NCJ Number
79680
Date Published
Unknown
Length
0 pages
Annotation
The strategies used by terrorists during their trials to further their cause, attract publicity, and incite sympathizers are detailed by a West German attorney who was in charge of security operations at the 1972 Munich Olympics. Then an American attorney describes an effective command structure for confronting terrorists in crisis situations.
Abstract
The first speaker, Reinhart Rupprecht, instructs his audience of police officers and attorneys that terrorists' aims are to denigrate the state and defame state representatives, to delay the trial, and to embarrass witnesses and others by questioning them about trivialities. Since the defense attorney generally shares the political viewpoints of the terrorists, the terrorists depend on the counsel for communication with other sympathizers and ultimately with their comrades in prison as a means of effectively disciplining or organizing them. Since the terrorists' aim is to escape confinement, the state should act to prevent the assignment of terrorists belonging to the same group to the same prison. Witnesses can also be coached on how to behave in court so that unnecessary court delays are avoided. The second speaker, Lennard Wolfe, an American attorney, uses a chart to illustrate the command structure in crisis confrontations and emphasizes that crisis units should coordinate their activities with other agencies, such as the fire department. Police and others involved should also work out mechanisms to meet constitutional guarantees concerning human rights since the American Civil Liberties Union and other organizations will watch carefully the activities of police in this area.