Definition
Terrorism is defined in the Code of Federal Regulations as “the unlawful use of force and violence against persons or property to intimidate or coerce a government, the civilian population, or any segment thereof, in furtherance of political or social objectives” (28 C.F.R. Section 0.85).
There are different types of terrorism, depending on the target of an attack, which are:
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Political Terrorism
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Bio-Terrorism
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Cyber-Terrorism
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Nuclear-Terrorism
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Narco-terrorism
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Terrorist activities are also classified based on the motivation behind the event:
- ideology (i.e., religious fundamentalism, national separatist movements, and social revolutionary movements).
- Terrorism can also be random, with no ties to ideological reasoning.
The FBI also provides clear definitions of a terrorist incident and prevention:
- A terrorist incident is a violent act or an act dangerous to human life, in violation of the criminal laws of the United States, or of any state, to intimidate or coerce a government, the civilian population, or any segment thereof, in furtherance of political or social objectives.
- Terrorism prevention is a documented instance in which a violent act by a known or suspected terrorist group or individual with the means and a proven propensity for violence is successfully interdicted through investigative activity.
The Department of Homeland Security and its affiliated agencies are responsible for disseminating information regarding terrorist activities in the country. The system in place is the National Terrorism Advisory System (NTAS). NTAS replaced the Homeland Security Advisory System (HSAS), which was the color-coded system put in place after the September 11th attacks by Presidential Directive 5 and 8 in March of 2002. NTAS replaced HSAS in 2011.
NTAS is based on a system of analyzing threat levels and providing either an imminent threat alert or an elevated threat alert.
- An Imminent Threat Alert warns of a credible, specific, and impending terrorist threat against the United States.
- An Elevated Threat Alert warns of a credible terrorist threat against the United States.
The Department of Homeland Security, in conjunction with other federal agencies, will decide whether a threat alert of one kind or the other should be issued should credible information be available.
Each alert provides a statement summarizing the potential threat and what, if anything, should be done to ensure public safety.
The NTAS Alerts will be based on the nature of the threat: in some cases, alerts will be sent directly to law enforcement or affected areas of the private sector, while in others, alerts will be issued more broadly to the American people through both official and media channels.
An individual threat alert is issued for a specific time period and then automatically expires. It may be extended if new information becomes available or the threat evolves. The sunset provision contains a specific date when the alert expires as there will not be a constant NTAS Alert or blanket warning that there is an overreaching threat. If threat information changes for an alert, the Secretary of Homeland Security may announce an updated NTAS Alert. All changes, including the announcement that cancels an NTAS Alert, will be distributed the same way as the original alert.
Location and Extent of the Terrorism Hazard
The location and extent of this hazard are unknown. Terrorist attacks can vary greatly in scale and magnitude. Historically, incidents have occurred near abortion facilities, the Louis Armstrong airport, hotels, and law enforcement facilities. Special events and large public gatherings, including Mardi Gras, protests, and sporting events, create potential targets for terrorist attacks.
Severity of the Terrorism hazard
The unpredictable nature of terrorism is such that severity can range from very isolated occurrences of property damage with limited injuries to large scale events with catastrophic impacts to lives and property.
Previous Occurrences of the Terrorism Hazard
The Planning team utilized the Global Terrorism Database, maintained by the University of Maryland and National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism. This database contains information on terrorist attacks that occurred over the entire world. According to this database, there have been seven terrorist attacks in the planning area from 1970 to 2018. There have been two events reported from 2015 to 2018. Terrorism is ideologically driven, and it is almost certain that some past and current events that were terrorism have not been covered nor counted as such.
Hazard Impacts
Impact on Life and Property
The unpredictable nature of terrorism is such that impacts can range from very isolated occurrences of property damage with limited injuries to large scale events with catastrophic impacts to lives and property.
The impact of terrorism can include the destruction of community assets and cultural resources, along with the disruption of cultural events, causing significant impacts to the social fabric of the city and its people.