[dropcap]W[/dropcap]hen the word terrorism is uttered in the United States, the horrific events of Sept. 11, 2001 jump to mind. However, acts of terror disrupt families, communities and nations around the world.
Terrorism is defined as the use of violence and intimidation in the pursuit of political aims. From the Crusades in the 11th century to recent attacks in Paris, France and Bamako, Mali, terrorism has thrived in all corners of the world, inflicting fear and chaos into its victims.
In 1978, Cinema Rex in Abadan, Iran was set on fire, claiming more than 470 lives. In 1983, two truck bombs exploded near the housing of US and French military forces killing 241 American servicemen. Two terrorist-organized plane crashes in the 1980s claimed a combined 588 lives. In 1990, the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam murdered more than 600 unarmed Sri Lankan police officers. Five years later, Timothy McVeigh committed the deadliest act of domestic terrorism in American history, as a bomb in Oklahoma City killed 168 people, including 19 children.
[spoiler title=”10 Most Dangerous Terrorist Groups in World History” open=”yes” style=”simple” icon=”chevron”] 10. Irish Republican Army (IRA) – Ireland
9. Naxal/Naxalities – Communist Party of India – West Bengal, India
8. Boko Haram – Islamic extremist – Nigeria
7. Forças Armadas Revolucionárias da Colômbia (FARC; Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia) – Marxist, Leninist, anti-imperialist – Colombia
6. Hezbollah – Islamic extremist – Lebanon
5. Tehrik-I-Taliban – Islamic extremist – Afghanistan/Pakistan
4. Lashkar-e-Toiba – Kashmir/Saudi Arabia/India
3. ISIS – Islamic extremist – Iraq/Syria
2. Taliban – Islamic extremist – Afghanistan
1. Al-Qaida – Islamic extremist – Middle East[/spoiler] In 1998, U.S. Embassies in east African cities were targeted, as several truck bombs claimed over 200 lives. This was the first major attack perpetrated by the infamous al-Qaida group, headed by the notorious Osama bin Laden. Three years later, the same group took nearly 3,000 lives when crashing two planes into the World Trade Center in New York City. The attack is the deadliest act of terrorism in the history of mankind.
In 2002, suicide bombers representing Jemaah Islamiyah killed 202 people in Indonesia. In 2004, the terrorist group Abu Sayyaf sank SuperFerry 14, claiming 116 lives. The same year, al-Qaida killed nearly 200 via bombings in Madrid. Across the continent in Russia, the Riyadus-Salikhin Battalion held over 1,100 hostage, including 777 children, ultimately killing nearly 400. The next year, Europe was attacked again as four explosions were heard around London, killing 52 civilians and injuring 700 more.
[spoiler title=”Want to see how some members of The Rock reacted to terrorist attacks?” open=”yes” style=”simple” icon=”chevron”] Reaction to Mali attacks
Reaction to the recent refugee crisis [/spoiler] Between 2006-2014, hundreds of terrorist attacks equated to over 60,000 deaths in the country of Iraq alone. The same year, closer to home, two Islamic extremists from Russia bombed the finish line of the Boston marathon, killing three and injuring nearly 270.
More recently, in 2015, France has been the victim of two disturbing terrorist attacks. The first, in January, claimed 12 lives, as the satirical editorial magazine Charlie Hebdo was openly fired on. Then, in November, 130 civilians were killed in gunfire and bombings, as Paris was attacked for the second time in the same year. The next week, in Bakaro, Mali, 21 were killed as a terrorist group fired on a hotel.
art by Stephanie Kang
Terrorism is defined as the use of violence and intimidation in the pursuit of political aims. From the Crusades in the 11th century to recent attacks in Paris, France and Bamako, Mali, terrorism has thrived in all corners of the world, inflicting fear and chaos into its victims.
In 1978, Cinema Rex in Abadan, Iran was set on fire, claiming more than 470 lives. In 1983, two truck bombs exploded near the housing of US and French military forces killing 241 American servicemen. Two terrorist-organized plane crashes in the 1980s claimed a combined 588 lives. In 1990, the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam murdered more than 600 unarmed Sri Lankan police officers. Five years later, Timothy McVeigh committed the deadliest act of domestic terrorism in American history, as a bomb in Oklahoma City killed 168 people, including 19 children.
[spoiler title=”10 Most Dangerous Terrorist Groups in World History” open=”yes” style=”simple” icon=”chevron”] 10. Irish Republican Army (IRA) – Ireland
9. Naxal/Naxalities – Communist Party of India – West Bengal, India
8. Boko Haram – Islamic extremist – Nigeria
7. Forças Armadas Revolucionárias da Colômbia (FARC; Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia) – Marxist, Leninist, anti-imperialist – Colombia
6. Hezbollah – Islamic extremist – Lebanon
5. Tehrik-I-Taliban – Islamic extremist – Afghanistan/Pakistan
4. Lashkar-e-Toiba – Kashmir/Saudi Arabia/India
3. ISIS – Islamic extremist – Iraq/Syria
2. Taliban – Islamic extremist – Afghanistan
1. Al-Qaida – Islamic extremist – Middle East[/spoiler] In 1998, U.S. Embassies in east African cities were targeted, as several truck bombs claimed over 200 lives. This was the first major attack perpetrated by the infamous al-Qaida group, headed by the notorious Osama bin Laden. Three years later, the same group took nearly 3,000 lives when crashing two planes into the World Trade Center in New York City. The attack is the deadliest act of terrorism in the history of mankind.
In 2002, suicide bombers representing Jemaah Islamiyah killed 202 people in Indonesia. In 2004, the terrorist group Abu Sayyaf sank SuperFerry 14, claiming 116 lives. The same year, al-Qaida killed nearly 200 via bombings in Madrid. Across the continent in Russia, the Riyadus-Salikhin Battalion held over 1,100 hostage, including 777 children, ultimately killing nearly 400. The next year, Europe was attacked again as four explosions were heard around London, killing 52 civilians and injuring 700 more.
[spoiler title=”Want to see how some members of The Rock reacted to terrorist attacks?” open=”yes” style=”simple” icon=”chevron”] Reaction to Mali attacks
Reaction to the recent refugee crisis [/spoiler] Between 2006-2014, hundreds of terrorist attacks equated to over 60,000 deaths in the country of Iraq alone. The same year, closer to home, two Islamic extremists from Russia bombed the finish line of the Boston marathon, killing three and injuring nearly 270.
More recently, in 2015, France has been the victim of two disturbing terrorist attacks. The first, in January, claimed 12 lives, as the satirical editorial magazine Charlie Hebdo was openly fired on. Then, in November, 130 civilians were killed in gunfire and bombings, as Paris was attacked for the second time in the same year. The next week, in Bakaro, Mali, 21 were killed as a terrorist group fired on a hotel.
art by Stephanie Kang
