U.S. flag
      An official website of the United States government, Department of Justice.
        Here's how you know
      Here's how you know**Official websites use .gov**
            
            A **.gov** website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
      **Secure .gov websites use HTTPS**
            
            A **lock** (
            A locked padlock
            ) or **https://** means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. Menu

      
        close

            
            
                                              About NIJ
        
                    
  
          About NIJ
      
    
          The NIJ Director
          How NIJ Is Organized
          Mission and Guiding Principles
          Research and Development Process
          Strategic Framework
          Assessments of NIJ
          Annual Reports & Reports to Congress
          Staff Directory
          Funding & Awards
        
                    
  
          Funding & Awards
      
    
          Current Funding
          Forthcoming Funding
          Expired Funding
          Awards: Listing of Funded Projects
          Guidance for Applicants and Awardees
          Fellowship & Student Programs
          Travel Scholarships
          NIJ Challenge Program
          Library & Multimedia
        
                    
  
          Library & Multimedia
      
    
          NIJ Journal
          Podcasts
          Publications Listing
          Multimedia Listing
          Rated Practices on CrimeSolutions
          Rated Programs on CrimeSolutions
          Software & Databases
          Datasets
          Patents
          Topics
        
                    
  
          Topics
      
    
          Article Listing
          Corrections
          Courts
          Crime Prevention
          Crimes
          Drugs and Crime
          Equipment and Technology
          Forensic Sciences
          Youth Justice
          Justice System Reform
          Law Enforcement
          Tribal Crime and Justice
          Victims of Crime
          Events
        
                    
  
          Events
      
    
          NIJ 2024 Research Conference
          Scheduled Events
          On-Demand Events
          Research Meetings & Workshops
          NIJ-Hosted Online Training

                            
                                About
          Contact Us
          Subscribe
          Topics A-Z
                  Share
FacebookXLinkedInRedditPinterestEmail Home
                            Library & Multimedia
 Parramatta Shooting: How Much Do We Really Know About Lone Wolf Terrorists?
NCJ Number
              304428

Author(s)
          Ramon Spaaij;
                        Mark S. Hamm
Date Published

October 2015
Annotation
              After concluding that although research on killers acting alone (“lone wolves”) is increasing, there are currently few empirically based academic studies on this issue, which this  report summarizes.
Abstract
              Regarding the investigative analysis of the recent shooting and killing of a police employee outside the New South Wales police headquarters in Parramatta, the police believe the shooter acted alone and was politically motivated. This report provides additional online access to investigative information on this case. The current report then cites evidence that lone wolves combine various political complaints with a variety of personal vendettas related to mental issues. It is the lack of connection to an organized terrorist group with a collective ideological focus that distinguishes lone-wolf killings; however, politics may still be the dominant theme in a loner’s radicalization to violence, although a personal grievance may govern the selection of the targeted victim. Any prior ethical restraints on killing a person are overcome by an overwhelming conviction that the killing, whether random or targeted, is the “right” action to take; for example, Shelley Shannon, who attempted to kill abortion provider George Tiller, described her actions as “the most holy, most righteous thing I’ve ever done.” Another motivation or context noted for the motivation to kill persons is an affinity with unidentified online sympathizers, which provides an expanded base of support for lone wolves with no in-person attachment to a terrorist group. Evidence of a “copycat” effect has also been cited in lone wolves who value the attention and singular attention a killer receives in the press and public conversation.
      
  
          Additional Details
Grant Number(s)
        2012-ZA-BX-0001


  
  
        
  Agencies
        NIJ-Sponsored


  
  
        
  Publication Type
        Research (Applied/Empirical)


  
  
        
  Award
        Lone Wolf Terrorism in America: Using Knowledge of Radicalization Pathways to Forge Prevention Strategies
    
  
  
Date Published: October 1, 2015
    
          Downloads
        
                      HTML

Side navigation
  

        

  
  
              NIJ Journal
    
      
            
            
            
      Podcasts
    
      
            
            
            
      Publications Listing
    
      
            
            
            
      Multimedia Listing
    
      
            
            
            
      Rated Practices on CrimeSolutions
    
      
            
            
            
      Rated Programs on CrimeSolutions
    
      
            
            
            
      Software & Databases
    
      
            
            
            
      Datasets
    
      
            
            
            
      PatentsRelated Topics
        
                Social and Behavioral Science
        Domestic radicalization
        Terrorism
        Terrorist profiles
        Violence causes



  
Similar Publications
        
                      A Longitudinal Evaluation of a Survivor-Mentor Program for Child Survivors of Sex Trafficking in the United States
                  Trauma, Trust in Government, and Social Connection: How Social Context Shapes Attitudes Related to the Use of Ideologically or Politically Motivated Violence
                  Statistical Evaluation of Sectral Interferences in Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy
 Top

      National Institute of Justice

        
        
                        About NIJ
                    About NIJ
      
    
                  How NIJ Is Organized
      
    
                  NIJ Director
      
    
                  Research Disclaimer
      
    
                  Funding & Awards
                    Funding & Awards Home
      
    
                  Awards Listing
      
    
                  Current Funding
      
    
                  Guidance for Applicants and Awardees
      
    
                  Resources
                    Events
      
    
                  Podcasts
      
    
                  Publications
      
    
                  Topics
      
    
                  Multimedia
      
    
                  Reuse Policy
      
    
                  Contacts
                    Contact NIJ
      
    
                  Staff Directory
      
    
                  Submit a FOIA Request
      
    
                  File a Civil Rights ComplaintFacebook
          
                      X
          
                      YouTube
  

      810 7th St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20531
      
              Secondary Footer link menu
            Accessibility
              Plain Language
              Privacy Policy
              Legal Policies and Disclaimer
              No FEAR Act
              Freedom of Information Act
              USA.gov
              Justice.gov