Terrorism

Types of Terrorism

• Domestic terrorism: terrorist acts committed in the perpetrator's own country against their fellow citizens, e.g. Oklahoma City Bombing.
• International terrorism: violent, criminal acts committed by individuals and/or groups inspired by or associated with designated foreign terrorist organizations or nations (state-sponsored), e.g. 9/11.

CIA Recognized Terrorist Groups

• The CIA recognizes over 60 terrorist groups designated by the US State Department as Foreign Terrorist Organizations that are currently active.
• The CIA also recognizes 10 non-designated, self-proclaimed branches and affiliates of the Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS) as currently active.

Al-Qa'ida (AQ)

• Formed under Usama BIN LADIN (UBL) in 1988, now one of the largest and longest-operating jihadist organizations in the world.
• Helped finance, recruit, transport, and train fighters for the Afghan resistance against the former Soviet Union in the 1980s.
• Merged with al-Jihad (Egyptian Islamic Jihad) in June 2001.
• Developed a reputation for carrying out large-scale, mass casualty attacks against civilians.
• Has lost dozens of mid- and senior-level operatives to counterterrorism efforts, but continues to recruit, plan, inspire, and conduct attacks.
• Has established affiliated organizations in the Middle East, Africa, and Asia.
• Tied to the Taliban in Afghanistan and remained active there into 2024.

Al-Qa'ida Targets, Tactics, and Weapons

• Considers its enemies to be Shia Muslims, US and Western interests, "apostate" governments, and the Islamic State.
• Targets have included embassies, restaurants, hotels, airplanes, trains, and tourist sites.
• Employs a combination of guerrilla warfare and terrorist tactics against security and military forces.
• Known for use of suicide bombers, car bombs, explosive-laden boats, and airplanes.
• Conducted the September 11, 2001 attacks on the US, killing nearly 3,000 people.

Al-Shabaab (AS)

• Descended from Al-Ittihad Al-Islami, a Somali terrorist group whose leaders fought in Afghanistan in the 1990s.
• Operated as a core al-Qa'ida affiliate since 2012.
• Was the militant wing of the former Somali Islamic Courts Council that took over parts of Somalia in 2006.
• Engaged in an insurgency against the transitional governments of Somalia and supporting foreign military forces.
• Responsible for numerous high-profile bombings and shootings throughout Somalia, causing over 3,000 civilian deaths since 2015.

Al-Shabaab Targets, Tactics, and Weapons

• Targets Somali Government officials, military units, police, and civilians, international aid workers, journalists, and foreign troops.
• Has attacked hotels, schools, military bases, police stations, shopping areas, and telecommunications towers in Kenya.
• Employs suicide bombings, guerrilla warfare, and terrorist tactics against security and military forces.
• Uses a combination of small arms, light and heavy machine guns, mortars, rocket-propelled grenades, and improvised explosive devices.

HAMAS

• Established in 1987 as an outgrowth of the Palestinian branch of the Muslim Brotherhood.
• Prior to 2005, conducted numerous attacks against Israel, including more than 50 suicide bombings.
• Won the Palestinian Legislative Council elections in 2006, giving it control of significant Palestinian Authority (PA) ministries in Gaza.
• Expelled the PA and its dominant political faction Fatah in a violent takeover in 2007.
• Since 2007, engaged in sporadic rocket attacks, border clashes, organized protests, and periodic targeted attacks against Israeli citizens.

HAMAS Targets, Tactics, and Weapons

• Targets Israeli military forces and civilians, as well as Islamic State and other Salafist armed group members based in Gaza.
• Conducted suicide bombings, improvised explosive attacks, shootings, and rocket launches.
• Fired more than 4,000 rockets at Israel during both the 50-day conflict in 2014 and the 11-day conflict in 2021.
• Uses a variety of weapons, including small arms, light and heavy machine guns, rockets, mortars, rocket-propelled grenades, and man-portable air defense systems.

Terrorist Threats in the US

• According to the Homeland Security 2024 Threat Assessment, terrorist groups like al-Qa'ida and ISIS are seeking to rebuild overseas.
• Foreign terrorist groups maintain worldwide networks of supporters that could seek to target the US.
• Iran is expected to remain the primary sponsor of terrorism and continue its efforts to advance plots against individuals in the US.
• American terrorist "hot spots" (at risk for attack) include Maricopa County (Phoenix, AZ), Harris County (Houston, TX), New York County (Manhattan, NY), Los Angeles County (Los Angeles, CA), Miami-Dade County (Miami, FL), San Francisco County (San Francisco, CA), and Washington, DC.

Bomb Threats and Explosions

• If you receive a telephoned bomb threat, get as much information from the caller as possible, keep the caller on the line, and record everything that is said.
• If there is an explosion, get under a sturdy table or desk, watch for obviously weakened floors and stairways, and leave the building as quickly as possible.
• Do not stop to retrieve personal possessions or make phone calls.
• Do not use elevators.
• Once you are out, do not stand in front of windows, glass doors, or other potentially hazardous areas.