Table 1. Acts of international terrorism in 2004, according to groups and organisations
Groups and organizations |
Frequency |
Percentage |
Taliban |
73 |
35.1 |
Tawhid wal Jihad |
30 |
14.4 |
Islamic Army in Iraq |
12 |
5.8 |
Ansar al Sunna |
11 |
5.3 |
Al Qaeda |
10 |
4.8 |
Lashkar e Tayiba |
10 |
4.8 |
Tanzim Qa’idat al Jihad fi Bilad al Rafidayn |
10 |
4.8 |
Riyadus Salikhin Battalion of Chechen Martyrs |
9 |
4.3 |
Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat |
6 |
2.9 |
Al Qaeda in the Arabian Penninsula |
5 |
2.4 |
Abu Sayyaf |
4 |
1.9 |
Jaish e Mohammed |
4 |
1.9 |
Harakat ul Mudjaheedin |
3 |
1.4 |
Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan |
3 |
1.4 |
Lashkar e Jangvi |
3 |
1.4 |
Abu Hafs al Masri Brigades |
2 |
1.0 |
Yemaa Islamiya |
2 |
1.0 |
Al Haramain Brigades |
1 |
0.5 |
Other groups and organizations |
10 |
4.9 |
|
|
|
Total |
208 |
(100) |
Table 2. Acts of international terrorism in 2004, according to countries and geopolitical regions
Countries |
Frequency |
Percentage |
Afghanistan |
75 |
36.1 |
Iraq |
64 |
30.7 |
India |
15 |
7.2 |
Saudi Arabia |
13 |
6.3 |
Pakistan |
10 |
4.8 |
Russia |
9 |
4.3 |
Algeria |
6 |
2.9 |
The Philippines |
5 |
2.4 |
Spain |
3 |
1.4 |
Uzbekistan |
3 |
1.4 |
Turkey |
2 |
1.0 |
Egypt |
1 |
0.5 |
Indonesia |
1 |
0.5 |
Syria |
1 |
0.5 |
|
|
|
Total |
208 |
(100) |
Geopolitical regions |
|
|
Central and Southern Asia |
103 |
49.5 |
Middle East and Gulf |
81 |
38.9 |
Eastern Europe |
9 |
4.3 |
Maghreb |
6 |
2.9 |
South-East Asia |
6 |
2.9 |
Western Europe |
3 |
1.5 |
|
|
|
Total |
208 |
(100) |
Current international terrorism is often presented as a particularly novel phenomenon: first of all, due to its high degree of deadliness and the indiscrimination with which attacks are conducted. Secondly, because of the routine involvement of suicide bombers in terrorist attacks. Finally, because of its focus on Western targets, especially US citizens and interests. Actually, the rhetoric of the leaders and followers of this international terrorism based on the global jihadist movement underlines the deadly potential of their threats, appeals for activists to carry out what they consider to be martyrdom operations and insists on an anti-Western discourse that is particularly hostile towards Jews and Christians. However, although a certain combination of these features considered to be typical of international terrorism, and also proclaimed by its instigators, is usual in the most spectacular attacks that have taken place over the last few years, such globalised violence has been evolving, as revealed by the data collected for 2004, with lower mortality rates and far more conventional procedures than expected, also with victimisation patterns that are different from those often taken for granted.
Table 3. Acts of international terrorism in 2004, according to dead and injured
Dead |
Frequency |
Percentage |
None |
56 |
28.6 |
Between 1 and 10 |
107 |
54.6 |
Between 11 and 40 |
19 |
9.7 |
Between 41 and 99 |
9 |
4.6 |
Between 100 and 199 |
4 |
2.0 |
200 and over |
1 |
0.5 |
|
|
|
Total Missing data: 12 |
196 |
(100) |
|
|
|
Injured |
|
|
None |
76 |
42.9 |
Between 1 and 10 |
64 |
36.2 |
Between 11 and 40 |
20 |
11.3 |
Between 41 and 99 |
5 |
2.8 |
Between 100 and 199 |
7 |
4.0 |
200 and over |
5 |
2.8 |
|
|
|
Total Missing data: 31 |
177 |
(100) |
Table 4. Acts of international terrorism in 2004, according to procedures and modalities
Procedure |
Frequency |
Percentage |
Bombs and explosive devices |
92 |
45.5 |
Terrorist attacks with firearms |
48 |
23.8 |
Kidnapping and hostage taking |
41 |
20.3 |
Other procedures |
21 |
10.4 |
|
|
|
Total Missing data: 6 |
202 |
(100) |
Modality |
|
|
Without suicide terrorists |
158 |
83.6 |
With suicide terrorists |
31 |
16.4 |
|
|
|
Total Missing data: 19 |
189 |
(100) |
Table 5. Acts of international terrorism in 2004, according to target type and adscription
Type |
Frequency |
Percentage |
Law enforcement and military |
43 |
21.6 |
Government institutions and personnel |
38 |
19.1 |
Economic and tourist interests |
31 |
15.6 |
Private citizens and property |
24 |
12.1 |
Public transports and services |
16 |
8.0 |
Diplomatic targets |
11 |
5.5 |
Religious bodies and figures |
6 |
3.0 |
Other types of targets |
30 |
15.1 |
|
|
|
Total Missing data: 9 |
199 |
(100) |
Adscription |
|
|
Non-Western |
107 |
60.8 |
Western (American) |
18 |
10.2 |
Western (other nationalities) |
26 |
14.8 |
Western (mixed) |
4 |
2.3 |
Western and non-Western |
15 |
8.5 |
Others (United Nations) |
6 |
3.4 |
|
|
|
Total Missing data: 32 |
176 |
(100) |
Both the high frequency and the variable intensity of the attacks perpetrated during 2004 are a good example of the violent potential retained by the groups and organisations which form part of the current network of international terrorism. It is plausible to assert that al-Qaeda, the foundational nucleus and acting vanguard for the multinational and multiethnic entities involved in such globalised violence, might have been progressively weakened over the last three years, after losing its sanctuary and suffering from the consequences of a world-wide persecution. But it can also be argued that this terrorist structure appears to have adapted more easily than expected to an adverse environment. Moreover, the global neosalafist jihad it promoted has become widely extended. Acts of international terrorism are mainly perpetrated by groups and organisations having a local or regional focus but affiliated with al-Qaeda. As the data for 2004 reflect, the danger is now one of a diffuse and diversified violence executed by al-Qaeda itself, its numerous associated entities and even small self-established cells which operate in line with the former’s goals and methods.
Within Western societies, this diffuse jihadist violence manifested itself last year through deadly attacks against soft targets and there is no reason to believe the trend will change, combined perhaps with individual assassinations, as in the case of a well-known Dutch film-maker in November 2004. International terrorist activities in 2004 were congruent with the strategy designed years ago by the leaders of al-Qaeda and which consists in deploying its violence both in the Islamic world, allegedly against rulers considered by neosalafists to be apostates and tyrants, and beyond. However, despite the anti-Western rhetoric so characteristic of groups and organisations related to the global jihadist movement, the data offered in this study make it clear that international terrorism poses risks and threats to societies pertaining to different civilisations.
This article appeared in Real Instituto Elcano. I have only reproduced some of its content. The rest is here.
This is fascinating data. When you do something like this, it makes me realize how truly limited I am with just one language.
Well, it’s never too late to begin learning a new language…
And yes, the data are very important.
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