A Situated Comparison of Suicide and Non-Suicide Terrorist Plots and Homicides in The U.S. Between 1990 and 2014

• In Event: Modern Day Terrorism

Abstract

Suicide terrorism remains a significant concern following the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. Though research on terrorism has increased in the post 9/11 era, many prior studies focus on international attacks and lack comparisons of suicide and non-suicide attacks. In this study, we rely on data from the U.S. Extremist Crime Database to comparatively examine the nature of situated opportunities for suicide and non-suicide plots and attacks in the United States. Included in our data are jihadist and extreme far-right violent plots that were successfully completed, failed, and foiled by law enforcement. Drawing from opportunity theories of crime and terrorism, we test whether key elements of suicide terrorist plots and attacks are distinguishable from those of non-suicide plots and attacks. Employing multiple imputation methods and logistic regression models, preliminary findings indicate significant differences in the number of offenders involved in plots, offender ideology, plot successfulness, and target location. Policy implications, data limitations and future research are discussed.

Authors

• Brent Klein, Michigan State University

• Jeff Gruenewald, Indiana University-Purdue University, Indianapolis

• William Parkin, Seattle University

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

• Steven M. Chermak, Michigan State University