NCJ Number
103121
Date Published
1986
Length
263 pages
Annotation
This book describes the tactics, personnel, resources, aims, ideologies, and incidents of terrorism in the 1980's throughout the world.
Abstract
Terrorist groups are categorized and examined according to their declared aims. Islamic Shi'ite terrorists, inspired if not directed from Iran, are discussed as suicidal religious fanatics whose most dramatic tactics of suicide bombings and hostagetakings have occurred in Lebanon. The Islamic Jihad's organization and activities are discussed, notably their suicide bombings and the hijacking of TWA flight 847 from Athens in 1985. The review of terrorism in Europe focuses on leftist groups committed to eliminating the North Atlantic Treaty Organization's military presence in Europe by killing its representatives and taking hostages. Nationalist terrorist groups in Spain and Northern Ireland are distinguished from the aforementioned groups by their aims if not their methods. Other groups examined are the Palestinian groups; groups in Sri Lanka, India, and Latin America; and small terrorist groups that do not conveniently fit any of the aforementioned categories. The Soviet link to terrorist groups is addressed, followed by a dictionary of terrorist organizations and personnel categorized by country. A chronology of terrorist incidents from 1968 to 1985 is provided. 14-item select bibliography and subject index.