Type
|
Description
|
Example
|
Airstrike
|
An incident where assailants drop explosive devices from an aircraft onto their targets. Includes attacks involving drones and UAVs.
|
Tulsa race riot
|
Arson
|
An incident which involves the intentional setting fire to a target by the perpetrator.
|
2012 Benghazi attack
|
Assassination
|
An attack of any type on this list which targets an "important" figure.[1]
|
Assassination of Yitzhak Rabin
|
Attack
|
When multiple attacks occur where assailants use a variety of means and methods, the incident may just be labeled as an "Attack". When assailants use a means not listed here, or an unknown weapon, the incident may also be listed as an "Attack".
|
November 2015 Paris attacks
|
Attempted (type of attack)
|
An unsuccessful attack of any type on this list where nobody is killed or injured. Suicide attacks are considered attempted if and only if the perpetrator fails to kill himself.
|
2001 failed shoe bomb attempt
|
Biological attack / Bioterrorism
|
An incident involving the intentional release or dissemination of biological agents.[2]
|
2001 anthrax attacks
|
Bombing
|
An attack which involves an explosive device being detonated. Includes grenade attacks.[3]
|
2016 Davao City bombing
|
Car bombing
|
A bombing attack which involves the use of a vehicle as the method of transport for the explosive device.[4] Applicable to truck and motorcycle bombings.
|
Oklahoma City bombing
|
Chemical attack
|
An incident which involves the intentional release or dissemination of chemical agents.[5]
|
Tokyo subway sarin attack
|
Cyber attack / Cyberterrorism
|
An incident which involves the intentional sabotage of computer systems including but not limited to hacking.
|
|
Execution
|
An incident involving the killing of prisoners or hostages.
|
2015 kidnapping and beheading of Copts in Libya
|
Hijacking
|
An incident involving the takeover of an aircraft or ship.
|
September 11 attacks
|
Hostage-taking
|
An incident involving the holding of people against their will by the perpetrators.
|
Beslan school siege
|
Kidnapping
|
An incident in which the perpetrators kidnap people. Distinct from hostage-taking because in a hostage-taking the location of the hostages is known while in a kidnapping, the location of the person or people kidnapped is unknown.
|
2014 kidnapping and murder of Israeli teenagers
|
Land-mine
|
A specific type of bombing which involves the detonation of a landmine by applied pressure of the victim onto the device.
|
Ballygawley bus bombing
|
Massacre
|
An incident in which involves the killing of numerous unarmed people.[6]
|
2015 Baga massacre
|
Melee attack
|
An attack which involves the perpetrator using a blunt or sharp object. Stabbings are included in a separate category.
|
2016 Magnanville stabbing
|
Nuclear terrorism
|
An incident involving the intentional release or dissemination of nuclear material.
|
|
Petrol bombing / firebombing
|
An incident involving the throwing of Molotov cocktails or other similar incendiary devices.
|
Duma arson attack
|
Rocket attack
|
An attack where guided or unguided surface-to-surface rockets are fired at military or civilian targets.
|
ISIS rocket attacks on Turkey
|
Shelling
|
An attack where artillery or mortar shells are launched against military or civilian targets. Distinct from rockets attack.
|
Downing Street mortar attack
|
Shoot-down
|
An incident involving the downing of an military or civilian aircraft through the use of surface-to-air missiles, anti-aircraft guns, small arms fire, etc. Does not include bombings.
|
Malaysia Airlines Flight 17
|
Shooting
|
An attack which involves the intentional discharging of firearms.
|
2016 Orlando nightclub shooting
|
Stabbing
|
A melee attack in which a knife or other sharp object is used as a weapon.
|
2016 Minnesota mall stabbing
|
Suicide bombing
|
A bombing attack which involves the perpetrator intentionally detonating an explosive device with the knowledge that the explosion will kill him.[7]
|
7 July 2005 London bombings
|
Suicide car bombing
|
A suicide bombing involving the use of a car as the method of transport for the explosive device.[4]
|
1983 Beirut barracks bombings
|
Torture
|
This incident occurs when terrorists kidnap and torture their captives.
|
Khaled al-Asaad
|
Vehicular assault
|
An attack involving the use of a vehicle as a ramming device against human targets.
|
2016 Nice attack
|