This article analyzes the sociodemographic network characteristics and antecedent behaviors of 119 lone-actor terrorists. marks a departure from existing analyses by largely focusing upon behavioral aspects each offender. also examines whether terrorists differ based on their ideologies or connectivity. The analysis leads to seven conclusions. There was no uniform profile identified. In time leading up most terrorist events, other people generally knew about offender's grievance, extremist...

We test whether significant differences in mental illness exist a matched sample of lone-and group-based terrorists.We then there are distinct behavioral between lone-actor terrorists with and without illness.We stratify our across range diagnoses again exist.We conduct series bivariate, multivariate, multinomial statistical tests using unique dataset 119 terrorists.The odds terrorist having is 13.49 times higher than the group actor illness.Lone actors who were mentally ill 18.07 more...

Research Summary Public interest and policy debates surrounding the role of Internet in terrorist activities is increasing. Criminology has said very little on matter. By using a unique data set 223 convicted United Kingdom–based terrorists, this article focuses how they used commission their crimes. As most samples offenders vary terms capabilities (lone‐actor vs. group offenders) criminal sophistication (improvised explosive devices stabbings), we tested whether affordances sought from...

This research note argues that the "lone wolf" typology should be fundamentally reconsidered. Based on a three-year empirical project, two key points are made to support this argument. First, authors found ties online and offline radical milieus critical lone actors' adoption maintenance of both motive capability commit acts terrorism. Second, in terms pre-attack behaviors, majority actors not stealthy highly capable terrorists moniker alludes to. These findings only urge reconsideration...

Recent research on lone-actor terrorism has found a high prevalence of mental health disorders among these offenders. This note addresses two shortcomings in existing studies. First, it investigates whether selection effects are present the process terrorist recruits. Second, builds argument that problems and behavior should not be treated as yes/no dichotomy. Descriptive results outlined utilizing number unique datasets.

For the past 40 years, researchers studied relationship between mental disorder and terrorist involvement. The literature developed in 4 paradigms, each of which differs terms their empirical evidence, specific disorders studied, conceptualizations These paradigms have not, however, witnessed linear incremental improvements upon 1 another. Although paradigm has generally tended to dominate a temporal period, many false assumptions incorrect interpretations earlier work permeate into today's...

The Lone-Actor Terrorist and the TRAP-18 Lone actor terrorism is considered a major national security threat in both North America Europe.Although focus has been on violent Islamic jihadists, most recently recruitment attacks by individuals inspired ISIS, such threats come from extremes, regardless of ideology.As Pascal wrote over three centuries ago, "les extremes se touchent," meet (Paul, 1905, p. 22).For example, despite inordinate attention paid to jihadist violence United States, there...

Abstract Terrorist organizations are both imitative and innovative in character. While the drivers of imitation have been extensively modeled using concepts such as contagion diffusion, creativity innovation remain relatively underdeveloped ideas context terrorist behavior. This article seeks to redress this deficiency by presenting a conceptual framework with which we can understand complex nature multiple within organizations. The overriding questions address are: what factors spark...

This article provides an in-depth assessment of lone actor terrorists' attack planning and preparation. A codebook 198 variables related to different aspects pre-attack behavior is applied a sample 55 terrorists. Data were drawn from open-source materials complemented where possible with primary sources. Most actors are not highly lethal or surreptitious attackers. They generally poor at maintaining operational security, leak their motivations capabilities in numerous ways, do so months even...

This study analyzes the effects of conspiracy beliefs on violent extremist intentions. More specifically, we investigate whether relationship between and extremism depends upon individual characteristics such as varying levels self-efficacy, self-control, law-relevant morality. Variable interactions examine where exert strong The analysis is based a German nationally representative survey (N = 1502). To our knowledge, it first only carried out in research.Our results confirm that stronger...

This systematic review assesses the impact of mental health problems upon attitudes, intentions and behaviours in context radicalisation terrorism. We identified 25 studies that measured rates across 28 samples. The prevalence are heterogenous range from 0% to 57%. If we pool results those samples (n = 19) purely focused confirmed diagnoses where sample sizes known 1705 subjects), suggest arate 14.4% with aconfirmed diagnosis. Where relied wholly, or some form, privileged access police...

This paper outlines the sociodemographic, developmental, antecedent attack, attack preparation, and commission properties of 115 mass murderers between 1990 2014. The results indicate that murderer attacks are usually culmination a complex mix personal, political, social drivers crystalize at same time to drive individual down path violent action. We specifically focus upon areas related prior criminal engagement, leakage, location familiarity. Whether violence comes fruition is combination...

Abstract Improvements have been made in identifying the prevalence of risk factors/indicators for violent extremism. A consistent problem is lack base rates. How to develop rates equal concern. This study has two aims: (i) compare methods developing rates; Unmatched Count Technique (UCT) and direct questioning, (ii) generate a general population sample these lone‐actor terrorists (n = 125). We surveyed 2108 subjects from population. Participants were recruited an online access panel randomly...

In this paper, a unique dataset of improvised explosive device attacks during “The Troubles” in Northern Ireland (NI) is analysed via Hawkes process model. It found that past dependent model good fit to yielding key insights about the nature terrorism NI. We also present novel approach quantitatively investigate some sociological theory surrounding Provisional Irish Republican Army which challenges previously held assumptions concerning changes seen organisation. Finally, we extend our use...

To move beyond current aggregate and static conclusions regarding radicalisation subsequent terrorist behaviour, empirical research should look to criminological models which are influenced by the life-course perspective. Current UK government policy designed prevent engagement outputs from perspectives inform practice. However, guidance suffers a lack of specificity as major concept 'vulnerability radicalisation', what this incorporates. This investigation uses sequential analyses add our...

Abstract Objectives This paper utilizes probability-based modelling to unpack the complex and multifaceted individual, sociological, psychological processes present within terrorist groups which may affect an individual’s wellbeing. We outline predictors of onset distress across three phases involvement (engagement, disengagement, post-disengagement). Methods Utilizing a dataset over 90 autobiographies, we conduct sequence analyses pinpoint problems experiences that preceded proceeded this...

Abstract The increased threat of right-wing extremist violence necessitates a better understanding online extremism. Radical message boards, small-scale social media platforms, and other internet fringes have been reported to fuel hatred. current paper examines data from the forum Stormfront between 2001 2015. We specifically aim understand development user activity use language. Various time-series models depict posting frequency prevalence intensity Individual analyses examine whether some...

The growing evidence base of risk factors for violent extremism demonstrates overlaps with different types gender-based behaviours, such as intimate partner violence, sexual assault, and harassment. Each these manifestations violence are, to a varying extent, underpinned by misogynistic hypermasculine attitudes behaviours. present analysis aims address the limited empirical research on links between misogyny, extremism, conducting survey-based analyses employing newly developed validated...

Exposure to radicalizing information has been associated with support for violent extremism. It is, however, unclear whether specific use behavior, namely, a distinct pattern of incidental exposure (IE) and active selection (AS) content, indicates stronger extremist attitudes radical action intentions. Drawing on representative general population sample ( N = 1509) applying latent class analysis, we addressed this gap in the literature. Results highlighted six types behavior. The largest...

Abstract Project Servator is a strategic method of policing designed to deter, detect and disrupt wide range criminal activity including terrorism. This paper the first empirical study evaluate stop search aspect deployments. We compare outcomes 3488 routine searches 510 determine whether tactics used in this initiative produce more positive than searches. also that occurred on basis suspicious behaviour alone, by ethnicity, through using geographically matched sample. Collectively, results...

While research on who and why individuals engage in terrorism has moved a long way since psychopathological psychoanalytical approaches dominated, there remain gaps shortcomings our knowledge to understanding is likely this form of political violence. Conventional wisdom posits that terrorists are typically male, uneducated, impoverished between the ages 18 23. Studies emerging patterns over past decade have refuted many these stereotypes. Of existing empirical literature, single-case...