Introducing the Global Terrorism Trends and Analysis Center (GTTAC)

• In Event: Mapping and Responding to Terrorism and Political Violence

Abstract

The U.S. Department of State’s Global Terrorism Trends and Analysis Center (GTTAC) operated by Development Services Group and the Terrorism, Transnational Crime and Corruption Center at George Mason University, aims to transparently document all the terrorist incidents occurring around the world. Leveraging our terrorism, science and systems expertise to support the Bureau of Counterterrorism and Countering Violent Extremism, we are building a terrorism open source database that will use advanced machine learning and research science to collect global terrorism incidents and analyze patterns and trends of terrorist activity, groups, and their tactics. This work has a dual purpose; support the work of the State Department in the production of the congressionally mandated annual reports and Statistical Annex on Terrorism and to continue the research into terrorism and how to prevent it. In this paper we present our first Statistical Annex (for year 2018). Highlights will include changes in the data collection methodology, findings in major trends and analyses over the past 5 years, and a look at the definitions, methods, and other considerations that need to be addressed when documenting modern terrorism activities worldwide.

Authors

• Eoin Healy, Development Services Group, Inc.

• Adam Blackwell, Development Services Group, Inc.

• Marcia Cohen, Development Services Group, Inc.

• Stephen Gies, Development Services Group, Inc.