In November 2004, a Secretary-General of the United Nations report described terrorism as

any act "intended to cause death or serious bodily harm to civilians or non-combatants with
the purpose of intimidating a population or compelling a government or an international
organization to do or abstain from doing any act"
[https://www.un.org/sc/ctc/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/2006_01_26_cted_lecture.pdf]
(Page 7 Paragraph 2)

UK Crown Prosecution Service definition and charge list

https://www.cps.gov.uk/terrorism

Types of Terrorism

Revolutionary terrorism
Such as the French revolution (1793-1795) refers to the institutionalized application of force
to counterrevolutionaries

Nationalist-separatist terrorism
Nationalist-separatist terrorism is motivated by nationalism which seeks to gain greater
autonomy or to establish greater independence or a sovereign state.

Religious Extremist terrorism

Religious terrorism is Terrorism carried out based on motivations and goals that may have a
predominantly religious character or influence.
Since 1980, however, there has been an increase in terrorist activity motivated by religion
[https://doi.org/10.1080/09546559708427399]

Right wing terrorism

Right-wing terrorism or far-right terrorism is terrorism that is motivated by a variety of
different right-wing and far-right ideologies, such as seen in neo-Nazism and white
separatism.
Examples are groups such as national action and has been a proscribed organisation in the
UK under the Terrorism Act 2000 since 16th December 2016
[https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2019/sep/05/rise-in-rightwing-extremists-held-under-
anti-terror-laws-in-uk]

Left wing terrorism

Left-wing terrorism or Far-left terrorism (sometimes called Marxist–Leninist terrorism)
is terrorism meant to overthrow capitalist systems and replace them with Marxist-Leninist or
socialist societies.
State sponsored terrorism
State-sponsored terrorism is government support of violent non-state actors engaged in acts
of terrorism or those countries whom have repeatedly provided support for acts of
international terrorism. The United States Department of State identifies the following
countries as doing such:
Libya, Iraq, South Yemen, Syria, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Sudan

North Korea, In November 1987, North Korean operatives apparently destroyed Korean
Airlines Flight 858, which exploded in Myanmar (Burma), The North Korea government has
since renounced its sponsorship of terrorism

Methods of Terrorism
https://www.mi5.gov.uk/terrorist-methods

Explosive devices
These can be delivered to their targets in vehicles, by post or by a person.An explosive device
within a vehicle is a common means of attack for some terrorist groups. Car bombs were
frequently used by the IRA during the Troubles in Northern Ireland. International terrorist
groups such as Al Qaida and the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) often use suicide
operatives in vehicles to improve the likelihood of the explosives detonating at the required
moment.
Suicide bombers also carry an explosive device into the vicinity of a target individual or
location. In Ankara in October 2015, for example, two people detonated suicide belts killing
102 people and injuring more than 500 others.In December 2001, Richard Reid was thwarted
in his attempt to bring down an airliner with a small improvised explosive device concealed
in his shoes. In October 2015, a Metro jet flight from Sharm el-Sheikh to St Petersburg broke
apart in the air, killing 224 people. The Sinai branch of ISIL claimed responsibility for the
incident and ISIL later published photographs of the bomb that it alleged had been used.
Dissident republican groups in Northern Ireland continue to use a range of explosive devices.
In 2011 an under-vehicle device was responsible for the death of Constable Ronan Kerr in
Omagh, and several other such devices have been deployed since. Pipe bombs and radio-
controlled, victim-operated and postal explosive devices have also been used in Northern
Ireland recently.

Shootings and close quarter attacks

Terrorist groups have orchestrated a number of shootings and close quarter attacks targeting
Westerners, in the Middle East, North Africa and Europe. In June 2015, Islamic State of Iraq
and the Levant (ISIL) claimed responsibility for an attack on the Port El-Kantaoui tourist
resort in Sousse, Tunisia. 38 people were killed, most of whom were tourists, including 30
British nationals. In January 2015, brothers Said and Cherif Kouachi entered the Paris office
of satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo armed with assault weapons, killing 12 people and
wounding many more. They claimed the attack on behalf of Al Qaida in the Arabian
Peninsula (AQAP). A day later, a friend of the Kouachi brothers, Amedy Coulibaly, shot and
killed an unarmed
police officer. The following day he entered a kosher supermarket and killed four more
people. Coulibaly claimed the attacks on behalf of ISIL.
In September 2014, ISIL released a speech calling for lone actor attacks against the West.
This provided sanction for those inspired by ISIL to conduct attacks without any further
reference to the group, stating that it's not necessary to travel to Syria to join ISIL:
individuals can carry out attacks on the group's behalf and be recognised as a member. On 14
February, Omar Abdel El-Hussein attacked a freedom of speech debate at the Krudttonden
cafe in Copenhagen, killing one attendee and injuring three police officers. Later the same
day, he killed a security guard and injured two more police officers at the Great Synagogue.
El-Hussein indicated that his actions were inspired by ISIL.
In November 2015, a terrorist cell conducted a series of coordinated attacks in Paris, using
firearms and suicide bombs. The attackers targeted the Bataclan Theatre, the Stade de France
and a number of cafes and restaurants, killing 130 people and injuring 368 more. ISIL
claimed responsibility for the attacks the following day. This was the most sophisticated
western attack carried out by ISIL, involving at least nine operatives and using multiple
weapons including automatic firearms and person-borne improvised explosive devices
(PBIEDs). Dissident republican groups have also used firearms in their attacks against the
security forces in Northern Ireland. These have included the murders of Sappers Mark
Quinsey and Patrick Azimkar outside Massereene Barracks in 2009, Constable Stephen
Carroll in 2009, and prison officer David Black near Lurgan in November 2012.

Kidnappings
Islamist groups in conflict zones around the world actively seek to kidnap Western nationals
for financial and propaganda gain. In the latter half of 2014, ISIL released videos claiming to
show the murders of, amongst others, UK nationals David Haines and Alan Henning.
Through these, ISIL hoped to spread fear and attempted to show its strength over the West.
As well as in Syria and Iraq, the kidnap threat persists in Yemen and parts of West, North and
East Africa where Islamist groups are active.

Surface to air missiles

An unsuccessful surface-to-air missile attack was attempted on an Israeli charter plane
departing from Mombasa, Kenya, in November 2002, using a shoulder-launched Man-
Portable Air Defence System (MANPADS). Similar attacks have been carried out against
coalition aircraft in Iraq.

Chemical, biological and radiological (CBR) devices

To date, no such attacks have taken place in the UK. Alternative methods of attack, such as
explosive devices, are more reliable, safer and easier for terrorists to acquire or use.
Nevertheless, it is possible that Al Qaida, ISIL or other terrorist groups may seek to use
chemical, biological or radiological material against the West.
In April 2005, Kamel Bourgass, an Algerian with known links to Al Qaida, was convicted of
plotting to manufacture and spread poisons, including ricin, in the UK. Bourgass was
sentenced to life in prison for the plot, and for fatally stabbing a police officer during his
arrest.
Modern threats from terrorism

Bioweapons
https://www.who.int/csr/delibepidemics/disease/en/
https://www.thelancet.com/journals/laninf/article/PIIS1473-3099(18)30709-6/fulltext

Any infectious agents or toxic chemical could in theory be engineered for deliberate use as
a weapon. Experts in this field believe that anthrax, botulism, plague, smallpox and
tularaemia are the pathogens most likely to be used.

Cyberterrorism
https://web.archive.org/web/20140310162011/http://www.cs.georgetown.edu/~denning/infos
ec/cyberterror.html
The following three levels of cyber terror capability are defined by Monterey group in a
report to the Special Oversight Panel on Terrorism Committee on Armed Services of the U.S.
House of Representatives by Dorothy E. Denning, Georgetown University on May 23, 2000

 Simple-Unstructured: The capability to conduct basic hacks against individual systems

using tools created by someone else. The organization possesses little target analysis,
command, and control, or learning capability.
 Advanced-Structured: The capability to conduct more sophisticated attacks against
multiple systems or networks and possibly, to modify or create basic hacking tools. The
organization possesses an elementary target analysis, command and control, and learning
capability.
 Complex-Coordinated: The capability for a coordinated attack capable of causing mass-
disruption against integrated, complex defence (including cryptography). Ability to create
sophisticated hacking tools. Highly capable target analysis, command, and control, and
organization learning capability.

Yet the report concluded with the following “whether they were sufficiently harmful or
frightening to be classified as cyberterrorism is a judgement call. To the best of my
knowledge, no attack so far has led to violence or injury to persons, although some may have
intimidated their victims.”

Current methods of counterterrorism

Counter-terrorism measures can directly undermine human rights and freedoms, involving
deportation, trial without jury, mass surveillance and data retention
https://www.un.org/en/universal-declaration-human-rights/

Article 9. No one shall be subjected to arbitrary arrest, detention or exile.

Article 10. Everyone is entitled in full equality to a fair and public hearing by an independent
and impartial tribunal, in the determination of his rights and obligations and of any criminal
charge against him.
Article 11. (1) Everyone charged with a penal offence has the right to be presumed innocent
until proved guilty according to law in a public trial at which he has had all the guarantees
necessary for his defence.
Article 12.
No one shall be subjected to arbitrary interference with his privacy, family, home or
correspondence, nor to attacks upon his honour and reputation. Everyone has the right to the
protection of the law against such interference or attacks.

CONTEST: the UK’s response to terrorism through PREVENT

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data
/file/716907/140618_CCS207_CCS0218929798-1_CONTEST_3.0_WEB.pdf (Page 27)

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/file/716907/140618_CCS207_CCS0218929798-1_CONTEST_3.0_WEB.pdf (Page 32)