Take-down policy If you believe that this document breaches copyright please contact us providing... more Take-down policy If you believe that this document breaches copyright please contact us providing details, and we will remove access to the work immediately and investigate your claim.
This Research Note presents the outcome of an investigation into the processes of lone-actor terr... more This Research Note presents the outcome of an investigation into the processes of lone-actor terrorism which was part of the Countering Lone-Actor Terrorism (CLAT) Project.[1] The research is based on a database of both plots and attacks across the twenty-eight EU member states, plus Norway and Switzerland, in the period 1 January 2000 to 31 December 2014. The database covers more than 70 variables and includes information relating to 120 individuals. This Research Note outlines some of the key findings of the CLAT project pertaining to 1) attack methodology and logistics; 2) political engagement and online activity and 3) leakage and interactions with authorities. The results relating to the personal characteristics of lone-actor terrorists are presented in a different Research Note in this issue of Perspectives on Terrorism.
France '[L]es filières syro-irakiennes', 'djihadistes' 12 United Kingdom 'Foreign fighters', 'Isi... more France '[L]es filières syro-irakiennes', 'djihadistes' 12 United Kingdom 'Foreign fighters', 'Isis fighters' 13 United States 'Foreign terrorist fighters', 'ISIS Fighters' 23 Law concerning the Previous Title of the Criminal Code (VTSv), article 6, 1°, 1°ter.
This Research Note presents the outcome of a project that looked at the personal characteristics ... more This Research Note presents the outcome of a project that looked at the personal characteristics of lone-actor terrorists. It is part of the larger Countering Lone-Actor Terrorism (CLAT) project. The project described here aimed to improve understanding of, and responses to, the phenomenon of (potentially) violent lone-actors based on an analysis of 120 cases from across Europe. The Research Note focuses on the personal characteristics of lone-actor terrorists.[1] First of all, it presents the main findings of the general analysis of the study into personal variables of lone-actor terrorists. Subsequently, the authors outline a set of recommendations based on the key findings. In the beginning, we present the main research questions of the CLAT project and the working definition of lone-actor terrorism.
This article provides an in-depth assessment of lone actor terrorists' attack planning and prepar... more This article provides an in-depth assessment of lone actor terrorists' attack planning and preparation. A codebook of 198 variables related to different aspects of pre-attack behavior is applied to a sample of 55 lone actor terrorists. Data were drawn from open-source materials and complemented where possible with primary sources. Most lone actors are not highly lethal or surreptitious attackers. They are generally poor at maintaining operational security, leak their motivations and capabilities in numerous ways, and generally do so months and even years before an attack. Moreover, the "loneness" thought to define this type of terrorism is generally absent; most lone actors uphold social ties that are crucial to their adoption and maintenance of the motivation and capability to commit terrorist violence. The results offer concrete input for those working to detect and prevent this form of terrorism and argue for a re-evaluation of the "lone actor" concept.
Terrorism and Counterterrorism (CTC) of that same university and Research Fellow at ICCT. He stud... more Terrorism and Counterterrorism (CTC) of that same university and Research Fellow at ICCT. He studied Economic Geography (Netherlands) and Political Geography (Netherlands and Germany). In 1997, he defended his PhD thesis on minority conflicts in Slovakia and Hungary. He taught classes in international policies on preventing and managing separatism and intra-state war in the Balkans at the Centre for International Conflict Analysis and Management (CICAM), Nijmegen University. Between 2003 and 2010 he was a fellow at the Netherlands Institute of International Relations 'Clingendael' where he headed the Clingendael Security and Conflict Programme (since 2007). His research interests at Leiden University and the ICCT are, amongst other, radicalisation processes, jihadi terrorism unconventional threats to security and crisis impact management. Jeanine de Roy van Zuijdewijn is a Research Fellow at ICCT. She is also a Researcher at the Centre for Terrorism and Counterterrorism (CTC) of Leiden University. Jeanine studied International Relations in Historical Perspective at Utrecht University and finished her degree with a thesis foreign fighters (cum laude). At ICCT, she has continued this research on foreign fighters which has translated into a number of publications. Jeanine also assists in two projects: countering lone actor terrorism and transitions from military interventions to long-term counter-terrorism policies, focusing on Libya (2011-now). She also helps Prof. Dr. Edwin Bakker with a MOOCa massive open online course-called "Terrorism and Counterterrorism: Comparing Theory & Practice" and assists in teaching this course in blended learning format at Leiden University. Furthermore, she is editorial board member of the Leiden Safety and Security Blog.
Journal of policing, intelligence and counter terrorism, Apr 26, 2023
This article provides a reflection on the jihadist threat, the policies and actors that deal with... more This article provides a reflection on the jihadist threat, the policies and actors that deal with this threat and the impact of jihadism and counterterrorism in Western Europe in the past twenty years. It describes how the threat, counterterrorism policies and their impact have developed over time and demonstrates how threat perceptions in society and the political arena have not always been aligned with the actual threat. There have been periods of disbalance between the threat and responses to it, leading to both overreactions and inflated threat descriptions and fear levels, as well as periods with limited attention that might have contributed to unpleasant surprises at a later stage. Against this backdrop, the article criticises the incident-driven approach to counterterrorism and warns against both overreactions as well as ‘jihadism fatigue’.
"Terrorism has arguably been one of the defining factors of our age. In many parts of the wo... more "Terrorism has arguably been one of the defining factors of our age. In many parts of the world, it has been one of the most important threats to peace, security and stability. But what does this exactly mean? What is the nature of this threat? What can be done about it or how can we at least limit the impact of terrorism? These are just a handful of questions that will be addressed in this book that consists of three parts. First it focuses on the essence of terrorism as an instrument to achieve certain goals and the difficulties in defining it. The second part provides an overview of the state of (counter)terrorism studies. The most interesting results of this academic field are examined and compared with empirical evidence with the aim to either stress their importance or to debunk them as myths. The final part looks into the implications and possibilities for policy making.
The phenomenon of foreign fighters is high on international agendas as one of the most pressing t... more The phenomenon of foreign fighters is high on international agendas as one of the most pressing transnational security issues of our time. European governments have tried to respond to this development by designing various policies, focusing not only on stopping potential foreign fighters but also on limiting the possible threat posed by returning fighters. In this Policy Brief, ICCT Fellows Dr. Alastair Reed, Ms. Jeanine de Roy van Zuijdewijn and Prof. Dr. Edwin Bakker look at the (un)intended consequences of these policies on the pathways foreign fighters could take once they have arrived in Syria or Iraq. In the first part, the authors identify different possible pathways. In the second part, they provide an overview of the main trends in policies pursued by European governments to deal with these foreign fighters. They specifically focus on four policies: reintegration programmes, prosecution of returning foreign fighters, revoking nationality of foreign fighters and finally, military interventions against foreign fighters. In the final part, the authors use the earlier identified pathways as a conceptual tool to look at the (un)intended consequences of these four policies.
Behavioral Sciences of Terrorism and Political Aggression, Nov 3, 2015
In 2012, the Dutch National Coordinator for Security and Counterterrorism and the Dutch Probation... more In 2012, the Dutch National Coordinator for Security and Counterterrorism and the Dutch Probation Service launched a reintegration project for offenders on probation or parole who were (suspected to be) involved in jihadist extremism or terrorism. The initiative's primary goal was to reduce the chance of recidivism among this target group. This article presents the results of a one-year evaluation study (2013–2014) that assessed this initiative's underlying assumptions and practical implementation. A preliminary look at the project's effectiveness is also provided. The Dutch re-integration initiative was found to be based on largely realistic assumptions on how to successfully reintegrate terrorists and extremists, as reflected in an approach that encompassed both disengagement and deradicalization. Nevertheless, the program's first year saw mixed results, in part because of various obstacles encountered during its organizational implementation. These and other findings can serve as lessons learned for those interested in establishing similar programs.
The views expressed in this publication are those of the author(s), and do not reflect the views ... more The views expressed in this publication are those of the author(s), and do not reflect the views of RUSI or any other institution.
Over 180 years of independent defence and security thinking The Royal United Services Institute i... more Over 180 years of independent defence and security thinking The Royal United Services Institute is the UK's leading independent think-tank on international defence and security. Its mission is to be an analytical, research-led global forum for informing, influencing and enhancing public debate on a safer and more stable world. Since its foundation in 1831, RUSI has relied on its members to support its activities, sustaining its political independence for over 180 years.
Over 180 years of independent defence and security thinking The Royal United Services Institute i... more Over 180 years of independent defence and security thinking The Royal United Services Institute is the UK's leading independent think-tank on international defence and security. Its mission is to be an analytical, research-led global forum for informing, influencing and enhancing public debate on a safer and more stable world. Since its foundation in 1831, RUSI has relied on its members to support its activities, sustaining its political independence for over 180 years.
This Research Note presents the outcome of an investigation into the processes of lone-actor terr... more This Research Note presents the outcome of an investigation into the processes of lone-actor terrorism which was part of the Countering Lone-Actor Terrorism (CLAT) Project. The research is based on a database of both plots and attacks across the twenty-eight EU member states, plus Norway and Switzerland, in the period 1 January 2000 to 31 December 2014. The database covers more than 70 variables and includes information relating to 120 individuals. This Research Note outlines some of the key findings of the CLAT project pertaining to 1) attack methodology and logistics; 2) political engagement and online activity and 3) leakage and interactions with authorities. The results relating to the personal characteristics of lone-actor terrorists are presented in a different Research Note in this issue of Perspectives on Terrorism.
Take-down policy If you believe that this document breaches copyright please contact us providing... more Take-down policy If you believe that this document breaches copyright please contact us providing details, and we will remove access to the work immediately and investigate your claim.
This Research Note presents the outcome of an investigation into the processes of lone-actor terr... more This Research Note presents the outcome of an investigation into the processes of lone-actor terrorism which was part of the Countering Lone-Actor Terrorism (CLAT) Project.[1] The research is based on a database of both plots and attacks across the twenty-eight EU member states, plus Norway and Switzerland, in the period 1 January 2000 to 31 December 2014. The database covers more than 70 variables and includes information relating to 120 individuals. This Research Note outlines some of the key findings of the CLAT project pertaining to 1) attack methodology and logistics; 2) political engagement and online activity and 3) leakage and interactions with authorities. The results relating to the personal characteristics of lone-actor terrorists are presented in a different Research Note in this issue of Perspectives on Terrorism.
France '[L]es filières syro-irakiennes', 'djihadistes' 12 United Kingdom 'Foreign fighters', 'Isi... more France '[L]es filières syro-irakiennes', 'djihadistes' 12 United Kingdom 'Foreign fighters', 'Isis fighters' 13 United States 'Foreign terrorist fighters', 'ISIS Fighters' 23 Law concerning the Previous Title of the Criminal Code (VTSv), article 6, 1°, 1°ter.
This Research Note presents the outcome of a project that looked at the personal characteristics ... more This Research Note presents the outcome of a project that looked at the personal characteristics of lone-actor terrorists. It is part of the larger Countering Lone-Actor Terrorism (CLAT) project. The project described here aimed to improve understanding of, and responses to, the phenomenon of (potentially) violent lone-actors based on an analysis of 120 cases from across Europe. The Research Note focuses on the personal characteristics of lone-actor terrorists.[1] First of all, it presents the main findings of the general analysis of the study into personal variables of lone-actor terrorists. Subsequently, the authors outline a set of recommendations based on the key findings. In the beginning, we present the main research questions of the CLAT project and the working definition of lone-actor terrorism.
This article provides an in-depth assessment of lone actor terrorists' attack planning and prepar... more This article provides an in-depth assessment of lone actor terrorists' attack planning and preparation. A codebook of 198 variables related to different aspects of pre-attack behavior is applied to a sample of 55 lone actor terrorists. Data were drawn from open-source materials and complemented where possible with primary sources. Most lone actors are not highly lethal or surreptitious attackers. They are generally poor at maintaining operational security, leak their motivations and capabilities in numerous ways, and generally do so months and even years before an attack. Moreover, the "loneness" thought to define this type of terrorism is generally absent; most lone actors uphold social ties that are crucial to their adoption and maintenance of the motivation and capability to commit terrorist violence. The results offer concrete input for those working to detect and prevent this form of terrorism and argue for a re-evaluation of the "lone actor" concept.
Terrorism and Counterterrorism (CTC) of that same university and Research Fellow at ICCT. He stud... more Terrorism and Counterterrorism (CTC) of that same university and Research Fellow at ICCT. He studied Economic Geography (Netherlands) and Political Geography (Netherlands and Germany). In 1997, he defended his PhD thesis on minority conflicts in Slovakia and Hungary. He taught classes in international policies on preventing and managing separatism and intra-state war in the Balkans at the Centre for International Conflict Analysis and Management (CICAM), Nijmegen University. Between 2003 and 2010 he was a fellow at the Netherlands Institute of International Relations 'Clingendael' where he headed the Clingendael Security and Conflict Programme (since 2007). His research interests at Leiden University and the ICCT are, amongst other, radicalisation processes, jihadi terrorism unconventional threats to security and crisis impact management. Jeanine de Roy van Zuijdewijn is a Research Fellow at ICCT. She is also a Researcher at the Centre for Terrorism and Counterterrorism (CTC) of Leiden University. Jeanine studied International Relations in Historical Perspective at Utrecht University and finished her degree with a thesis foreign fighters (cum laude). At ICCT, she has continued this research on foreign fighters which has translated into a number of publications. Jeanine also assists in two projects: countering lone actor terrorism and transitions from military interventions to long-term counter-terrorism policies, focusing on Libya (2011-now). She also helps Prof. Dr. Edwin Bakker with a MOOCa massive open online course-called "Terrorism and Counterterrorism: Comparing Theory & Practice" and assists in teaching this course in blended learning format at Leiden University. Furthermore, she is editorial board member of the Leiden Safety and Security Blog.
Journal of policing, intelligence and counter terrorism, Apr 26, 2023
This article provides a reflection on the jihadist threat, the policies and actors that deal with... more This article provides a reflection on the jihadist threat, the policies and actors that deal with this threat and the impact of jihadism and counterterrorism in Western Europe in the past twenty years. It describes how the threat, counterterrorism policies and their impact have developed over time and demonstrates how threat perceptions in society and the political arena have not always been aligned with the actual threat. There have been periods of disbalance between the threat and responses to it, leading to both overreactions and inflated threat descriptions and fear levels, as well as periods with limited attention that might have contributed to unpleasant surprises at a later stage. Against this backdrop, the article criticises the incident-driven approach to counterterrorism and warns against both overreactions as well as ‘jihadism fatigue’.
"Terrorism has arguably been one of the defining factors of our age. In many parts of the wo... more "Terrorism has arguably been one of the defining factors of our age. In many parts of the world, it has been one of the most important threats to peace, security and stability. But what does this exactly mean? What is the nature of this threat? What can be done about it or how can we at least limit the impact of terrorism? These are just a handful of questions that will be addressed in this book that consists of three parts. First it focuses on the essence of terrorism as an instrument to achieve certain goals and the difficulties in defining it. The second part provides an overview of the state of (counter)terrorism studies. The most interesting results of this academic field are examined and compared with empirical evidence with the aim to either stress their importance or to debunk them as myths. The final part looks into the implications and possibilities for policy making.
The phenomenon of foreign fighters is high on international agendas as one of the most pressing t... more The phenomenon of foreign fighters is high on international agendas as one of the most pressing transnational security issues of our time. European governments have tried to respond to this development by designing various policies, focusing not only on stopping potential foreign fighters but also on limiting the possible threat posed by returning fighters. In this Policy Brief, ICCT Fellows Dr. Alastair Reed, Ms. Jeanine de Roy van Zuijdewijn and Prof. Dr. Edwin Bakker look at the (un)intended consequences of these policies on the pathways foreign fighters could take once they have arrived in Syria or Iraq. In the first part, the authors identify different possible pathways. In the second part, they provide an overview of the main trends in policies pursued by European governments to deal with these foreign fighters. They specifically focus on four policies: reintegration programmes, prosecution of returning foreign fighters, revoking nationality of foreign fighters and finally, military interventions against foreign fighters. In the final part, the authors use the earlier identified pathways as a conceptual tool to look at the (un)intended consequences of these four policies.
Behavioral Sciences of Terrorism and Political Aggression, Nov 3, 2015
In 2012, the Dutch National Coordinator for Security and Counterterrorism and the Dutch Probation... more In 2012, the Dutch National Coordinator for Security and Counterterrorism and the Dutch Probation Service launched a reintegration project for offenders on probation or parole who were (suspected to be) involved in jihadist extremism or terrorism. The initiative's primary goal was to reduce the chance of recidivism among this target group. This article presents the results of a one-year evaluation study (2013–2014) that assessed this initiative's underlying assumptions and practical implementation. A preliminary look at the project's effectiveness is also provided. The Dutch re-integration initiative was found to be based on largely realistic assumptions on how to successfully reintegrate terrorists and extremists, as reflected in an approach that encompassed both disengagement and deradicalization. Nevertheless, the program's first year saw mixed results, in part because of various obstacles encountered during its organizational implementation. These and other findings can serve as lessons learned for those interested in establishing similar programs.
The views expressed in this publication are those of the author(s), and do not reflect the views ... more The views expressed in this publication are those of the author(s), and do not reflect the views of RUSI or any other institution.
Over 180 years of independent defence and security thinking The Royal United Services Institute i... more Over 180 years of independent defence and security thinking The Royal United Services Institute is the UK's leading independent think-tank on international defence and security. Its mission is to be an analytical, research-led global forum for informing, influencing and enhancing public debate on a safer and more stable world. Since its foundation in 1831, RUSI has relied on its members to support its activities, sustaining its political independence for over 180 years.
Over 180 years of independent defence and security thinking The Royal United Services Institute i... more Over 180 years of independent defence and security thinking The Royal United Services Institute is the UK's leading independent think-tank on international defence and security. Its mission is to be an analytical, research-led global forum for informing, influencing and enhancing public debate on a safer and more stable world. Since its foundation in 1831, RUSI has relied on its members to support its activities, sustaining its political independence for over 180 years.
This Research Note presents the outcome of an investigation into the processes of lone-actor terr... more This Research Note presents the outcome of an investigation into the processes of lone-actor terrorism which was part of the Countering Lone-Actor Terrorism (CLAT) Project. The research is based on a database of both plots and attacks across the twenty-eight EU member states, plus Norway and Switzerland, in the period 1 January 2000 to 31 December 2014. The database covers more than 70 variables and includes information relating to 120 individuals. This Research Note outlines some of the key findings of the CLAT project pertaining to 1) attack methodology and logistics; 2) political engagement and online activity and 3) leakage and interactions with authorities. The results relating to the personal characteristics of lone-actor terrorists are presented in a different Research Note in this issue of Perspectives on Terrorism.
Het doel van dit onderzoek is om een beeld te krijgen van de leefsituatie van Nederlanders in geb... more Het doel van dit onderzoek is om een beeld te krijgen van de leefsituatie van Nederlanders in gebie-den in Syrië die in 2014 niet meer gecontroleerd werden door het al-Assad regime
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