Benign to Explosive: A Geospatial Analysis of Environmental and Animal Rights Extremist Incidents, 2005-2015

• In Event: A Better Understanding of the Variation in Terrorist Activity

Abstract

The FBI has considered environmental and animal rights extremists a domestic terrorist threat since the mid-nineties. These groups have been responsible for a variety of crimes ranging between misdemeanor offenses (vandalism) to violent offenses (arsons and bombings). While research offers some empirical assessment, relatively little work assesses the geospatial characteristics of these two extremist movements. Using data from the U.S. Extremist Crime Database and publicly available websites, the current project presents geospatial analyses of environmental and animal rights extremism from 2005 to 2015. A key objective of this project assesses how geographical characteristics influence the severity of these extremist attacks. Results and policy implications will be discussed.

Authors

• Celinet Duran Jimenez, The Graduate Center, John Jay College / CUNY

• Joshua D. Freilich, The Graduate Center, John Jay College / CUNY

• Steven M. Chermak, Michigan State University