Accession Number:

ADA556986

Title:

Terrorist Innovations in Weapons of Mass Effect: Preconditions, Causes, and Predictive Indicators

Descriptive Note:

Workshop rept.

Corporate Author:

NAVAL POSTGRADUATE SCHOOL MONTEREY CA

Personal Author(s):

• Rasmussen, Maria J.
• Hafez, Mohammed M.

Report Date:

2010-10-01

Pagination or Media Count:

211.0

Abstract:

Innovation is a constant feature of terrorism, yet little is known about how terrorists innovate, the factors that drive them to innovate, and the indicators that could help predict their trajectory toward innovation. On August 5-6, 2010, experts gathered for a workshop sponsored by the Defense Threat Reduction Agency, Advanced Systems and Concepts Office DTRA-ASCO, to discuss the preconditions, causes, and predictive indicators associated with terrorist innovation in weapons of mass effect WMEs.1 They presented their research findings on seven historical and contemporary cases of terrorist innovation, ranging from airplane hijackings by the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine PFLP to the current threat emanating from Al-Qaedas mass casualty attacks. These case studies generated a number of generalizations about what motivates innovation, how terrorists come to innovate, and whether it is possible to anticipate innovations in WME terrorism.

Descriptors:

• *TERRORISM
• CASE STUDIES
• HISTORY
• MASS DESTRUCTION WEAPONS
• THREATS

Subject Categories:

• Government and Political Science

Distribution Statement:

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE