Office of the Director of National Intelligence

METHODS & TACTICS

ASSASSINATION AS TERRORIST TACTIC

TERRORISM RELATED INCIDENTS BY SELECTED COUNTRY, 2014

Assassination is a tactic used by nearly all terrorist groups, although far less frequently than other types of armed attacks. Assassination, when used as a terrorist tactic, is the targeted killing of a country’s public officials or individuals who represent the political, economic, military, security, social, religious, media, or cultural establishments. The killings can be motivated by ideology, religion, politics, or nationalism. Most terrorist groups conduct assassinations to eliminate enemies, intimidate the population, discourage cooperation, influence public opinion, decrease government effectiveness, gain media attention, or simply to exact revenge.

PAKISTAN

IRAQ

INDIA

AFGHANISTAN

SYRIA

THAILAND

SOMALIA

RUSSIA

YEMEN

COLOMBIA

PHILIPPINES

100

150

200

250

300

350

400

COMMON EXPLOSIVES

IDENTIFICATION AND CHARACTERISTICS

TATP Triacetone-Triperoxide An improvised primary explosive that can be synthesized using easily acquired precursors, TATP appears as a white, crystalline solid and is highly unstable and sensitive, requiring safety precautions during handling, preparation, and storage.
AN Ammonium Nitrate An oxidizer known for its availability and cheap material cost, AN is often mixed with common fuels, such as fuel oil (ANFO) and has been used extensively in the main charge of improvised weapons around the world. ANFO is a secondary/tertiary explosive and is the most common commercial explosive, requiring few specialized skills or machinery to mix.
TNT Trinitrotoluene One of the most commonly used explosives for military and industrial purposes, TNT’s insensitivity to shock and friction reduces the risk of accidental detonation. It appears as a yellow solid but turns dark brown if removed from packaging and exposed to sunlight. It is commonly mixed with other explosives materials in commercial boosters and military munitions or used as a main charge.
HMTD Hexamethlene Triperoxide Diamine An improvised primary explosive prepared with widely available precursors, HMTD appears as a white crystalline solid and is highly sensitive to friction, impact, and electrostatic discharge. HMTD can degrade quickly if improperly synthesized or stored.
UN Urea Nitrate A high explosive formed as odorless crystals that are colorless to off-white, although additives and/or metal from a mixing container may alter the compound's appearance. UN is used as a secondary explosive/main charge.
C-4 COMPOSITION 4 A common insensitive military explosive combining Research Department eXplosive (RDX) with a plastic binder, C-4 appears as an off-white solid with a consistency similar to that of modeling clay.

TNT EQUIVALENTS

Terrorists’ skill levels in constructing improvised explosive devices (IEDs) or vehicle-borne IEDs (VBIEDs) will likely influence the types of attacks that they might execute. Bombmakers with only rudimentary skills may be capable of assembling basic devices, such as pipe bombs. More skilled bombmakers could be capable of building a range of more advanced IEDs with multiple triggering methods, directional blasts, concealed housings, and increased blast effects.

TWO HUNDRED KILOGRAMS OF EXPLOSIVES CAN MAKE:

PIPE BOMBS

at 1 kg each

SUICIDE VESTS

at 10 kg each

SMALL VBIEDS

at 100 kg each

BOOSTER CHARGE

for 4,000 kg of homemade explosives
in a VBIED

THE RADIOLOGICAL THREAT

A radiological dispersal device (RDD)—often called a “dirty bomb”—can cause deaths and injuries, but the main purpose of these weapons is to spread radioactive material in populated areas, causing disruptions and producing anxiety in those who believe they have been exposed to radiation.

RDDs combine a conventional explosive, such as dynamite, with radioactive material that may disperse when the device explodes. The device kills or injures through the initial blast of the conventional explosive and by spreading radiation and contamination. An RDD could contaminate buildings and the local environment and expose people to radiation emanating from the radioactive material. People could be externally contaminated (on their skin) or internally contaminated through inhalation, ingestion, or wounds.

The extent of local contamination would depend on multiple factors, including the size of the explosive, the amount and type of radioactive material used, the means of dispersal, and weather conditions. As radioactive material spreads, it becomes less concentrated and less harmful.

Indicators of Exposure

You cannot rely on your senses to tell if you are being exposed to a harmful level of radioactivity; radiation-detection equipment and devices such as Geiger counters and pocket dosimeters are required to do so. Hazardous-materials crews and many fire trucks carry such equipment with them, and they would probably be the first to detect abnormal levels of radioactivity.

RADICALIZATION

PREVENTING VIOLENT EXTREMISM

The strategy to prevent violent extremism in the United States outlines how the Federal Government will support and help empower American communities and their local partners in their grassroots efforts to prevent violent extremism. This strategy commits the Federal Government to improving support to communities, including sharing more information about the threat of radicalization; strengthening cooperation with local law enforcement, who work with these communities every day; and helping communities to better understand and protect themselves against violent extremist propaganda, especially online.

Protecting American communities from al-Qa‘ida’s hateful ideology is not the work of government alone. Communities—especially Muslim American communities whose children, families, and neighbors are being targeted for recruitment by al-Qa‘ida—are often best positioned to take the lead because they know their communities best. Indeed, Muslim American communities have categorically condemned terrorism, worked with law enforcement to help prevent terrorist attacks, and forged creative programs to protect their sons and daughters from al-Qa‘ida’s murderous ideology.

We have prioritized three broad areas of action where we believe the Federal Government can provide value to supporting partnerships at the local level and countering violent extremism.

Enhancing Federal engagement with and support to local communities that may be targeted by violent extremists. Engagement is essential for community-based efforts to prevent violent extremism because it allows government and communities to share information, concerns, and potential solutions.

Building government and law enforcement expertise for preventing violent extremism. We must be vigilant in identifying, predicting, and preempting new developments. This necessitates ongoing research and analysis, as well as exchanges with individuals, communities, and government officials who work on the frontlines to counter the threats we all face.

Countering violent extremist propaganda while promoting our ideals. We must actively and aggressively counter the range of ideologies violent extremists employ to radicalize and recruit individuals by challenging justifications for violence and by actively promoting the unifying and inclusive vision of our American ideals.

Protecting our Nation’s communities from violent extremist recruitment and radicalization is a top national security priority. It is an effort that requires creativity, diligence, and commitment to our fundamental rights and principles. This page is a summary of two documents relating to radicalization, “Empowering Local Partners To Prevent Violent Extremism in the United States,” and the “Strategic Implementation Plan for Empowering Local Partners To Prevent Violent Extremism in the United States.”

THE CHEMICAL THREAT

INDICATORS OF A POSSIBLE CHEMICAL INCIDENT

dead animals, birds, fish

Not just an occasional incident, but numerous animals (wild and domestic, small and large), birds, and fish in the same area

lack of insect life

Normal insect activity (ground, air, and/or water) missing, dead insects evident in the ground/water surface/shoreline

physical symptoms

Numerous individuals experiencing unexplained water-like blisters, wheals (similar to bee stings), pinpointed pupils, choking, respiratory ailments and/or rashes

mass casualties

Numerous individuals exhibiting unexplained serious health problems ranging from nausea to disorientation to difficulty breathing to convulsions and death

definite pattern of casualties

Casualties distributed in a pattern that may be associated with possible agent dissemination methods

illness associated with confined geographic areas

Lower incidence of symptoms for people working indoors than outdoors, or the reverse

unusual liquid droplets

Numerous surfaces exhibiting oily droplets/film; numerous water surfaces displaying an oily film (no recent rain)

areas that look different in appearance

Not just a patch of dead weeds, but trees, shrubs, bushes, food crops, and/or lawns that are dead, discolored, or withered (no current drought)

unexplained odors

Smells ranging from fruit/flower to sharp/pungent to garlic/horseradish-like to bitter almonds/peach kernels to newly mown hay; the particular odor is completely out of character with its surroundings

low-lying clouds

Low-lying cloud/fog-like condition that is not explained by its surroundings

unusual metal debris

Unexplained bomb/munitions-like material, especially if it contains liquid (no recent rain)

CHEMICAL AGENTS

EFFECTS ON THE HUMAN BODY

Sarin is an extremely toxic substance whose sole application is as a nerve agent. Nerve agents are the most toxic and rapidly acting of the known chemical warfare agents. As a chemical weapon, it is classified as a weapon of mass destruction by the United Nations according to UN Resolution 687, and its production and stockpiling was outlawed by the Chemical Weapons Convention of 1993. Sarin can be used as a binary chemical weapon, meaning two different substances which are easier and/or safer to store independently, then can be mixed immediately before use to create the desired chemical.

SARIN IN THE EYES

Contracted pupils, redness of the membranes, pain in the eye, dim and/or blurred vision, sensation of pressure with heaviness, reflex nausea and vomiting. Effects are usually local, occuring from direct contact with nerve agent vapor, aerosol, or liquid; but exposure by other routescan also effect eyes.

SWALLOWING SARIN

Ingestion of contaminated food or water may cause abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and fecal incontinence.

SARIN ON THE SKIN

Health effects may be immediate for contact with liquid or delayed as much as 18 hours for vapor. Sweating and muscular twitching at the site of contact, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and weakness. Eventual loss of consciousness, seizures, paralysis, nasal and oral secretions, and cessation of breathing.

BREATHING IN SARIN

Within minutes—contracted pupils, runny nose, narrowing of the large airways, fluid accumulation in the lungs and difficulty breathing or shortness of breath. Eventual seizures, muscular twitching, paralysis, nasal and oral secretions, loss of consciousness, and cessation of breathing.
VX, a chemical nerve agent, paralyzes the nervous system. It is more toxic and longer-lived than related nerve agents Tabun and Sarin, which dissipate quickly and have only short-term effects. VX is considerd to be much more toxic by entry through the skin and somewhat more toxic by inhalation. Odorless and tasteless, VX is an oily liquid that is amber in color and very slow to evaporate; about as slowly as motor oil.

VX IN THE EYES

Contracted pupils, redness of the membranes, pain in the eye, dim and/or blurred vision, sensation of pressure with heaviness, reflex nausea and vomiting. Effects are usually local, occuring from direct contact with nerve agent vapor, aerosol, or liquid; but exposure by other routes can also effect eyes. Rinse the eyes with plain water 10 to 15 minutes if they are burning or if vision is blurred.

SWALLOWING VX

Ingestion of contaminated food or water may cause abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and fecal incontinence. Do not induce vomiting or give fluids to drink.

VX ON THE SKIN

Health effects may be immediate for contact with liquid or delayed as much as 18 hours for vapor. Sweating and muscular twitching at the site of contact, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and weakness. Eventual loss of consciousness, seizures, paralysis, nasal and oral secretions, and cessation of breathing. Even a tiny drop of nerve agent on the skin can cause sweating and muscle twitching.

BREATHING IN VX

Within minutes—contracted pupils, runny nose, narrowing of the large airways, fluid accumulation in the lungs and difficulty breathing or shortness of breath. Eventual seizures, muscular twitching, paralysis, nasal and oral secretions, loss of consciousness, and cessation of breathing. Respiratory failure possibly leading to death.
Ricin, the toxin found naturally in castor beans, is poisonous if inhaled, injected, or ingested. It can be in the form of a powder, a mist, or a pellet, or it can be dissolved in water or weak acid. Castor beans are processed throughout the world to make castor oil and ricin is part of the waste "mash" produced when castor oil is made. Ricin works by getting inside the cells of a person's body and inhibiting protein synthesis. The major symptoms of ricin poisoning depend on the route of exposure and the dose received, though many organs may be affected in severe cases. Treatment is available, but long-term organ damage in survivors is likely. Death from ricin poisoning could take place within 36 to 72 hours of exposure, depending on the route of exposure (inhalation, ingestion, or injection) and the dose received.

RICIN IN THE EYES

Contact with ricin powders or products may cause redness and pain of the skin and eyes.

SWALLOWING RICIN

If someone swallows a significant amount of ricin, he or she would likely develop vomiting and diarrhea that may become bloody. Severe dehydration may be the result, followed by low blood pressure. Other signs and symptoms may incude seizures, and blood in the urine. Within several days, the person’s liver, spleen, and kidneys might stop working and the person could die.

RICIN ON THE SKIN

Ricin is unlikely to be absorbed through normal skin. Contact with ricin powders or products may cause redness and pain of the skin and eyes. However, if you touch ricin that is on your skin and then eat food with your hands or put your hands in your mouth, you may ingest some.

BREATHING IN RICIN

Within a few hours of inhaling significant amounts of ricin, the likely symptoms would be respiratory distress, fever, cough, nausea, and tightness in the chest. Heavy sweating may follow as well as fluid building up in the lungs (pulmonary edema). This would make breathing even more difficult, and the skin might turn blue (cyanosis). Finally, low blood pressure and respiratory failure may occur, leading to death.

THE BIOLOGICAL THREAT

CLINICAL FEATURES

Botulinum Toxin

Symptoms appear several hours to one to two days after exposure.

INITIAL Blurred vision, drooping eyelids, difficulty understanding language, difficulty in speaking, muscle weakness.

PROGRESSION—Day 3 Mucous in throat, neuromuscular symptoms, respiratory distress, difficulty in swallowing, feels like a cold without fever.

PROGRESSION—Day 4 Indistinct speech, pupils moderately dilated, retarded eye motions, “mental numbness.”

Smallpox

Incubation average 12 days. Symptoms begin acutely.

PHASE I SYMPTOMS Malaise, fever, chills, vomiting, headache, backache. Light-skinned patients may exhibit rash during this phase.

PHASE II SYMPTOMS Facial rash and eruptions on mucous membrane leading to infectious secretions. Eruptions on lower extremities spreading to the trunk over the following eight to 14 days (these pustules later form scabs).