuits pending in federal courts in Boston and Chicago, Americans harmed by terrorist attacks linked to the Islamic Republic of Iran are asserting claim to artifacts they believe belong to that nation, in their quest to win more than $4-billion in damages. The institutions that hold the artifacts, which include Harvard University and the…

Celebrating Diversity through Explorations of Arab Children's Literature

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Al-Hazza, Tami; Lucking, Bob

2007-01-01

Incidents of terrorism and other forms of heinous violence around the world are so dramatic and painfully wrenching that they often dictate change: in politics, in social convention, in battle, and in the classroom. The five years since the 9/11 attacks, in particular, have brought about huge shifts in the collective global view of Arabs, and it…

A school-based, teacher-mediated prevention program (ERASE-Stress) for reducing terror-related traumatic reactions in Israeli youth: a quasi-randomized controlled trial.

PubMed

Gelkopf, Marc; Berger, Rony

2009-08-01

Since September 2000 Israeli children have been exposed to a large number of terrorist attacks. A universal, school-based intervention for dealing with the threat of terrorism as well as with terror-related symptoms, ERASE-Stress (ES), was evaluated in a male religious middle school in southern Israel. The program was administered by the homeroom teachers as part of the school curriculum. It consists of 12 classroom sessions each lasting 90 minutes, and included psycho-educational material, skill training and resiliency strategies delivered to the students by homeroom teachers. One hundred and fourteen 7th and 8th grade students were randomly assigned to the ES intervention or were part of a waiting list (WL). They were assessed on measures of posttraumatic symptomatology, depression, somatic symptoms and functional problems before and 3 months after the intervention or the WL period. Three months after the program ended, students in the experimental group showed significant reduction in all measures compared to the waiting-list control group. The ERASE-Stress program may help students suffering from terror-related posttraumatic symptoms and mitigate the negative effects of future traumatic experiences. Furthermore, a school-based universal program such as the ERASE-Stress may potentially serve as an important and effective component of a community mental health policy for communities affected by terrorism.

Rehabilitation outcomes of terror victims with multiple traumas.

PubMed

Schwartz, Isabella; Tsenter, Jeanna; Shochina, Mara; Shiri, Shimon; Kedary, Michal; Katz-Leurer, Michal; Meiner, Zeev

2007-04-01

To describe the rehabilitation outcomes of terror victims with multiple traumas, and to compare those outcomes with those of patients with nonterror-related multiple traumas treated in the same rehabilitation facility over the same time period. Retrospective chart reviews. Rehabilitation department in a university hospital in Jerusalem, Israel. Between September 2000 and September 2004, we treated 72 victims of terrorist attacks who had multiple traumas. Among them, 47 (65%) had multiple traumas without central nervous system involvement (MT subgroup), 19 (26%) had multiple traumas with traumatic brain injury (TBI subgroup), and 6 (8%) had multiple traumas with spinal cord injury (SCI subgroup). We matched, according to their types of injury and demographic data, each terror victim with a control patient treated in the same period in our rehabilitation department. Interdisciplinary inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation. Hospital length of stay (LOS) in acute care departments, inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation departments, functional outcome (FIM instrument score), occupational outcome (returning to previous occupation), and psychologic outcome (Solomon PTSD [post-traumatic stress disorder] Inventory). The mean LOS of terror victims was 218+/-131 days; for the nonterror group it was 152+/-114 days (P<.01). In comparison with the control subgroups, the MT subgroup of terrorist victims had significantly longer LOS in the acute care and outpatient rehabilitation departments (P=.06) and the terror TBI subgroup had a longer LOS in outpatient department only (P<.05). The LOS of the SCI patients, both terror victims and control patients, was significantly longer than that of the other 2 subgroups. The difference between FIM value at entry and discharge (DeltaFIM) was significantly higher for terror victims than for the controls (41.1+/-21.6 vs 30.8+/-21.8, P=.002). This difference was mainly the result of the significantly higher DeltaFIM achieved by the terror MT subgroup than by the MT controls. The rate of PTSD was higher among terror victims than among controls (40.9% vs 24.2%, P=.04). The rate of return to previous occupations was similar between terror victims and nonterror patients (53% vs 46.9%, respectively). Victims of terror spent longer periods in rehabilitation than the nonterror group; however, they regained most activity of daily living functions similar to the nonterror group. Despite the higher rate of PTSD, terror victims succeeded in returning to their previous occupations at a similar rate to that of the nonterror group.

Psychosocial predictors of resilience after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.

PubMed

Butler, Lisa D; Koopman, Cheryl; Azarow, Jay; Blasey, Christine M; Magdalene, Juliette C; DiMiceli, Sue; Seagraves, David A; Hastings, T Andrew; Chen, Xin-Hua; Garlan, Robert W; Kraemer, Helena C; Spiegel, David

2009-04-01

The terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 inflicted distress beyond those directly exposed, thereby providing an opportunity to examine the contributions of a range of factors (cognitive, emotional, social support, coping) to psychological resilience for those indirectly exposed. In an Internet convenience sample of 1281, indices of resilience (higher well-being, lower distress) at baseline (2.5-12 weeks post-attack) were each associated with less emotional suppression, denial and self-blame, and fewer negative worldview changes. After controlling for initial outcomes, baseline negative worldview changes and aspects of social support and coping all remained significant predictors of 6-month outcomes, with worldview changes bearing the strongest relationship to each. These findings highlight the role of emotional, coping, social support, and particularly, cognitive variables in adjustment after terrorism.

Don't tread on me: masculine honor ideology in the U.S. and militant responses to terrorism.

PubMed

Barnes, Collin D; Brown, Ryan P; Osterman, Lindsey L

2012-08-01

Using both college students and a national sample of adults, the authors report evidence linking the ideology of masculine honor in the U.S. with militant responses to terrorism. In Study 1, individuals' honor ideology endorsement predicted, among other outcomes, open-ended hostile responses to a fictitious attack on the Statue of Liberty and support for the use of extreme counterterrorism measures (e.g., severe interrogations), controlling for right-wing authoritarianism, social dominance orientation, and other covariates. In Study 2, the authors used a regional classification to distinguish honor state respondents from nonhonor state respondents, as has traditionally been done in the literature, and showed that students attending a southwestern university desired the death of the terrorists responsible for 9/11 more than did their northern counterparts. These studies are the first to show that masculine honor ideology in the U.S. has implications for the intergroup phenomenon of people's responses to terrorism.

Nuclear and radiological terrorism: continuing education article.

PubMed

Anderson, Peter D; Bokor, Gyula

2013-06-01

Terrorism involving radioactive materials includes improvised nuclear devices, radiation exposure devices, contamination of food sources, radiation dispersal devices, or an attack on a nuclear power plant or a facility/vehicle that houses radioactive materials. Ionizing radiation removes electrons from atoms and changes the valence of the electrons enabling chemical reactions with elements that normally do not occur. Ionizing radiation includes alpha rays, beta rays, gamma rays, and neutron radiation. The effects of radiation consist of stochastic and deterministic effects. Cancer is the typical example of a stochastic effect of radiation. Deterministic effects include acute radiation syndrome (ARS). The hallmarks of ARS are damage to the skin, gastrointestinal tract, hematopoietic tissue, and in severe cases the neurovascular structures. Radiation produces psychological effects in addition to physiological effects. Radioisotopes relevant to terrorism include titrium, americium 241, cesium 137, cobalt 60, iodine 131, plutonium 238, califormium 252, iridium 192, uranium 235, and strontium 90. Medications used for treating a radiation exposure include antiemetics, colony-stimulating factors, antibiotics, electrolytes, potassium iodine, and chelating agents.

Psychiatric Consequences of WTC Collapse and The Gulf War*

PubMed Central

Singh, Ajai R.; Singh, Shakuntala A.

2004-01-01

Along with political, economic, ethical, rehabilitative and military dimensions, psychopathological sequelae of war and terrorism also deserve our attention. The terrorist attack on the World Trade Centre ( W.T.C.) in 2001 and the Gulf War of 1990-91 gave rise to a number of psychiatric disturbances in the population, both adult and children, mainly in the form of Post-traumatic Stress disorder (PTSD). Nearly 75,000 people suffered psychological problems in South Manhattan alone due to that one terrorist attack on the WTC in New York and the Pentagon in Washington. In Gulf War I, morethat 1,00,000 US veterans reported a number of health problems on returning from war, whose claims the concerned government has denied in more than 90% cases. Extensive and comprehensive neurological damage to the brain of Gulf War I veterans has been reported by one study, as has damage to the basal ganglia in another, and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) in a third,possibly due to genetic mutations induced by exposure to biological and chemical agents, fumes from burning oil wells, landfills,mustard or other nerve gases. The recent Gulf War will no doubt give rise its own crop of PTSD and related disorders. In a cost-benefitanalysis of the post Gulf War II scenario, the psychopathological effects of war and terrorism should become part of the social audit any civilized society engages in. Enlightened public opinion must become aware of the wider ramifications of war and terrorism so that appropriate action plans can be worked out. PMID:22815596

Are Children's Views of the "Enemy" Shaped by a Highly-Publicized Negative Event?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Oppenheimer, Louis

2010-01-01

In the beginning of the first decade of this century, some highly-publicized extremistic acts of terror occurred. A hostage tragedy in a school in Beslan (North Ossetia) was followed in the Netherlands by the brutal murder of the controversial Dutch filmmaker and newspaper columnist Theo van Gogh, bomb attacks in Bali and Madrid and other acts of…

Country Reports on Terrorism 2006

DTIC Science & Technology

2007-04-01

triple bombing in Sharm el-Sheikh, the attacks seemed to target the Egyptian tourism industry, not Americans or foreigners specifically. On April...popular grievances over gover - nance and poor economic growth enhance conditions terrorists and other extremists could exploit to recruit and operate in...growth in the tourism industry and to hamper increasing Kashmiri enthusiasm for normalization of ties with New Delhi and between Indian and

9/11 Event

NASA Image and Video Library

2015-09-11

Rick Anderson, fire chief at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, on podium, left, and Lt. James Dumont lead the dedication service for a memorial to the343 first responder victims of the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks at Kennedy's Fire Station 1 on Sept. 11, 2015. The ceremony dedicated a monument that includes a section of steel I-beam from the World Trade Center in New York.

Characteristics of Student Assistance and Prevention Counseling Programs in Response to Environmental Impacts

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Corrigan, Matthew J.; Videka, Lynn; Loneck, Barry; Newman, Lucy J.; Rajendran, Kushmand

2014-01-01

The impacts of the terror attacks of September 11, 2001, were observed in Student Assistance and Prevention Counseling programs in New York schools. Methods: A mixed-method study of programs across the state, consisting of interviews (N = 14) and record reviews (N = 407), was conducted in New York State in 2002. Standardized state forms were used…

Information and the War against Terrorism, Part III: New Information-Related Laws and the Impact on Civil Liberties.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Strickland, Lee S.

2002-01-01

Reviews provisions of information-related laws in light of the September 11th attacks and their impact on civil liberties. Highlights include the USA Patriot Act of 2001; law enforcement and the ECPA (Electronic Communications Privacy Act); intelligence and the FISA (Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978); implications for information…

Regional Organizations and Opportunity in Nigeria

DTIC Science & Technology

2012-11-02

western African franchise known as al’Qaeda in the Magreb (AQIM). 8 So while external terror connections may be immature, they pose a significant...conducting attacks against government institutions and the petroleum industry . While MEND activity has declined since the introduction of a...bi-lateral fashion but conflicted with a regional organization’s training exercises. 76 Rather than pool resources with these organizations, AFRICOM

9/11 Event

NASA Image and Video Library

2015-09-11

Rick Anderson, fire chief at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, on podium, left, and Lt. James Dumont lead the dedication service for a memorial to the 343 first responder victims of the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks at Kennedy's Fire Station 1 on Sept. 11, 2015. The ceremony dedicated a monument that includes a section of steel I-beam from the World Trade Center in New York.

The Meaning of Peace and the Role of Education in South Korea.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Yoo, Sung-Sang; Kim, Hyo-Jung

Most people in South Korea expressed deep sympathy for the innocent victims of the September 11th attacks, but, unlike their government's official position that supported U.S. military action, many were opposed to the war the United States began in Afghanistan. The president asked for emphasis on peace and anti-terrorism education. Since the role…

Terrorism in Two Cultures: Stress and Growth Following September 11 and the Madrid Train Bombings

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Steger, Michael F.; Frazier, Patricia A.; Zacchanini, Jose Luis

2008-01-01

In this study, we compared the prevalence of post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and posttraumatic growth following the September 11, 2001, attacks in the United States and the March 11, 2004, Madrid, Spain train bombings. We also examined meaning in life as a correlate of posttrauma outcomes. A sample of midwestern college students (N = 188)…

Combating Terrorism: Issues in Managing Counterterrorist Programs

DTIC Science & Technology

2000-04-06

major effort to develop a national strategy, to date the strategy does not include a clear desired outcome to be achieved. Resources to combat...Federal exercises, in contrast to earlier years, are now practicing crisis and consequence management simultaneously and including state and local...categories—crisis management and consequence management. Crisis management includes efforts to stop a terrorist attack, arrest terrorists, and gather

The bidirectional dyadic association between tendency to forgive, self-esteem, social support, and PTSD symptoms among terror-attack survivors and their spouses.

PubMed

Weinberg, Michael

2013-12-01

This study examined the dyadic association of terror attack survivors’ and spouses’ internal resources, tendency to forgive (self, others,and situational forgiveness), self-esteem, and the external resource of social support, as associated with victims’ and spouses’ posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms, using the actor–partner interdependence model. Based on lists by the One Family organization in Israel, 108 couples participated in the study. The study results demonstrate that in the dyad relationship, survivors’ tenden cyto forgive others and social support relate both to survivors’ decreased levels of PTSD symptom severity (β = −.20, p = .021;β =−.55 p < .001) and spouses’ decreased levels of PTSD symptom severity (β =−.21, p = .015; β =−.27, p = . 004), whereas spouses’ self-esteem relates to both spouses’ and survivors’ decreased levels of PTSD symptom severity (β =−.57, p < .001; β =−.14, p = .041).The findings underscore the role of the survivor–spouse unit by highlighting the dyad relationship of internal and external resources as associated with both survivors’ and spouses’ PTSD symptoms. Theoretical and clinical implications of the findings are discussed.

Extending injury prevention methodology to chemical terrorism preparedness: the Haddon Matrix and sarin.

PubMed

Varney, Shawn; Hirshon, Jon Mark; Dischinger, Patricia; Mackenzie, Colin

2006-01-01

The Haddon Matrix offers a classic epidemiological model for studying injury prevention. This methodology places the public health concepts of agent, host, and environment within the three sequential phases of an injury-producing incident-pre-event, event, and postevent. This study uses this methodology to illustrate how it could be applied in systematically preparing for a mass casualty disaster such as an unconventional sarin attack in a major urban setting. Nineteen city, state, federal, and military agencies responded to the Haddon Matrix chemical terrorism preparedness exercise and offered feedback in the data review session. Four injury prevention strategies (education, engineering, enforcement, and economics) were applied to the individual factors and event phases of the Haddon Matrix. The majority of factors identified in all phases were modifiable, primarily through educational interventions focused on individual healthcare providers and first responders. The Haddon Matrix provides a viable means of studying an unconventional problem, allowing for the identification of modifiable factors to decrease the type and severity of injuries following a mass casualty disaster such as a sarin release. This strategy could be successfully incorporated into disaster planning for other weapons attacks that could potentially cause mass casualties.

Social Determinants of Health, Violent Radicalization, and Terrorism: A Public Health Perspective.

PubMed

Alcalá, Héctor E; Sharif, Mienah Zulfacar; Samari, Goleen

2017-01-01

Background: Terrorism-related deaths are at an all-time high as there were 32,685 and 29,376 terrorism-related deaths in 2014 and 2015, respectively. Terrorism is defined as the use of violence and intimidation in the pursuit of political aims. Terrorism is detrimental for mental health, premature mortality, and economic losses and undermines the central tenets of public health to improve the health and well-being of populations. Despite the impact terrorism has on avoidable morbidity and mortality, population health research largely overlooks social determinants of terrorism and risk factors that contribute to terrorist activities. Methods: Drawing from what is known about commonly studied social determinants of health topics, including the relationships between structural and interpersonal discrimination, social cohesion, and gang violence and health, we present a public health framework, rooted in the social determinants of health, for identifying potential factors influencing terrorism and violent radicalization. Results: Social determinants of health provide unique insight into how interpersonal and structural factors can influence risk for violent radicalization and terrorist activity. Each of the topics we review provides an entry point for existing public health and behavioral science knowledge to be used in preventing and understanding violent radicalization and terrorism. For example, anti-Muslim sentiment has promoted discrimination against Muslims, while also serving to marginalize and stigmatize Muslim communities. These conditions limit the social resources, like social cohesion, that Muslims have access to and make political violence more appealing to some. Conclusions: Public health can contribute much to the ongoing debate around terrorism. The field must take a more prevention-focused approach to the problem of terrorism. Failure to do so only perpetuates approaches that have not been successful.

Social Determinants of Health, Violent Radicalization, and Terrorism: A Public Health Perspective

PubMed Central

Alcalá, Héctor E.; Sharif, Mienah Zulfacar; Samari, Goleen

2017-01-01

Abstract Background: Terrorism-related deaths are at an all-time high as there were 32,685 and 29,376 terrorism-related deaths in 2014 and 2015, respectively. Terrorism is defined as the use of violence and intimidation in the pursuit of political aims. Terrorism is detrimental for mental health, premature mortality, and economic losses and undermines the central tenets of public health to improve the health and well-being of populations. Despite the impact terrorism has on avoidable morbidity and mortality, population health research largely overlooks social determinants of terrorism and risk factors that contribute to terrorist activities. Methods: Drawing from what is known about commonly studied social determinants of health topics, including the relationships between structural and interpersonal discrimination, social cohesion, and gang violence and health, we present a public health framework, rooted in the social determinants of health, for identifying potential factors influencing terrorism and violent radicalization. Results: Social determinants of health provide unique insight into how interpersonal and structural factors can influence risk for violent radicalization and terrorist activity. Each of the topics we review provides an entry point for existing public health and behavioral science knowledge to be used in preventing and understanding violent radicalization and terrorism. For example, anti-Muslim sentiment has promoted discrimination against Muslims, while also serving to marginalize and stigmatize Muslim communities. These conditions limit the social resources, like social cohesion, that Muslims have access to and make political violence more appealing to some. Conclusions: Public health can contribute much to the ongoing debate around terrorism. The field must take a more prevention-focused approach to the problem of terrorism. Failure to do so only perpetuates approaches that have not been successful. PMID:28905048

Coping with the threat of terrorism: a review.

PubMed

Maguen, Shira; Papa, Anthony; Litz, Brett T

2008-01-01

Terrorism creates a ripple of fear and uncertainty. Although most individuals are resilient and recover over time, a minority remains functionally and psychologically impaired. In this paper, we examine research on coping strategies employed in the aftermath of terrorist events, theories and empirical findings related to appraisal processes that influence individuals' primary attributions of risk, and normative processes that shape secondary appraisals, which predict specific coping behaviors. We also describe individual diatheses and factors promoting resilience that may influence coping and functioning in the face of terrorism. Finally, we offer suggestions for future research.

Defender-Attacker Decision Tree Analysis to Combat Terrorism.

PubMed

Garcia, Ryan J B; von Winterfeldt, Detlof

2016-12-01

We propose a methodology, called defender-attacker decision tree analysis, to evaluate defensive actions against terrorist attacks in a dynamic and hostile environment. Like most game-theoretic formulations of this problem, we assume that the defenders act rationally by maximizing their expected utility or minimizing their expected costs. However, we do not assume that attackers maximize their expected utilities. Instead, we encode the defender's limited knowledge about the attacker's motivations and capabilities as a conditional probability distribution over the attacker's decisions. We apply this methodology to the problem of defending against possible terrorist attacks on commercial airplanes, using one of three weapons: infrared-guided MANPADS (man-portable air defense systems), laser-guided MANPADS, or visually targeted RPGs (rocket propelled grenades). We also evaluate three countermeasures against these weapons: DIRCMs (directional infrared countermeasures), perimeter control around the airport, and hardening airplanes. The model includes deterrence effects, the effectiveness of the countermeasures, and the substitution of weapons and targets once a specific countermeasure is selected. It also includes a second stage of defensive decisions after an attack occurs. Key findings are: (1) due to the high cost of the countermeasures, not implementing countermeasures is the preferred defensive alternative for a large range of parameters; (2) if the probability of an attack and the associated consequences are large, a combination of DIRCMs and ground perimeter control are preferred over any single countermeasure. © 2016 Society for Risk Analysis.

Learning from history: The Glasgow Airport terrorist attack.

PubMed

Crichton, Gillies

Glasgow Airport was the target of a terrorist attack on 30th June, 2007. Many people within Scotland had come to believe that Scotland was immune from terrorism. This perception was in large part informed by Scotland's experience during the protracted Troubles in Northern Ireland, during which the Provisional Irish Republican Army's mainland bombing campaign focused on targets in England, sparing both Scotland and Wales. While Glasgow Airport did not expect such an attack to take place, meticulous planning, organising and testing of plans had taken place to mitigate the unlikely event of such an attack. The attack stands up as a shining example of robust business continuity management, where the airport reopened for business as usual in less than 24 hours from the time of the attack. Little is known about how the airport handled the situation in conjunction with other responding agencies as people tend to want to focus on high-profile disasters only. Yet countless such incidents are happening worldwide on a daily basis, in which there are excellent learning opportunities, and, taken in the spirit of converting hindsight into foresight, the likelihood of similar incidents could potentially be reduced in the future.

Airport Managers' Perspectives on Security and Safety Management Systems in Aviation Operations: A Multiple Case Study

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Brown, Willie L., Jr.

Global terrorism continues to persist despite the great efforts of various countries to protect and safely secure their citizens. As airports form the entry and exit ports of a country, they are one of the most vulnerable locations to terror attacks. Managers of international airports constantly face similar challenges in developing and implementing airport security protocols. Consequently, the technological advances of today have brought both positive and negative impacts on security and terrorism of airports, which are mostly managed by the airport managers. The roles of the managers have greatly increased over the years due to technological advances. The developments in technology have had different roles in security, both in countering terrorism and, at the same time, increasing the communication methods of the terrorists. The purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to investigate the perspectives of airport managers with regard to societal security and social interactions in the socio-technical systems of the National Terrorism Advisory System (NTAS). Through the data gained regarding managers' perception and experiences, the researcher hoped to enable the development of security measures and policies that are appropriate for airports as socio-technical systems. The researcher conducted interviews with airport managers to gather relevant data to fulfill the rationale of the study. Ten to twelve airport managers based in three commercial aviation airports in Maryland, United States participated in the study. The researcher used a qualitative thematic analysis procedure to analyze the data responses of participants in the interview sessions.

Posttraumatic responses to the July 22, 2011 Oslo Terror among Norwegian high school students.

PubMed

Nordanger, Dag Ø; Hysing, Mari; Posserud, Maj-Britt; Lundervold, Astri Johansen; Jakobsen, Reidar; Olff, Miranda; Stormark, Kjell Morten

2013-12-01

The July 22, 2011, Oslo Terror was defined as a national disaster. Former studies on terror attacks and mass shootings have shown elevated levels of posttraumatic complaints both in direct victims and in general populations. Little is known about how such extreme events in a generally safe society such as Norway would affect an adolescent population. This study examines posttraumatic stress reactions and changes in worldview in relationship to risk factors among 10,220 high school students using data from the ung@hordaland survey. One out of 5 respondents knew someone directly exposed, 55.7% experienced the events to some extent as threatening to their own or their close ones' lives, and 79.9% reported their worldview to be changed. For posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) DSM IV criteria, 0.8% reported substantial symptoms of reexperiencing (Criterion B), 4.9% of avoidance (Criterion C), and 1.1% of hyperarousal (Criterion D). Greater personal proximity to the events, higher levels of perceived life threat, and being a female or an immigrant predicted higher levels of PTSD symptom distress. Results indicate that the terror events made a deep impression on Norwegian adolescents, but without causing markedly elevated levels of PTSD symptomatology in the general young population. Copyright © 2013 International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies.

9/11 and Terrorism: "The Ultimate Teachable Moment" in Textbooks and Supplemental Curricula

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hess, Diana; Stoddard, Jeremy

2007-01-01

In a recent poll that asked American adults to identify "the single most significant event that has happened in their lifetime, in terms of its importance to the U.S. and the world," 46 percent of the respondents cited the attacks of September 11, 2001, as the most significant occurrence in their lifetime. In light of this result, it is not…

Convergence In Latin America: Illuminating The Pink Tide And Iranian Nexus Through Social Network Analysis

DTIC Science & Technology

2017-12-01

43 A. INTRODUCTION....................................................................................43 B. THE 1994 AMIA BOMBING ...America begin before the AMIA bombings , conducted in 1992 and 1994 and a more recent plot to attack the JFK Airport in New York, 2007, through a network...Rabbani network’s terrorist bombing of two targets in Argentina in 1992 and 1994, its connection to multiple other terror and assassinations attempts

Study Abroad in a Time of Terror; U.S. Student Experiences in Brussels

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Gleye, Paul

2017-01-01

On the morning of March 22, 2016, two men pushed luggage trolleys containing suitcases laden with nail bombs into the departure hall of the Brussels airport and detonated them. About an hour later, a third suicide bomber detonated a nail bomb in a subway train at the Maelbeek metro station near central Brussels. These attacks claimed the lives of…

McCormick's Mayhem: "The Time To Learn To Dance Is Not Five Minutes before the Party." School Crisis Management Case Study.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bouleris, Sue; Collett, De Ette; Mauntler, Mike; Ray, Shirley

This paper discusses the importance of a school's having procedures in place to deal with possible biological terrorist threats. It begins with a discussion of biological terrorism. It then provides the symptoms of anthrax, treatment options for anthrax, and precautions to take when suspicious of an attack with a hazardous material. The paper goes…

Countering Islamic Radicalization Indonesian Experiences

DTIC Science & Technology

2016-02-16

promote values and beliefs that create the impression that controlling and maintaining current global structure benefits all, when in fact it works...success in a globalized and digital world. Most of the Islamic school students also got outdoor activities such as sports, farming, hiking , marching... benefiting from a bigger audience, and spreads the terror almost instantaneously, because the main victims of the attacks are the people who watch the

Modern Piracy: The Impact on Maritime Security

DTIC Science & Technology

2008-01-01

attacked Source: International Chamber of Commerce , Commercial Crime Bureau. http://www.eurocrime.it/sitelPiracy%20and%20Terrorism.pdf Piracy, simply put...agency of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), provide regular statistical data and reports of acts ofpiracy and armed robbery against ShipS.14...3: Key Maritime Choke-points / Piracy Hot Spots Source: International Chamber of Commerce , Commercial Crime Bureau. http://www.eurocrime.it/site

Israeli Adolescents' Help-Seeking Behaviours in Relation to Terrorist Attacks: The Perceptions of Students, School Counsellors and Teachers

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Tatar, Moshe; Amram, Sima

2008-01-01

Exposure to terror seriously threatens the well-being of children and adolescents. School mental health professionals cope simultaneously with the counselling needs of their clients and with their own fears and doubts. This report is based on two studies. The first study was concerned with the perceptions of Israeli adolescents of the place of…

Forecasting Demand for Civilian Pilots: A Cost Savings Approach to Managing Air Force Pilot Resources

DTIC Science & Technology

2007-03-01

terror attacks led people to believe that flying was unsafe. The Breusch - Pagan /Cook-Weisberg test for heteroskedasticity was performed to find...would yield an increase of 13.8 million revenue passenger miles. As with the previous model, the Breusch - Pagan /Cook-Weisberg test for...Appendix A. Data Set of Variables Studied ............................................................ 31 Appendix B. Stationarity Tests

Chemical Terrorism for the Intensivist

DTIC Science & Technology

2012-05-01

used in the ICU, and the clinician needs to be mindful of this interaction (nerve agents and neuromuscular blockers ).6 Chemical and biological attacks...Frothy Sputum Headache, Fatigue, Anxiety , Irritability, Cardiac Arrest, Dyspnea Coma, Seizures Conjunctivitis, Sore Throat, Epistaxis, Erythema, Skin...Steroids and beta -agonists are com- monly used, and although there is no strong human clinical data to support this practice, there is some animal evidence

9/11 Event

NASA Image and Video Library

2015-09-11

Rick Anderson, fire chief at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, on podium, left, and Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey take part in the dedication service for a memorial to the 343 first responder victims of the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks at Kennedy's Fire Station 1 on Sept. 11, 2015. The ceremony dedicated a monument that includes a section of steel I-beam from the World Trade Center in New York.

Terrorism Risk Modeling for Intelligence Analysis and Infrastructure Protection

DTIC Science & Technology

2007-01-01

comparatively high risk of CBRN attacks. Estimates of sabotage risk are highly dependent on proximity of nuclear power plants , chemical plants , or oil...and casinos, airports, nuclear power plants 3 Military, train and subway stations, stadiums, bridges and tunnels 4 Industrial facilities, oil and...airspace zones 8 Power plants , dams, railway networks levels. Collecting and incorporating such data for specific localities or industry sectors would

Trajectories of Resilience, Resistance, and Distress during Ongoing Terrorism: The Case of Jews and Arabs in Israel

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hobfoll, Stevan E.; Palmieri, Patrick A.; Johnson, Robert J.; Canetti-Nisim, Daphna; Hall, Brian J.; Galea, Sandro

2009-01-01

This is the 1st longitudinal examination of trajectories of resilience and resistance (rather than ill-being) among a national sample under ongoing threat of mass casualty. The authors interviewed a nationally representative sample of Jews and Arabs in Israel (N = 709) at 2 times during a period of terrorist and rocket attacks (2004?2005). The…

Ongoing exposure versus intense periodic exposure to military conflict and terror attacks in Israel.

PubMed

Lahad, Mooli; Leykin, Dmitry

2010-12-01

The manifestation of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms in two clinical samples in Israel (N = 212) was examined. Individuals suffering ongoing exposure to shelling were compared with subjects exposed to intense periodic exposure. Elevated arousal and avoidance symptoms, but not intrusion were reported in the ongoing exposure group. When compared by age, young participants in the ongoing exposure group had significantly lower PTSD scores, whereas no differences were found between participants among the intense periodic exposure age groups. No gender differences in symptoms were found among participants from intense periodic exposure, whereas in the other ongoing group the difference was in avoidance. Results are discussed in light of past research on exposure to terrorism. Copyright © 2010 International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies.

The medico-legal investigation of the El Aqsah Intifada.

PubMed

Hiss, Jehuda; Freund, Maya; Motro, Uzi; Kahana, Tzipi

2002-07-01

The majority (n = 445) of the Israeli and Palestinian fatal victims of the El Aqsah Intifada was examined at the National Center of Forensic Medicine in Tel Aviv. Analysis of the trauma sustained and the anthropologic profile of both the victims and the perpetrators elucidates the trends and contrasts them with the phenomenon in the past. The purpose of the forensic investigation of mass casualty incidents is manifold: establishing the minimal number of individuals involved, identifying the victims and perpetrators, collecting material evidence, and determining the modus operandi. The postmortem examination includes external description of the bodies and their injuries, photo-documentation, and sampling of tissues. Radiography, dental examination, and a ten-print card of each cadaver are also recorded. The modus operandi of the current Intifada is somewhat different from that of the previous wave of terrorism and includes more road shootings and vehicular terrorism. In addition, three suicide bombers who detonated explosive devices within crowded areas were young women, and the age of the perpetrators has increased from up to 35 years to individuals as old as 47, thus greatly enlarging the potential number of suicide terrorists. Virologic and biologic tests have been introduced to examine the tissues of the suicide bombers since they are possible sources of contagion to the wounded victims. The results of the medico-legal investigation of victims and perpetrators of terrorism enable us to establish the modus operandi and the profile of potential perpetrators, which can help in the prevention of similar attacks. Documentation of the different types of injuries in fatal victims of explosion and shooting contributes to improving the awareness of the medical staff treating the wounded of similar attacks. Further investigation into the reliability of virologic and biologic tests conducted on postmortem tissue is recommended.

PATTERN OF INJURIES SEEN IN MASS CASUALTIES IN TERRORIST ATTACKS IN BALUCHISTAN, PAKISTAN--A THREE YEARS EXPERIENCE.

PubMed

Maqsood, Rasikh; Rasikh, Alia; Abbasi, Tariq; Shukr, Irfan

2015-01-01

As a front line state in war against terror, Pakistan has been a victim of terrorism, for the last many years & Baluchistan has been the hub of all such terror activities. The objective of this study was to determine the incidence and type of injuries in mass casualties in terrorist activities in Baluchistan. The study was done by the review of the record of all patients of terrorist attacks who were admitted in Combined Military Hospital (CMH) Quetta from 27th Aug 2012 to 31st Jul 2015. The final injuries sustained by the victims were documented in the patient charts after repeated examination. The data was collected from these patient charts. Data was analysed using SPSS-21. Frequency & percentages of different injuries was calculated to determine the injury pattern. A total of 3034 patients reported to the hospital (n-3034), 2228 were admitted (73.4%). Out of the injured, 1720 (56.69%) were patients of multi system trauma, whereas 1314 (43.3%) had a single site injury. Out of these 537 patients had fractures of long bones (17.6%), those with head & spinal injuries with neurological deficit were 455 (14.9%), 266 had abdominal injuries requiring surgical intervention (8.7%), 75 (2.47%) had thoracic injuries were whereas 25 (0.82%) were vascular injuries, requiring emergent limb saving surgeries. Sex ratio was M/F=5.7: 1 Mean hospital stay was 6.31 days. Majority of the injured had multisystem injuries; therefore the hospital should have a well-trained multi-disciplinary team of surgeons. In addition to general surgery, the subspecialties' should include orthopaedics, vascular, thoracic and neurosurgery.

Psychometrical assessment and item analysis of the General Health Questionnaire in victims of terrorism.

PubMed

Delgado-Gomez, David; Lopez-Castroman, Jorge; de Leon-Martinez, Victoria; Baca-Garcia, Enrique; Cabanas-Arrate, Maria Luisa; Sanchez-Gonzalez, Antonio; Aguado, David

2013-03-01

There is a need to assess the psychiatric morbidity that appears as a consequence of terrorist attacks. The General Health Questionnaire (GHQ) has been used to this end, but its psychometric properties have never been evaluated in a population affected by terrorism. A sample of 891 participants included 162 direct victims of terrorist attacks and 729 relatives of the victims. All participants were evaluated using the 28-item version of the GHQ (GHQ-28). We examined the reliability and external validity of scores on the scale using Cronbach's alpha and Pearson correlation with the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), respectively. The factor structure of the scale was analyzed with varimax rotation. Samejima's (1969) graded response model was used to explore the item properties. The GHQ-28 scores showed good reliability and item-scale correlations. The factor analysis identified 3 factors: anxious-somatic symptoms, social dysfunction, and depression symptoms. All factors showed good correlation with the STAI. Before rotation, the first, second, and third factor explained 44.0%, 6.4%, and 5.0% of the variance, respectively. Varimax rotation redistributed the percentages of variance accounted for to 28.4%, 13.8%, and 13.2%, respectively. Items with the highest loadings in the first factor measured anxiety symptoms, whereas items with the highest loadings in the third factor measured suicide ideation. Samejima's model found that high scores in suicide-related items were associated with severe depression. The factor structure of the GHQ-28 found in this study underscores the preeminence of anxiety symptoms among victims of terrorism and their relatives. Item response analysis identified the most difficult and significant items for each factor. PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2013 APA, all rights reserved.

Brief report: Self-blame and PTSD symptoms in adolescents exposed to terrorism: is school connectedness a mediator?

PubMed

Moscardino, Ughetta; Scrimin, Sara; Capello, Fabia; Altoè, Gianmarco

2014-01-01

Previous research has shown that self-blame predicts increased risk of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in youth exposed to terrorism, but little is known about the factors mediating such relationship. This study aimed to explore whether school connectedness (SC) mediates the effect of self-blame on PTSD in 60 adolescents (aged 14-18 years) who survived the 2004 terrorist attack against school no. 1 in Beslan, Russia. Participants completed measures of coping, SC, and PTSD three years after the traumatic event. Endorsement of self-blaming behaviors was found to be significantly positively related to the presence of PTSD; self-blame was negatively associated with SC, which in turn was negatively related to PTSD. The mediation hypothesis was supported, with SC partially mediating the link between self-blame and PTSD. Adolescents affected by terrorism may benefit from school-based interventions aimed at fostering students' sense of belonging and emotional bonding to teachers, peers, and the school environment. Copyright © 2013 The Foundation for Professionals in Services for Adolescents. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Macrolevel Stressors, Terrorism, and Mental Health Outcomes: Broadening the Stress Paradigm

PubMed Central

Richman, Judith A.; Cloninger, Lea; Rospenda, Kathleen M.

2008-01-01

Objectives. We examined the extent to which the stress paradigm linking psychosocial stressors to mental health status has focused disproportionate attention on microlevel social stressors to the detriment of macrolevel stressors. Also, we assessed the effects of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, on subsequent mental health among participants in a Midwestern cohort study. Methods. Respondents in a 6-wave longitudinal mail survey completed questionnaires before September 11, 2001, and again in 2003 and 2005. Regression analyses focused on measures of negative terrorism-related beliefs and fears, as well as psychological distress and deleterious alcohol use outcomes measured both before and after September 11. Results. Negative terrorism-related beliefs and fears assessed in 2003 predicted distress and drinking outcomes in 2005 after control for sociodemographic characteristics and pre–September 11 distress and drinking. Conclusions. The events of September 11 continue to negatively affect the mental health of the American population. Our results support the utility of according greater attention to the effects of such macrolevel social stressors in population studies embracing the stress paradigm. PMID:18687593

Macrolevel Stressors, Terrorism, and Mental Health Outcomes: Broadening the Stress Paradigm

PubMed Central

Richman, Judith A.; Cloninger, Lea; Rospenda, Kathleen M.

2008-01-01

Objectives. We examined the extent to which the stress paradigm linking psychosocial stressors to mental health status has focused disproportionate attention on microlevel social stressors to the detriment of macrolevel stressors. Also, we assessed the effects of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, on subsequent mental health among participants in a Midwestern cohort study. Methods. Respondents in a 6-wave longitudinal mail survey completed questionnaires before September 11, 2001, and again in 2003 and 2005. Regression analyses focused on measures of negative terrorism-related beliefs and fears, as well as psychological distress and deleterious alcohol use outcomes measured both before and after September 11. Results. Negative terrorism-related beliefs and fears assessed in 2003 predicted distress and drinking outcomes in 2005 after control for sociodemographic characteristics and pre–September 11 distress and drinking. Conclusions. The events of September 11 continue to negatively affect the mental health of the American population. Our results support the utility of according greater attention to the effects of such macrolevel social stressors in population studies embracing the stress paradigm. PMID:18172139

Terrorism: a public health threat with a trauma system response.

PubMed

Jacobs, Lenworth M; Burns, Karyl J; Gross, Ronald I

2003-12-01

The threat of mass casualties and widespread infectious disease caused by terrorism is now a challenge for our government and public health system. Funds have been granted to the states by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Health Resources and Services Administration to establish bioterrorism preparedness and response capabilities. Hartford Hospital has been designated as a Center of Excellence for Bioterrorism Preparedness by the Commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Public Health. The Center of Excellence has implemented strategies to prepare for a possible bioterrorist attack. A unique model that combines epidemiology and traumatology is being used to guide the preparedness activities. Although the focus of the grant from the Connecticut Department of Public Health is bioterrorism, the application of the model can apply to preparation for all terrorist events. Implementation of strategies indicates that bioterrorism preparedness is well underway. Similar initiatives should be achievable by other trauma systems throughout the country. A Center of Excellence for Bioterrorism Preparedness in Connecticut is successfully modifying a trauma system to meet the challenge of a new public health threat, terrorism.

Recognition of facial expressions of mixed emotions in school-age children exposed to terrorism.

PubMed

Scrimin, Sara; Moscardino, Ughetta; Capello, Fabia; Altoè, Gianmarco; Axia, Giovanna

2009-09-01

This exploratory study aims at investigating the effects of terrorism on children's ability to recognize emotions. A sample of 101 exposed and 102 nonexposed children (mean age = 11 years), balanced for age and gender, were assessed 20 months after a terrorist attack in Beslan, Russia. Two trials controlled for children's ability to match a facial emotional stimulus with an emotional label and their ability to match an emotional label with an emotional context. The experimental trial evaluated the relation between exposure to terrorism and children's free labeling of mixed emotion facial stimuli created by morphing between 2 prototypical emotions. Repeated measures analyses of covariance revealed that exposed children correctly recognized pure emotions. Four log-linear models were performed to explore the association between exposure group and category of answer given in response to different mixed emotion facial stimuli. Model parameters indicated that, compared with nonexposed children, exposed children (a) labeled facial expressions containing anger and sadness significantly more often than expected as anger, and (b) produced fewer correct answers in response to stimuli containing sadness as a target emotion.

Psychosocial responses to biological and chemical terrorist threats and events. Implications for the workplace.

PubMed

Beaton, Randal; Murphy, Shirley

2002-04-01

1. Both biological and chemical weapons (BCW) could potentially be used in future terrorist attacks on U.S. workplaces and communities. 2. Threats of BCW terrorism may lead to anxiety, adverse health effects, and the exacerbation of psychiatric symptoms and syndromes in workers and managers. 3. Actual BCW attacks will likely cause both acute and chronic mental disorders in a significant number of surviving victims who may also be employees or employers. 4. Occupational health nurses can help prevent or remediate maladaptive psychological responses by educating themselves and their work forces, assisting in a risk assessment of the workplace, understanding disaster planning, and assisting management in policy formulation and psychosocial triage.

September 11, 2001: then and now.

PubMed

Jameson, John R

2002-01-01

This article, written by a historian, uses the sequential questioning technique to present a selected historical and statistical overview of the tragic events of September 11, 2001, including: the hijackings; the suicide attacks in New York, Washington, D C, and Pennsylvania; background on Osama bin Laden and al-Qaeda; rescue and recovery efforts; and a brief discussion of how the horrors of the day continue to affect the American people a year later. Especially sobering are the dollar costs of the attacks and the projected expenses of U.S. efforts to control the spread of international terrorism (estimated at $640 billion, just through fiscal year 2003). Throughout, the article draws on the experiences of the victims, the rescuers, and the survivors.

Combined prolonged exposure therapy and paroxetine for PTSD related to the World Trade Center attack: a randomized controlled trial.

PubMed

Schneier, Franklin R; Neria, Yuval; Pavlicova, Martina; Hembree, Elizabeth; Suh, Eun Jung; Amsel, Lawrence; Marshall, Randall D

2012-01-01

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are often recommended in combination with established cognitive-behavioral therapies (CBTs) for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), but combined initial treatment of PTSD has not been studied under controlled conditions. There are also few studies of either SSRIs or CBT in treating PTSD related to terrorism. The authors compared prolonged exposure therapy (a CBT) plus paroxetine (an SSRI) with prolonged exposure plus placebo in the treatment of terrorism-related PTSD. Adult survivors of the World Trade Center attack of September 11, 2001, with PTSD were randomly assigned to 10 weeks of treatment with prolonged exposure (10 sessions) plus paroxetine (N=19) or prolonged exposure plus placebo (N=18). After week 10, patients discontinued prolonged exposure and were offered 12 additional weeks of continued randomized treatment. Patients treated with prolonged exposure plus paroxetine experienced significantly greater improvement in PTSD symptoms (incidence rate ratio=0.50, 95% CI=0.30-0.85) and remission status (odds ratio=12.6, 95% CI=1.23-129) during 10 weeks of combined treatment than patients treated with prolonged exposure plus placebo. Response rate and quality of life were also significantly more improved with combined treatment. The subset of patients who continued randomized treatment for 12 additional weeks showed no group differences. Initial treatment with paroxetine plus prolonged exposure was more efficacious than prolonged exposure plus placebo for PTSD related to the World Trade Center attack. Combined treatment medication and prolonged exposure therapy deserves further study in larger samples with diverse forms of PTSD and over longer follow-up periods.

RISK DISCLOSURE AGAINST ATTACK ON CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURES

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yoshida, Mamoru; Kobayashi, Kiyoshi

This paper analyzes the government's defensive and disclosure strategies to reduce the damage caused by terrorists that attack critical infrastructures using subjective game theory. The government recognizes a terrorist as a hidden opponent and the government's decision making about the policies against terror attacks depends on the belief about the existence of terrorist. In addition, it is not necessarily true that the government and the terrorist play the common game and make their decisions. Considering these points, the paper formulates the model in which the government and the terrorist formulate the subjective games respectively, and they induce the strategies using the equilibriums of their subjective games. The paper concluded that the government's disclosure about the implementation of the countermeasure, rather than the disclosure of warning level related with the belief about the existence of terrorist, brings about the higher increment of the subjective payoffs of the government.

U.S. Navy - U.S. Air Force Relationships 1970-2010. Revision

DTIC Science & Technology

2011-06-01

OK(1992) • Inherited Looking Glass National Command Authorities (NCA) airborne strategic command & control role from USAF (1998) • Multi-role E...begins JTF HOA begins OIF begins PSI begins Iraq ABOT attack Indian Ocean tsunami Hurricane Katrina Bali terror bombings Lebanon evacuation DPRK...II) ^*NA • Material • Rising overall defense budgets • Stability of service budget shares • Imposed ceilings on service budgets • Personal

The Use of Rockets as Military Weapons at the Siege of Kai Fung Foo in 1232 A.D

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

2004-01-01

One of the earliest recorded instances of the use of rockets was as military weapons against the Mongols by the Chinese at the siege of Kai Fung Foo in 1232 A.D. An arrow with a tube of gunpowder produced an arrow of flying fire. The Mongol attackers fled in terror, even though the rockets were inaccurate and relatively harmless.

"Mobilising for the Values of the Republic"- France's Education Policy Response to the "Fragmented Society": A Commented Press Review

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Busch, Matthias; Morys, Nancy

2016-01-01

Purpose: This article focuses on recent developments in the domain of civic education in the French education system, the new programme on "Enseignement moral et civique" (EMC), and the debate about the relevance of the basic values of the Republic which came up after the terror attacks in January 2015. Method: The study is based on a…

Improvised Incendiary Devices: Risk Assessment, Threats, Vulnerabilities and Consequences

DTIC Science & Technology

2006-09-01

terrorism, Baird substitutes “the unlawful use of force and violence ” with “the use of incendiary attacks” to intimidate or coerce a government, the...targeting of noncombatants; political motivation; violence with 35 ALF/ELF, Arson Around with Auntie A.L.F: Your Guide for Putting the Heat on Animal...contends that future pyro-terrorist attacks will lean toward unrestrained violence for maximum psychological impact and challenge the conventional

Combating Terrorism: Additional Steps Needed to Enhance Foreign Partners’ Capacity to Prevent Terrorist Travel

DTIC Science & Technology

2011-06-01

identified enhancing the capacity of partner nations as one of two pillars supporting that strategy. The attempted attack on a Detroit-bound airliner on...not have reciprocal relationships to share such information or other travel-related information, such as airline passenger lists, with other...Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs • Negotiations to share Passenger Name Records data to prescreen airline passengers against terrorist

Public Health, Safety, and Security for Mass Gatherings

DTIC Science & Technology

2008-05-01

National youth organizations,12 music festivals,13 and sporting events such as those hosted by NASCAR, the NCAA,14 the National Basketball Association... NBA ), Major League Baseball (MLB), and the National Football League (NFL)15 (aside from those Super Bowl events that have been declared NSSEs...credible threat of a terror attack aimed at college basketball arenas or other sports stadiums, but acknowledged alerting law enforcement to a

Surgical management of chest wall trauma.

PubMed

Molnar, Tamas F

2010-11-01

Recent paradigm shift in major trauma profile elevates chest wall injuries among the most important topics of the specialty. Due to mass casualties of terror attacks and asymmetric warfare, civilian and military trauma care challenges thoracic surgery, traumatology, intensive anesthesiology, and related specialties. Contemporary advances of the main issues are systemically presented and discussed, such as soft tissue and bony structure injuries, complex traumas like flail chest, and extensively destroyed chest wall.

The Federal Role in Terrorism Insurance. Evaluating Alternatives in an Uncertain World

DTIC Science & Technology

2007-01-01

representation of RAND intellectual property is provided for non-commercial use only. Unauthorized posting of RAND PDFs to a non-RAND Web site is...Swiss Re Life & Health America Inc. Richard Thomas* Senior vice president Chief underwriting officer American International Group Steven Wechsler ...bomb, outdoor anthrax, nuclear bomb Attack scaling S [0.33, 3.0] Postattack government compensation Market retention R [$27.5 billion, $100 billion

Air and Space Power Journal. Volume 29, Number 4. July-August 2015

DTIC Science & Technology

2015-08-01

Afghanistan, and Pakistan. It is incredibly difficult to prevent these attacks when the most explicit strategies are reactive ex post facto military...Editor, Strategic Studies Quarterly Air Force Research Institute Dr. Grant T. Hammond USAF Center for Strategy and Technology Dr. Dale L. Hayden Air Force...of War Studies at King’s College London, researches nonproliferation, terrorism, and US security policy. He observes that deterrence strategies

Military Countermeasures to Terrorism in the 1980s,

DTIC Science & Technology

1984-08-01

institutional prejudices of the inteligence function, on one side, and the operations element, on the other. When looking to place blame for a failed mission, the...2 An upward trend in higher-order terrorist attacks is revealed when the number of premeditated actions (installations plus individuals) is compared...requirements between operators and intelligence personnel can spell the difference between life and death in the field, or the success or failure of

Disaster preparedness, pediatric considerations in primary blast injury, chemical, and biological terrorism

PubMed Central

Hamele, Mitchell; Poss, William Bradley; Sweney, Jill

2014-01-01

Both domestic and foreign terror incidents are an unfortunate outgrowth of our modern times from the Oklahoma City bombings, Sarin gas attacks in Japan, the Madrid train bombing, anthrax spores in the mail, to the World Trade Center on September 11th, 2001. The modalities used to perpetrate these terrorist acts range from conventional weapons to high explosives, chemical weapons, and biological weapons all of which have been used in the recent past. While these weapons platforms can cause significant injury requiring critical care the mechanism of injury, pathophysiology and treatment of these injuries are unfamiliar to many critical care providers. Additionally the pediatric population is particularly vulnerable to these types of attacks. In the event of a mass casualty incident both adult and pediatric critical care practitioners will likely be called upon to care for children and adults alike. We will review the presentation, pathophysiology, and treatment of victims of blast injury, chemical weapons, and biological weapons. The focus will be on those injuries not commonly encountered in critical care practice, primary blast injuries, category A pathogens likely to be used in terrorist incidents, and chemical weapons including nerve agents, vesicants, pulmonary agents, cyanide, and riot control agents with special attention paid to pediatric specific considerations. PMID:24834398

The National Institute of Justice's Technology Efforts to Meet the Evolving Needs of the Responder Community

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Boyd, D.

2002-05-01

The National Institute of Justice (NIJ) is the research arm of the Department of Justice. Through its Office of Science & Technology (OS&T), NIJ has actively pursued development of better tools for public safety agencies to combat terrorism since 1997, when, pursuant to the Anti-Terrorism and Effective Penalty Act of 1996 (P.L. 104 -132), it began development of technology to better enable law enforcement agencies to combat terrorism. NIJ quickly realized that effectively combating terrorism required a multi disciplinary, multi agency response. Additionally, it came to understand that, as noted by the Gilmore Commission, the best way to prepare the responder community to deal with the consequences of terrorist incidents, was to ``emphasize programs and initiatives that build appropriately on existing State and local capabilities for other emergencies and disasters.'' For example, an effective critical incident management system is just as important to the ability to deal with a terrorist attack, such as occurred at the World Trade Center, as with a major natural disaster or the crash of a commercial airliner or passenger train. Consequently, NIJ's efforts have evolved to focus on the responder community's common, unaddressed needs for better tools to deal with critical incidents. The Institutes efforts focus on five technology areas: infrastructure security, personnel location, explosives detection and remediation, communications and information technology and training, and development of standards.

Unintentional drinking-water contamination events of unknown origin: surrogate for terrorism preparedness.

PubMed

Winston, Gary; Leventhal, Alex

2008-01-01

Drinking-water is a direct conduit to many human receptors. An intentional attack (e.g. terrorism) on drinking-water systems can shock and disrupt elements of national infrastructures. We report on an unintentional drinking-water contamination event that occurred in Tel Aviv, Israel in July, 2001. Initially of unknown origin, this event involved risk management strategies used by the Ministry of Health for abating a potential public health crisis as might be envisaged of water contamination due to terrorism. In an abrupt event of unknown origin, public health officials need to be responsible for the same level of preparedness and risk communication. This is emphasized by comparison of management strategies between the Tel Aviv event and one of dire consequences that occurred in Camelford, England in 1988. From the onset of the Tel Aviv incident, the public health strategy was to employ the precautionary principle by warning residents of the affected region to not drink tap water, even if boiled. This strategy was in contrast to an earlier crisis that occurred in Camelford, England in 1988. An outcome of this event was heightened awareness that a water crisis can occur in peacetime and not only in association with terrorism. No matter how minor the contamination event or short-term the disruption of delivery of safe drinking-water, psychological, medical and public health impact could be significant.

[Chemical weapons and chemical terrorism].

PubMed

Nakamura, Katsumi

2005-10-01

Chemical Weapons are kind of Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD). They were used large quantities in WWI. Historically, large quantities usage like WWI was not recorded, but small usage has appeared now and then. Chemical weapons are so called "Nuclear weapon for poor countrys" because it's very easy to produce/possession being possible. They are categorized (1) Nerve Agents, (2) Blister Agents, (3) Cyanide (blood) Agents, (4) Pulmonary Agents, (5) Incapacitating Agents (6) Tear Agents from the viewpoint of human body interaction. In 1997 the Chemical Weapons Convention has taken effect. It prohibits chemical weapons development/production, and Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) verification regime contributes to the chemical weapons disposal. But possibility of possession/use of weapons of mass destruction by terrorist group represented in one by Matsumoto and Tokyo Subway Sarin Attack, So new chemical terrorism countermeasures are necessary.

Terrorism's Psychologic Effects and Their Implications for Primary Care Policy, Research, and Education

PubMed Central

Eisenman, David P; Stein, Bradley D; Tanielian, Terri L; Pincus, Harold Alan

2005-01-01

This paper examines primary care physicians' (PCP) roles in helping the nation prepare for, respond to, and recover from the psychologic consequences of chemical, biologic, radiologic, or nuclear (CBRN) terrorism. First, we discuss the psychologic consequences of a CBRN attack and PCPs' roles in responding to these consequences. Second, we analyze these roles in light of the known barriers to delivering high-quality, primary care–based, mental health care. Third, we offer recommendations for mitigating these barriers and preparing PCPs to respond to the psychosocial consequences of a CBRN weapon. Importantly, our recommendations provide dual-use benefits to PCPs faced with the daily concerns of primary care mental health, including improved linkages and electronic connectivity with mental health, information technology, and decision support for providers, and needed education and research. PMID:16050892

Behavioural aspects of terrorism.

PubMed

Leistedt, Samuel J

2013-05-10

Behavioural and social sciences are useful in collecting and analysing intelligence data, understanding terrorism, and developing strategies to combat terrorism. This article aims to examine the psychopathological concepts of terrorism and discusses the developing roles for behavioural scientists. A systematic review was conducted of studies investigating behavioural aspects of terrorism. These studies were identified by a systematic search of databases, textbooks, and a supplementary manual search of references. Several fundamental concepts were identified that continue to influence the motives and the majority of the behaviours of those who support or engage in this kind of specific violence. Regardless of the psychological aspects and new roles for psychiatrists, the behavioural sciences will continue to be called upon to assist in developing better methods to gather and analyse intelligence, to understand terrorism, and perhaps to stem the radicalisation process. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Assessing Terrorist Motivations for Attacking Critical Infrastructure

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Ackerman, G; Abhayaratne, P; Bale, J

Certain types of infrastructure--critical infrastructure (CI)--play vital roles in underpinning our economy, security and way of life. These complex and often interconnected systems have become so ubiquitous and essential to day-to-day life that they are easily taken for granted. Often it is only when the important services provided by such infrastructure are interrupted--when we lose easy access to electricity, health care, telecommunications, transportation or water, for example--that we are conscious of our great dependence on these networks and of the vulnerabilities that stem from such dependence. Unfortunately, it must be assumed that many terrorists are all too aware that CImore » facilities pose high-value targets that, if successfully attacked, have the potential to dramatically disrupt the normal rhythm of society, cause public fear and intimidation, and generate significant publicity. Indeed, revelations emerging at the time of this writing about Al Qaida's efforts to prepare for possible attacks on major financial facilities in New York, New Jersey, and the District of Columbia remind us just how real and immediate such threats to CI may be. Simply being aware that our nation's critical infrastructure presents terrorists with a plethora of targets, however, does little to mitigate the dangers of CI attacks. In order to prevent and preempt such terrorist acts, better understanding of the threats and vulnerabilities relating to critical infrastructure is required. The Center for Nonproliferation Studies (CNS) presents this document as both a contribution to the understanding of such threats and an initial effort at ''operationalizing'' its findings for use by analysts who work on issues of critical infrastructure protection. Specifically, this study focuses on a subsidiary aspect of CI threat assessment that has thus far remained largely unaddressed by contemporary terrorism research: the motivations and related factors that determine whether a terrorist organization will attack critical infrastructure. In other words, this research investigates: (1) why terrorists choose to attack critical infrastructure rather than other targets; (2) how groups make such decisions; (3) what, if any, types of groups are most inclined to attack critical infrastructure targets; and (4) which types of critical infrastructure terrorists prefer to attack and why. In an effort to address the above questions as comprehensively as possible, the project team employed four discrete investigative approaches in its research design. These include: (1) a review of existing terrorism and threat assessment literature to glean expert consensus regarding terrorist target selection, as well as to identify theoretical approaches that might be valuable to analysts and decision-makers who are seeking to understand such terrorist group decision-making processes; (2) the preparation of several concise case studies to help identify internal group factors and contextual influences that have played significant roles in leading some terrorist groups to attack critical infrastructure; (3) the creation of a new database--the Critical Infrastructure Terrorist Incident Catalog (CrITC)--to capture a large sample of empirical CI attack data that might be used to illuminate the nature of such attacks to date; and (4) the development of a new analytical framework--the Determinants Effecting Critical Infrastructure Decisions (DECIDe) Framework--designed to make the factors and dynamics identified by the study more ''usable'' in any future efforts to assess terrorist intentions to target critical infrastructure. Although each is addressed separately in the following chapters, none of the four aspects of this study were developed in isolation. Rather, all the constituent elements of the project informed--and were informed by--the others. For example, the review of the available literature on terrorist target selection made possible the identification of several target selection factors that were both important in the development of the analytical framework and subsequently validated by the case studies. Similarly, statistical analysis of the CrITIC data yielded measurable evidence that supported hypotheses derived from the framework, the case studies, and the writings of various experts. Besides providing an important mechanism of self-reinforcement and validation, the project's multifaceted nature made it possible to discern aspects of CI attack motivations that would likely have been missed if any single approach had been adopted.« less

Simple mathematical law benchmarks human confrontations.

PubMed

Johnson, Neil F; Medina, Pablo; Zhao, Guannan; Messinger, Daniel S; Horgan, John; Gill, Paul; Bohorquez, Juan Camilo; Mattson, Whitney; Gangi, Devon; Qi, Hong; Manrique, Pedro; Velasquez, Nicolas; Morgenstern, Ana; Restrepo, Elvira; Johnson, Nicholas; Spagat, Michael; Zarama, Roberto

2013-12-10

Many high-profile societal problems involve an individual or group repeatedly attacking another - from child-parent disputes, sexual violence against women, civil unrest, violent conflicts and acts of terror, to current cyber-attacks on national infrastructure and ultrafast cyber-trades attacking stockholders. There is an urgent need to quantify the likely severity and timing of such future acts, shed light on likely perpetrators, and identify intervention strategies. Here we present a combined analysis of multiple datasets across all these domains which account for >100,000 events, and show that a simple mathematical law can benchmark them all. We derive this benchmark and interpret it, using a minimal mechanistic model grounded by state-of-the-art fieldwork. Our findings provide quantitative predictions concerning future attacks; a tool to help detect common perpetrators and abnormal behaviors; insight into the trajectory of a 'lone wolf'; identification of a critical threshold for spreading a message or idea among perpetrators; an intervention strategy to erode the most lethal clusters; and more broadly, a quantitative starting point for cross-disciplinary theorizing about human aggression at the individual and group level, in both real and online worlds.

Simple mathematical law benchmarks human confrontations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Johnson, Neil F.; Medina, Pablo; Zhao, Guannan; Messinger, Daniel S.; Horgan, John; Gill, Paul; Bohorquez, Juan Camilo; Mattson, Whitney; Gangi, Devon; Qi, Hong; Manrique, Pedro; Velasquez, Nicolas; Morgenstern, Ana; Restrepo, Elvira; Johnson, Nicholas; Spagat, Michael; Zarama, Roberto

2013-12-01

Many high-profile societal problems involve an individual or group repeatedly attacking another - from child-parent disputes, sexual violence against women, civil unrest, violent conflicts and acts of terror, to current cyber-attacks on national infrastructure and ultrafast cyber-trades attacking stockholders. There is an urgent need to quantify the likely severity and timing of such future acts, shed light on likely perpetrators, and identify intervention strategies. Here we present a combined analysis of multiple datasets across all these domains which account for >100,000 events, and show that a simple mathematical law can benchmark them all. We derive this benchmark and interpret it, using a minimal mechanistic model grounded by state-of-the-art fieldwork. Our findings provide quantitative predictions concerning future attacks; a tool to help detect common perpetrators and abnormal behaviors; insight into the trajectory of a `lone wolf' identification of a critical threshold for spreading a message or idea among perpetrators; an intervention strategy to erode the most lethal clusters; and more broadly, a quantitative starting point for cross-disciplinary theorizing about human aggression at the individual and group level, in both real and online worlds.

Recent Federal Policies Affecting the Cybersecurity and Resiliency Landscape

DTIC Science & Technology

2014-01-23

Mellon University Homeland Security Act of 2002 Was introduced in the aftermath of • September 11 attacks • mailings of anthrax spores Established...natural disasters, cyber incidents, industrial accidents, pandemics , acts of terrorism, sabotage, and destructive criminal activity targeting critical...August 21, 1963 (NCS) • After September 11 − HSPD 1, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 21 − Homeland Security Act of 2002 − PS-PREP • After Mailings of Anthrax

The DTIC Review. Information Terrorism. Volume 5, Number 1

DTIC Science & Technology

2000-03-01

ABSTRACT: (U) This document describes a PERSONAL AUTHORS: Llinas, James; proposed program of research into theories, Bisantz, Ann; Drury , Colin ; Seong...management computer. Before he finished he transferred more than $12 million to other banks and had access to the $500 billion daily transfer account . 3 By the...modem. The General Accounting Office recently estimated that Pentagon computers experience some 250,000 hacker attacks per year and 5 that 65 percent

Shooting the Messenger: Diplomats Crushed by Wave of New Terrorism

DTIC Science & Technology

2017-04-26

but the number of fatalities increased. Bombings /explosions rettsain the most consmon tactics, but armed assaults increased greatly since the end of...diplomatic targets have decreased, but the number of fatalities increased. Bombings /explosions-remain the most common tactics, but armed assaults...themselves in harm’s way to accomplish their mission. The rise of “New Terrorism” and the use of large bombings or complex and coordinated attacks give the

Country Reports on Terrorism 2005

DTIC Science & Technology

2006-04-01

regional terrorist network Jemaah Islamiya (JI), which has ties to al-Qaida. In March, Indonesian courts sentenced JI Emir Abu Bakar Ba’asyir to 30...signaling a firmer law enforcement approach by judges. In March, Indonesian courts sentenced JI Emir Abu Bakar Ba’asyir to 30 months in prison...Top, a senior JI operative involved in several major attacks, remains at large. At year end, JI emir Abu Bakar Bashir was serving a 30-month

The Human Drones of Isis: How 21st Century Terrorism Uses Remote Warfare

DTIC Science & Technology

2017-06-01

aftermath of 9/11 is Lorenzo Vidino’s Al Qaeda in Europe. Focusing on Al Qaeda (AQ) attacks in Europe, Vidino uses case studies of the major...the main focuses of our theory-building case study . 62 “The European Union’s Policies on Counter...it will consider case studies , and conduct cross- case comparisons in order to identify gaps in existing remote warfare theory. It will further

Civilian Resistance in Crete: 20 May 1941 - 15 May 1945

DTIC Science & Technology

2010-03-23

indoctrinated since childhood , - these men were in a space of few hours, defeated by the valour of those whose soil they had attacked. How different might the...Metaxas, established a dictatorship in Greece. Metaxas ideologically was a nationalist, fascist, and a monarchist. Even though his movement on the...Cretans revolted against the dictatorship . The revolt collapsed after twelve days and a climate of terror was established. Because of the revolt, the

The Drone Dilemma: Investigating the Causes of Controversy Between the United States and Pakistan

DTIC Science & Technology

2014-12-01

terror against U.S. interests and personnel. The World Trade Center attack in 1993, suicide bombing of the U.S. embassies in Kenya, Tanzania, and Nairobi...terrorists— suicide volunteers—against the state and armed forces of Pakistan. The terrorist–tribal nexus believed that Pakistan was fighting American’s war...296 The Pakistani Taliban exploits the collateral damage issue and recruits hundreds of volunteers for suicide bombing and other terrorist

The Applicability of Army Design Methodology to the Federal Bureau of Investigation

DTIC Science & Technology

2011-05-19

fighting crime , terrorism and espionage, while responding to new threats by organizing, equipping and adapting. Throughout the gangster era of the 1930s...the FBI armed its agents for the first time, and organized itself to fight gangsters who were accustomed to committing violent crimes and crossing...to transform the FBI into an effective domestic intelligence agency with the goal of preventing terrorist attacks and serious crime .7 These efforts

Strategic Studies Quarterly. Volume 7, Number 4. Winter 2013

DTIC Science & Technology

2013-01-01

databases to bridge the man-machine interface, thereby mak- ing both machines and man more capable of complex thought, independent assessment, and...Edward, “China Steps up Effort to Diversify FX Reserves,” Re- uters, 13 January 2013, http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/01/14/us-china- forex ...of attacks in Israel, Russia, and the United States from 1989 to 2008 (see fig. 2). The analysis combines data from the Global Terrorism Database

The Interagency Process and America’s Second Front in the Global War on Terrorism

DTIC Science & Technology

2003-04-01

Environmental Factors Channel Interagency Dynamics”, NS Coursebook , AY 2003, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, AL, p. 117. 4 Strategy Course, Lesson...Study of Airpower.” AP Coursebook , 2002, 2 3 History, USSOCOM, 15th Anniversary Edition, 16 April 2002, p. 83 4 Profile: Philippines, U.S...our infrastructure, both physical and information networks, from attack from terrorist groups that have already demonstrated their technical savvy

Dynamic Red Queen Explains Patterns in Fatal Insurgent Attacks

DTIC Science & Technology

2011-03-01

SECURITY CLASSIFICATION OF: 17. LIMITATION OF ABSTRACT Same as Report (SAR) 18. NUMBER OF PAGES 25 19a. NAME OF RESPONSIBLE PERSON a. REPORT...2010) 3. R.D. Sagarin, Natural Security : A Darwinian Approach to a Dangerous World, Eds. R. Sagarin and T. Taylor, (Univ. California Press, 2009), p...American Security , Washington, 2010) 17. A. Cho, Science, 325, 406 (2009) 18. A. Guttfraind, Studies in Conflict and Terrorism, 32, 45 (2009) 19

Needs Assessment for the Establishment of a Masters of Arts Program in International Studies with a Concentration in International Security and a Specialization in International Terrorism

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Gray, David H.

2008-01-01

Since the attacks of September 11, national and international security has been driven to the center stage of our present-day society, thus becoming a primary concern and focus in the United States. The purpose of this study was to conduct an instructional needs assessment for the establishment of a Masters of Arts program in International Studies…

CyberTerrorism: Cyber Prevention vs Cyber Recovery

DTIC Science & Technology

2007-12-01

appropriate available security measures (i.e. appropriate level of spy ware, IDS, and antivirus protection software installed) are unaffected by worm attacks...a worm is a form of a virus designed to copy itself by utilizing e-mail or other software applications. The main goal of using this technique is...to permeate the network or portions of the Internet with malicious code that will affect the performance of certain software applications or will

Analytical technique to address terrorist threats by chemical weapons of mass destruction

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dempsey, Patrick M.

1997-01-01

Terrorism is no longer an issue without effect on the American mind. We now live with the same concerns and fears that have been commonplace in other developed and third world countries for a long time. Citizens of other countries have long lived with the specter of terrorism and now the U.S. needs to be concerned and prepared for terrorist activities.T he terrorist has the ability to cause great destructive effects by focusing their effort on unaware and unprepared civilian populations. Attacks can range from simple explosives to sophisticated nuclear, chemical and biological weapons. Intentional chemical releases of hazardous chemicals or chemical warfare agents pose a great threat because of their ready availability and/or ease of production, and their ability to cause widespread damage. As this battlefront changes from defined conflicts and enemies to unnamed terrorists, we must implement the proper analytical tools to provide a fast and efficient response. Each chemical uses in a terrorists weapon leaves behind a chemical signature that can be used to identify the materials involved and possibly lead investigators to the source and to those responsible. New tools to provide fast and accurate detection for battlefield chemical and biological agent attack are emerging. Gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) is one of these tools that has found increasing use by the military to respond to chemical agent attacks. As the technology becomes smaller and more portable, it can be used by law enforcement personnel to identify suspected terrorist releases and to help prepare the response; define contaminated areas for evacuation and safety concerns, identify the proper treatment of exposed or affected civilians, and suggest decontamination and cleanup procedures.

Stress-related responses after 3 years of exposure to terror in Israel: are ideological-religious factors associated with resilience?

PubMed

Kaplan, Zeev; Matar, Michael A; Kamin, Ram; Sadan, Tamar; Cohen, Hagit

2005-09-01

The inhabitants of 3 different types of population centers in Israel were assessed as to stress-related symptomatology during 2003 and 2004. These centers have been exposed to 2 distinct forms of violence-sporadic, large-scale terror attacks in the metropolitan areas in the heart of Israel and daily "war-zone" conditions in the settlements beyond the 1967 borders of Israel. A semistructured interview and questionnaire survey of a random sample of 314 inhabitants of a suburb of Tel-Aviv, a settlement in the West Bank (Kiryat-Arba), and the Gush-Katif settlement cluster in the Gaza Strip was performed. Symptoms of acute stress and chronic (posttraumatic) stress as well as symptoms of general psychopathology and distress were assessed. The inhabitants of Gush-Katif, in spite of firsthand daily exposure to violent attacks, reported the fewest and least severe symptoms of stress-related complaints, the least sense of personal threat, and the highest level of functioning of all 3 samples. The most severely symptomatic and functionally compromised were the inhabitants of the Tel-Aviv suburb, who were the least frequently and least directly affected by exposure to violent attacks. Because the Gush-Katif population is exclusively religious, the data were reassessed according to religiousness. The religious inhabitants of Kiryat-Arba had almost the same symptom profile as the Gush-Katif population, whereas secular inhabitants of Kiryat-Arba reported faring worse than did either population in the Tel-Aviv suburb. Deeply held belief systems affecting life-views may impart significant resilience to developing stress-related problems, even under extreme conditions. Religiousness combined with common ideological convictions and social cohesion was associated with substantial resilience as compared to a secular metropolitan urban population.

Terrorism in Australia: factors associated with perceived threat and incident-critical behaviours

PubMed Central

Stevens, Garry; Agho, Kingsley; Taylor, Melanie; Barr, Margo; Raphael, Beverley; Jorm, Louisa

2009-01-01

Background To help improve incident preparedness this study assessed socio-demographic and socio-economic predictors of perceived risk of terrorism within Australia and willingness to comply with public safety directives during such incidents. Methods The terrorism perception question module was incorporated into the New South Wales Population Health Survey and was completed by a representative sample of 2,081 respondents in early 2007. Responses were weighted against the New South Wales population. Results Multivariate analyses indicated that those with no formal educational qualifications were significantly more likely (OR = 2.10, 95%CI:1.32–3.35, p < 0.001) to think that a terrorist attack is very or extremely likely to occur in Australia and also more likely (OR = 3.62, 95%CI:2.25–5.83, p < 0.001) to be very or extremely concerned that they or a family member would be directly affected, compared to those with a university-level qualification. Speaking a language other than English at home predicted high concern (very/extremely) that self or family would be directly affected (OR = 3.02, 95%CI:2.02–4.53, p < 0.001) and was the strongest predictor of having made associated changes in living (OR = 3.27, 95%CI:2.17–4.93, p < 0.001). Being female predicted willingness to evacuate from public facilities. Speaking a language other than English at home predicted low willingness to evacuate. Conclusion Low education level is a risk factor for high terrorism risk perception and concerns regarding potential impacts. The pattern of concern and response among those of migrant background may reflect secondary social impacts associated with heightened community threat, rather than the direct threat of terrorism itself. These findings highlight the need for terrorism risk communication and related strategies to address the specific concerns of these sub-groups as a critical underpinning of population-level preparedness. PMID:19323842

Twenty-five years of violence: the epidemiology of terrorism in South America.

PubMed

Báez, Amado Alejandro; Sztajnkrycer, Matthew D; Zane, Richard; Giräldez, Ediza

2008-01-01

Terrorism is a global public health burden. South Americans have been victims of terrorism for many decades. While the causes vary, the results are the same: death, disability, and suffering. The objective of this study was to perform a comprehensive, epidemiological, descriptive study of terrorist incidents in South America. This is a cross-sectional, descriptive study. Data from January 1971 to July 2006 was selected using the RAND Terrorism Chronology 1968-1997 and RAND-Memorial Institute for Prevention of Terrorism (MIPT) Terrorism Incident database (1998-Present). Statistical significance was set at 0.05. The database reported a total of 2,997 incidents in South American countries that resulted in 3,435 victims with injuries (1.15 per incident) and 1,973 fatalities (0.66 per incident). The overall case fatality ratio (CFR) was 35.8%. Colombia had the majority of incidents with 57.9% (1,734 of 2,997), followed by Peru with 363 (12.1%), and Argentina with 267 (8.9%). The highest individual CFR occurred in Paraguay (83.3%), and the lowest in Chile with 4.8%. Of the total injuries and deaths, Colombia had 66.1% (2,269 of 2,997) of all injuries and 75.2% (1,443 out of 1,920) of all deaths. Living in the country of Colombia was associated with a 16 times greater likelihood of becoming a victim of terrorist violence [odds ratio (OR) 16.15; 95% CI 13.45 to 19.40; p < 0.0001]. The predominant method of choice for terrorist incidents was the use of conventional explosives with 2,543 of2,883 incidents (88.2%). Terrorist incidents in South America have accounted for nearly 2,000 deaths, with conventional explosive devices as the predominant method of choice. Understanding the nature of terrorist attacks and the medical consequences assist emergency preparedness and disaster management officials in allocating resources and preparing for potential future events.

Terrorism in Australia: factors associated with perceived threat and incident-critical behaviours.

PubMed

Stevens, Garry; Agho, Kingsley; Taylor, Melanie; Barr, Margo; Raphael, Beverley; Jorm, Louisa

2009-03-27

To help improve incident preparedness this study assessed socio-demographic and socio-economic predictors of perceived risk of terrorism within Australia and willingness to comply with public safety directives during such incidents. The terrorism perception question module was incorporated into the New South Wales Population Health Survey and was completed by a representative sample of 2,081 respondents in early 2007. Responses were weighted against the New South Wales population. Multivariate analyses indicated that those with no formal educational qualifications were significantly more likely (OR = 2.10, 95%CI:1.32-3.35, p < 0.001) to think that a terrorist attack is very or extremely likely to occur in Australia and also more likely (OR = 3.62, 95%CI:2.25-5.83, p < 0.001) to be very or extremely concerned that they or a family member would be directly affected, compared to those with a university-level qualification. Speaking a language other than English at home predicted high concern (very/extremely) that self or family would be directly affected (OR = 3.02, 95%CI:2.02-4.53, p < 0.001) and was the strongest predictor of having made associated changes in living (OR = 3.27, 95%CI:2.17-4.93, p < 0.001). Being female predicted willingness to evacuate from public facilities. Speaking a language other than English at home predicted low willingness to evacuate. Low education level is a risk factor for high terrorism risk perception and concerns regarding potential impacts. The pattern of concern and response among those of migrant background may reflect secondary social impacts associated with heightened community threat, rather than the direct threat of terrorism itself. These findings highlight the need for terrorism risk communication and related strategies to address the specific concerns of these sub-groups as a critical underpinning of population-level preparedness.

The War on Terrorism and What We Can Learn from our War with Fire

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

WHITLEY, JOHN B.; YONAS, GEROLD

2002-07-01

The highly leveraged, asymmetric attacks of September 11th have launched the nation on a vast ''War on Terrorism''. Now that our vulnerabilities and the enemies' objectives and determination have been demonstrated, we find ourselves rapidly immersed in a huge, complex problem that is virtually devoid of true understanding while being swamped with resources and proposed technologies for solutions. How do we win this war? How do we make sure that we are making the proper investments? What things or freedoms or rights do we have to give up to win? Where do we even start? In analyzing this problem, manymore » similarities to mankind's battle with uncontrolled fire and the threat it presented to society were noted. Major fires throughout history have destroyed whole cities and caused massive loss of life and property. Solutions were devised that have gradually, over several hundred years, reduced this threat to a level that allows us to co-exist with the threat of fire by applying constant vigilance and investments in fire protection, but without living in constant fear and dread from fire. We have created a multi-pronged approach to fire protection that involves both government and individuals in the prevention, mitigation, and response to fires. Fire protection has become a virtually unnoticed constant in our daily lives; we will have to do the same for terrorism. This paper discusses the history of fire protection and draws analogies to our War on Terrorism. We have, as a society, tackled and successfully conquered a problem as big as terrorism. From this battle, we can learn and take comfort.« less