The Changing Terrorist Attack Cycle: Emerging Trends in Terrorism

Description

Terrorism tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTP) continue to evolve and are increasingly disseminated via digital media. The attack cycle provides a framework for understanding the attack planning and execution process; however in a dynamic environment certain activities may be condensed, expanded, facilitated via different means, or eliminated. This study examines the change in activities through the lens of different agencies influencing attacks (e.g. domestic violent extremism, homegrown violent extremism (e.g. foreign inspired), foreign terrorist organization (FTO) enabled and FTO directed).

Indicators and warnings of terrorist activity continue to change. For security professionals it is important to understanding how different forms of influencing agents change the use of the attack cycle. Of particular interest is recognizing when the attack cycle may be shortened or in what circumstances multi-vector are more common.

Why should security professionals attend this webinar?

Failing to understand the evolution of security threats increases organizational vulnerability. Regretfully the news is filled with examples of new and innovative tactics and techniques through which extremist groups perpetrate violence. As a result, security professionals continue to educate themselves on what potential adversaries are doing.

Expand your learning!  Review Dr. Forster's previous ASIS webinar, Understanding and Mitigating Complex Coordinated Terrorist Attacks, as a primer and be prepared to more thoroughly engage with the discussion topic.

Credit Information

Completion of this webinar is eligible for 1 CPE credit. CPE credits for ASIS-sponsored webinars will be updated in your user profile within 48 hours of completion. Self-reporting of CPE credits is not required.

Presenter*

Dr. Peter Forster
Professor Emeritus and co-chair PfPC Combating Terrorism Working Group
Penn State University & Partnership for Peace Consortium (PfPC)

Peter Forster retired from Penn State's Security and Risk Analysis program in June 2020. He is the co-chair of the PfPC Combating Terrorism Working Group which is an international policy advisory and training group that brings practitioners, decision-makers, and academics together to identify pertinent issues related to terrorism and counterterrorim and provide opportunities for response including simulations, case study approaches, and a reference curriculum. Dr. Forster was the first academic liaison to PA Criminal Intelligence Center (PACIC). He has developed and facilitated tabletop exercises on Complex Coordinated Terrorism Attacks, on-campus extremist recruitment, and terrorist attack on critical infrastructure. He is the author of numerous articles and 3 books related to risk and crisis management, counterterrorism, and US foreign policy. Peter holds a PhD in Political Science from Penn State.

Note: Speakers and content are subject to change without notice.