B A C K G R O U N D E R

1. Most terrorist incidents in the United States have been

bombing attacks, involving detonated and undetonated explosive devices, tear gas and pipe and fire bombs.

2. The effects of terrorism can vary significantly from loss of

life and injuries to property damage and disruptions in services

such as electricity, water supply, public transportation and

communications.

3. One way governments attempt to reduce our vulnerability

to terrorist incidents is by increasing security at airports and

other public facilities. The U.S. government also works with

other countries to limit the sources of support for terrorism.

EMERGENCY INFORMATION

WHAT IS TERRORISM?

From 1983 to 1991, the Federal Bureau of Investigation identified 101 terrorist incidents

in the United States.

T E R R O R I S M

Terrorism is the use of force or

violence against persons or property

in violation of the criminal laws of

the United States for purposes of

intimidation, coercion or ransom.

Terrorists often use threats to create

fear among the public, to try to

convince citizens that their government is powerless to prevent terrorism, and to get immediate publicity

for their causes.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation

(FBI) categorizes terrorism in the

United States as one of two types —

domestic terrorism or international

terrorism.

Domestic terrorism involves groups

or individuals whose terrorist

activities are directed at elements of

our government or population

without foreign direction.

International terrorism involves

groups or individuals whose

terrorist activities are foreign-based

and/or directed by countries or

groups outside the United States or

whose activities transcend national

boundaries.

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EMERGENCY PUBLIC INFORMATION

BIOLOGICAL AND CHEMICAL WEAPONS

Biological agents are infectious microbes or toxins used to produce illness or death in people, animals or plants. Biological agents can be

dispersed as aerosols or airborne particles. Terrorists may use biological agents to contaminate food or water because they are extremely

difficult to detect.

Chemical agents kill or incapacitate people, destroy livestock or ravage crops. Some chemical agents are odorless and tasteless and difficult

to detect. They can have an immediate effect (a few seconds to a few minutes) or a delayed effect (several hours to several days).

Biological and chemical weapons have been used primarily to terrorize an unprotected civilian population and not as a weapon of war.

This is because of fear of retaliation and the likelihood that the agent would contaminate the battlefield for a long period of time.

The Persian Gulf War in 1991 and other confrontations in the Middle East were causes for concern in the United States regarding the

possibility of chemical or biological warfare. While no incidents occurred, there remains a concern that such weapons could be involved

in an accident or be used by terrorists.

In the United States, most terrorist incidents

have involved small extremist groups who

use terrorism to achieve a designated

objective. Local, State and Federal law

enforcement officials monitor suspected

terrorist groups and try to prevent or protect

against a suspected attack. Additionally, the

U.S. government works with other countries

to limit the sources of support for terrorism.

A terrorist attack can take several forms,

depending on the technological means

available to the terrorist, the nature of the

political issue motivating the attack, and the

points of weakness of the terrorist’s target.

Bombings are the most frequently used

terrorist method in the United States. Other

possibilities includes an attack at transportation facilities, an attack against utilities or

other public services or an incident involving

chemical or biological agents.

Terrorist incidents in this country have

included bombings of the World Trade Center

in New York City, the United States Capitol

Building in Washington, D.C. and Mobil Oil

corporate headquarters in New York City.

■ On February 28, 1993, a bombing in the parking garage of the

World Trade Center in New

York City resulted in the deaths

of five people and thousands of

injuries. The bomb left a crater

200 by 100 feet wide and five

stories deep. The World Trade

Center is the second largest

building in the world and houses

100,000 workers and visitors

each day.

■ The Department of Defense

estimates that as many as 26

nations may possess chemical

agents and/or weapons and an

additional 12 may be seeking to

develop them.

FACTS ABOUT TERRORISM

■ In recent years the largest

number of terrorist strikes have

occurred in the Western States

and Puerto Rico. Attacks in

Puerto Rico accounted for about

60 percent of all terrorist incidents between 1983 and 1991

that occurred on United States

territory.

■ The Central Intelligence Agency

reports that at least ten countries

are believed to possess or be

conducting research on biological agents for weaponization.

Terrorism in the

United States