Lone wolf terrorist attacks are not on the rise as popular culture might lead one to believe — but the attacks are changing for the worse, according to research by an Indiana State University professor.
“We find no evidence that lone wolf terrorism is increasing,” said Mark Hamm, criminology professor and terrorism expert. Before the attacks of 11 September 2001, Hamm counts thirty-eight cases of lone wolf terrorism — many cases involving multiple attacks, and in the past thirteen years, he isolated forty-five cases, most of which were single attacks.
No decade was deadlier than the 1990s — mostly because of the 1996 Olympics bombing, anti-abortion bombers, the return of the Unabomber and mass shooter Colin Ferguson, Hamm said.
An Indiana State University release reports that Hamm found that the targets, weapons, and motives have changed in recent years. Before 9/11, these terrorists used bombs, but now high-velocity firearms are the weapon of choice, he said. The change might be a result of legislation enacted after the Oklahoma City bombing limiting the public’s access to bomb-making ingredients.
No comments:
Post a Comment