The terrorist actor
-Perpetrators of a politically violent incident
-Includes people who assist with carrying out the attack
-Terror actors have the intent to bring violence into play and the capability to carry out the attack
The terrorist organization
-A structure committed to a defined terror cause or purpose
-This is a dark network - the organizations details are secret
-The organization provides support and gets credit for the attack
The supporters
-Patrons or persons who provide a supportive environment or apparatus
-This includes material and immaterial support
-The supporter stops short of carrying out or directly enabling the act
How could you be a supporter but not an actor?
-Giving a group a place to meet
-Giving money to a cause
-Repeating the groups main message
-Openly voicing your support for the groups actions
Ideological supporters
-Hold beliefs and views that align with the terrorist organization
-Does not have to be an exact match of beliefs
-Repeat the official message of the terror organization
-Lend weight and importance to the organization
-The most common type of supporter
Financial supporters
-Provide money through direct contributions, fundraisers, or the purchase
-Some donors may not be aware their money is financially supporting a terror organization
-They may believe they are donating to a different relief fund
-After 9/11 the US focused m
Logistical or material supporters
-Individuals who provide direct material or support
-May provide training on weapons and tactics
-May provide actual supplies
-Logistical/Material supporters KNOW they are in direct support of the organization
The victim
-victim of political violence
-rarely sympathize with the perpetrator
Targeted and Primary Victims
anyone who is killed or wounded in the event
Indirect Victims
family and communities of those impacted by the event
Can a country be a targeted/primary victim?
-Yes!
-Often the intended victim of a terrorist attack is the country (or government of that country)
Secondary victims
-Responders and other personnel who deal with the event
-Can sometimes be a target in a secondary event type of attack
-Media who cover attacks may become secondary victims
Secondary event
the primary event pulls in first responders, and a second attack targets them during the response
Global victims
-In extraordinary events the global community becomes impacted by the horror of the event
-Social and traditional media can serve as amplifiers of these events, influencing a global response
Economic victims
Individuals, organizations, and governments wo experience financial loss due to the attack
The interpreters
-People who explain the who, where, when, what, why, and how of the event
-The media are the strongest interpreters
-Examples: news channels, magazines, historians, lobbyists, parents to children, and actual attack perpetrator
Respected Interpreters
-Authors and academics: education in the long form - through books, articles, lectures, and educational platforms
-Armchair Generals: an expert in a given area who lends their perspective to an event; someone with credentials and real world experience who
Least trusted interpreters
-policy makers and politicians: policy makers will use terrorism events to change programs and guidelines; this often includes dramatic financial changes and costs; politicians will use terror events to emphasize their position on a political aspect of te
Facilitators
-people systems, or organizations that serve as communication pathways and hubs for delivering information
-often just serve to repeat information, but may include an interpretation as well
-i.e. social media
-usually include trusted or known senders and
People as facilitators
-Six degrees of separation allows for an emphasis on rumors and milling (the seeking of information)
-allows the spreading of opinions and idead, often without merit, that become "legitimatized"
-notoriously unreliable