Tactics and Targets of Terrorist Organizations: What Groups Suffer the Most Casualties?

• In Event: Terrorism Targets and Trends Across the Globe

Abstract

Despite being a top priority on government agendas for the past few decades, it appears that no counterterrorism policies have been successful in combatting terrorist groups. Thousands of terrorist attacks and fatalities are still being recorded each year by terrorism databases. For instance, in 2023, the Global Terrorism and Trends Analysis Center (GTTAC) Records of Incidents Database (GRID) documented 7,480 terrorist attacks that led to the death of 23,119 individuals. The decapitation and crushing strategies aim to increase the capacity of military and law enforcement to respond to terrorist groups effectively. One indicator of capacity is related to the number of perpetrators killed in terror attacks. Terrorist organizations, thanks to their preparedness, training, and planning, kill more civilians, military, and law enforcement than they have suffered casualties during the terror attacks. This paper uses GRID and discusses terror suffering with the most casualties in comparative perspective.

Author

• Mahmut Cengiz, George Mason University