- Sep 6, 2000
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Some interesting perspective from researchers at National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism (START), showing that most everything you thought about terrorism is exactly wrong:
1. We’re all equally at risk: FALSE Unless you live in a deep blue city, your risk is very low. Nearly 30% of all attacks took place in just 5 counties; Manhattan County, NY (n = 343; 13.1%), followed by Los Angeles County, CA (n = 156; 6.0%), Miami-Dade County, FL (n = 103; 3.9%), San Francisco County, CA (n = 99; 3.8%), and Washington DC (79; 3.0%). The pattern holds even if limiting only to fatal attacks; San Francisco County had the largest number of fatal attacks (n = 22; 9.9%), followed by Manhattan County (n = 15; 6.8%), Los Angeles County (n = 12; 5.4%), Miami-Dade County (n = 10; 4.5%) and Washington DC (n = 8; 3.6%).
2. Islamic fundamentalists are the biggest terrorism concern: FALSE Religiously motivated terrorism is far and away the least common type. Terrorism committed by extremist left wingers (the most common motivation) is 26 times more prevalent than religiously-motivated terror. Guessing right-wing motivation for a terrorist attack is almost always wrong as well, as terrorism by those with extreme right-wing motivations is six times less prevalent than terrorism committed by any of the highest categories of left-wing, ethno-national/separatist, or single-issue motivations.
3.Poverty, racism, and other socio-economic factors are key drivers in terrorism: FALSE Specifically, densely populated areas, areas with a higher proportion of foreign-born residents, a higher proportion of recently foreign-born residents, a higher proportion of non-citizen foreign-born residents, and areas characterized by a higher degree of language diversity are more likely to experience terrorist attacks and ordinary crime. Similarly, residentially stable counties and those with a higher proportion of non-Hispanic white residents are less likely to experience both terrorist attacks and ordinary crime.
4. Private citizens and particularly abortion providers are especially targeted by terrorism: FALSE Businesses are the most frequent targets, followed by Government (General) which doesn’t even include military, police, diplomats, and others who get their own categories and represent the 5th, 6th, and 8th spots. Private Citizens/Property and Abortion-related are a relatively distant third and fourth place, occurring at about one fourth to fifth the rate of businesses depending on timeframe examined.
5. Al Qaeda is the biggest terrorist threat: FALSE Animal rights organizations are by far the most active terror groups currently; with Earth/Animal Liberation Fronts having launched 84 attacks since 2011 compared to 4 for Al Qaeda.
For those needing the tl;dr - Terrorism in the United States is by far most commonly committed in a blue urban area, by someone with extreme left-wing motivations, belonging to an animal rights organization, and against a target that’s a private business.
1. We’re all equally at risk: FALSE Unless you live in a deep blue city, your risk is very low. Nearly 30% of all attacks took place in just 5 counties; Manhattan County, NY (n = 343; 13.1%), followed by Los Angeles County, CA (n = 156; 6.0%), Miami-Dade County, FL (n = 103; 3.9%), San Francisco County, CA (n = 99; 3.8%), and Washington DC (79; 3.0%). The pattern holds even if limiting only to fatal attacks; San Francisco County had the largest number of fatal attacks (n = 22; 9.9%), followed by Manhattan County (n = 15; 6.8%), Los Angeles County (n = 12; 5.4%), Miami-Dade County (n = 10; 4.5%) and Washington DC (n = 8; 3.6%).
2. Islamic fundamentalists are the biggest terrorism concern: FALSE Religiously motivated terrorism is far and away the least common type. Terrorism committed by extremist left wingers (the most common motivation) is 26 times more prevalent than religiously-motivated terror. Guessing right-wing motivation for a terrorist attack is almost always wrong as well, as terrorism by those with extreme right-wing motivations is six times less prevalent than terrorism committed by any of the highest categories of left-wing, ethno-national/separatist, or single-issue motivations.
3.Poverty, racism, and other socio-economic factors are key drivers in terrorism: FALSE Specifically, densely populated areas, areas with a higher proportion of foreign-born residents, a higher proportion of recently foreign-born residents, a higher proportion of non-citizen foreign-born residents, and areas characterized by a higher degree of language diversity are more likely to experience terrorist attacks and ordinary crime. Similarly, residentially stable counties and those with a higher proportion of non-Hispanic white residents are less likely to experience both terrorist attacks and ordinary crime.
4. Private citizens and particularly abortion providers are especially targeted by terrorism: FALSE Businesses are the most frequent targets, followed by Government (General) which doesn’t even include military, police, diplomats, and others who get their own categories and represent the 5th, 6th, and 8th spots. Private Citizens/Property and Abortion-related are a relatively distant third and fourth place, occurring at about one fourth to fifth the rate of businesses depending on timeframe examined.
5. Al Qaeda is the biggest terrorist threat: FALSE Animal rights organizations are by far the most active terror groups currently; with Earth/Animal Liberation Fronts having launched 84 attacks since 2011 compared to 4 for Al Qaeda.
For those needing the tl;dr - Terrorism in the United States is by far most commonly committed in a blue urban area, by someone with extreme left-wing motivations, belonging to an animal rights organization, and against a target that’s a private business.
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