The course of terrorist acts: analyzing offenses of jihadist-motivated convicts

• In Event: EXTREME Panel 7. Terrorism as a diverse phenomenon

Abstract

There is a broad consensus in research that terrorists are not a homogeneous group. As a result, subgroups have been studied, which have been formed along similar criminal acts or characteristics of the offense. Although terms and classifications such as foreign terrorist fighters, returnees or lone actors have become increasingly common, little attention has been paid to the specific criminal acts of terrorists in terrorism research. Nevertheless, there is also a consensus that, as with radicalization, the offense is an individual process and that changes in the nature of the act can occur over the course of the offence.
This presentation deals with this very (process of) terrorist offenses. The focus will be on frequent sequences found between offenders as well as criminal acts specific to subgroups. The results are based on court judgments of 100 persons convicted under the German Criminal Law on Terrorism in the phenomenon of jihadism.

Author

• Maria-Anna Hirth, Centre for Criminology (KrimZ)