Home >> Terrorism >> Counter-Terrorism  Email  Print Analyzing the Strategies of Terrorism and Counterterrorism Saberi Roy - 12/15/2008 The recent terrorist attacks in Mumbai that killed 190 people on November 26-28, 2008 highlight yet another strategy that a little known terrorist group seems to have used to inflict chaos in a big urban establishment. The Deccan Mujahideen had claimed responsibility for the attacks although the final investigation reports suggest the involvement of Pakistan based militant group, and Al Qaeda clone, Lashkar-e-taiba. These militants are usually young Muslim men, locally trained in the Kashmir region and Indo-Pak border regions where they attend rigorous training camps and are prepared for attacks. Considering terrorist attacks from around the world, a particular pattern or a theory of terrorism could be drawn based on target areas, strategies, and these targets and strategies could be linked with possible solutions or methods to counter such attacks.
Target Areas
The usual terrorist target areas are:
1. Embassies and Consulates – US and UK embassies and consulates have been the target of terrorist attacks around the world as in Turkey, Lebanon, Kenya and Tanzania.
2. Train and Bus Stations – Apart from the London bombings, there have been suicide bomb attacks in stations of Colombo, Paris, Tel Aviv
3. Airports – Glasgow and Madrid airports have been targets of car bombs and other airports in Pakistan and Philippines have received threats from terrorists
4. Markets – Several bombs exploded in open markets of Israel with suicide bomb attacks by the Hamas
5. Shopping malls – In Israeli cities of Haifa, Jerusalem, in Manila, Islamabad shopping malls have been repeated targets
6. Casinos – In Israel and in parts of Asia have been attacked
7. Resorts – Bali bombings, Sharm-el-Sheik resort in Egypt are example here
8. Hotels and Restaurants – Mumbai 2008 bombings in the Taj hotel and the 2005 Bali bombings also near the Four Seasons hotel
9. Trains and Buses – Madrid, Mumbai and London have all been soft targets as it is easy to detonate serial bombs on mass public transportation.
10. Prominent Public and Commercial Buildings and other public areas – The World Trade Centre, Indian Parliament Building attacks as also the recent attack in Nariman House Mumbai but other possible targets could be stock exchanges and offices of prominent multinational companies
Terrorism - Strategies
The most commonly used methods of terrorist strikes are:
1. Suicide/Human Bombs – The Gaza strip and tensions in Middle East are marked by this sort of bombing and related terror groups around Middle East practise this strategy
2. Backpacker Bombs – Example would be London bombings and the European terrorists follow this sort of method
3. Serial Bomb Detonation – This is widely practiced by the Lashkar-e-taiba in India and Pakistan and several attacks in India have seen this sort of strategy
4. Indiscriminate Shooting – This is practiced by terrorists in Kashmir and Indo-Pak border and the current style of Mumbai terrorist attacks of November 2008 suggest the role Kashmiri militants
5. Aeroplanes as Bombs – As in case of 9/11, Al-Qaeda hallmark and this can only be practiced by worldwide and large or sufficiently sophisticated terrorist groups
6. Car Bombs – Practiced by groups to attack public buildings and airports etc. and a method mainly followed by terrorists in the West
Counter Terrorism - Strategies
1. CCTV – Installation of State of the Art futuristic CCTV facilities at all public places and buildings.
2. Tighter Security - in Hotels and Public Buildings with armed security officers and doormen
3. Patrolling – Round the Clock, 24 hour patrolling of men in plain clothes around public places so that they can stop and search people randomly
4. Increase Counter-terrorism Budget and employ more counter-terrorism personnel for research, patrolling and monitoring
5. Extensive Search – Continual search with sophisticated equipment should be routine exercise for all policing and security personnel, especially near public places
6. Install and carry out airport like security equipment and measures across train and bus stations
7. Strict and more effective terror laws with severe sentences for individuals supporting or inciting terrorism in religious or educational establishments
8. Border control – with not just effective passport control at the airports but also along borders, ports and other entry points
9. Establish an International Counterterrorism Organization along the lines of WHO, Amnesty etc. supported by UN and other world organizations to combat terror
10. Locate possible terrorist groups in the local and regional areas with improved intelligence and monitor their activities – form local terrorist monitoring units that will report to regional and national monitoring units
11. World leaders should meet and discuss on action plans to destroy terrorist hideouts and training camps along specific areas such as Kashmir, Afghan-Pak border, Gaza, Iraq and such regions
12. Launch an extensive worldwide search to arrest all existing terrorists, terrorist leaders and trainees
13. Terrorism monitoring units should track individual terrorists locally and monitor their relations with friends, family
14. Security and counterterrorism personnel should be in close contacts with family members of possible recruits such as young boys
15. Monitor and control phone lines and internet activities of all suspected trainees, religious hate preachers and recruits who may have close contacts with terrorist groups
16. Raise commuter and public awareness on terrorism and terrorist activities in local areas
Considering the permutations and combinations of strategies and target areas, some of the counter-strategies could be established:
Target: Embassies –
Possible Tactics: Indiscriminate Shooting, Bomb Detonation, Car bombs.
Although backpacker bombs, human bombs are possible in these cases, they are highly unlikely considering the levels of security at embassies.
Counterterrorism strategies in this case would be - more effective CCTV monitoring, tighter security, patrolling around embassies and extensive 24 hour search.
Target: Train and Bus Stations –
Possible Tactics: Backpacker Bombs, human bombs, indiscriminate shooting, and serial bomb detonation with bombs placed in dustbins, phone booths etc.
Counter-terrorism strategies: CCTV monitoring, extensive round the clock search with sophisticated equipment, tighter security measures and restrictions at entry gates of bus and train stations
Target: Airports -
Possible Tactics: Airports are difficult places for terrorists because of high levels of security, although car bombs and indiscriminate shootings cannot be ruled out.
Counterterrorism strategies: The best strategies could be extremely high levels of security, armed doormen and security personnel, 24 hour search of surrounding areas and close CCTV monitoring
Targets – Markets, Resorts, Casinos, Clubs, Shopping Malls
Possible Tactics: All these targets are vulnerable and actually very easy for terrorists. Resorts and clubs sometimes have tight security although shopping malls and markets are almost devoid of security measures and are relatively ‘soft targets’.
Counterterrorism Strategies: Constant search and monitoring of local terrorist groups and recruits would be necessary with compulsory CCTV installation. Counter-terrorism personnel in plain clothes should always be present at these locations.
Targets – Prominent Hotels and Restaurants
Possible Tactics: Shootings, Planting Bombs, Bomb attacks are more likely than suicide bombs.
Counter-terrorism strategies: CCTV monitoring for suspicious activities, security checks at entry points and gates, armed and trained doormen and constant search are some of the ways that could be used to avoid terrorist attacks
Targets – Trains and Buses
Possible Tactics: Backpacker bombs, Suicide bombs, Serial Bomb detonation in compartments and under seats and even car bombs
Counter terrorism strategies: This would be again close monitoring of suspicious activities and a general sense of awareness among commuters. Security checking should be in place at gates and entry points of bus and train stations with constant searching for bombs or suspicious objects using sophisticated search equipment
Target – Public places and Public Buildings
Possible Tactics: Indiscriminate shooting, bomb attacks and bomb detonation
Counterterrorism strategies: Search of surrounding areas, monitoring and updated knowledge on local terrorist activity as also tight security checks at gates with trained and armed doormen are some of the ways in which terrorism could be controlled in public buildings and places.
The recent terrorist attacks in Mumbai highlight the use of strategies often used by terrorists who are trained at the Indo-Pak border and even if they have close ties to other Pakistan terror groups, blaming authorities in Pakistan, is no solution and rather a hindrance to developing a solution for India’s continuous terrorist problems. India will have to enforce strict laws, spend more of its budget on counterterrorism efforts, and have tighter security and monitoring around public buildings and public areas such as stations, airports and markets. Of course India is an open, large, populated nation and controls and monitoring would be extremely difficult but there could be an effort to begin increased monitoring and awareness.
Pakistan like Israel and India has to deal with repeated terrorist attacks and the problem of terrorism in now a common factor that should unite all governments around the world. So, now the focus should be on trying to understand the ways in which terrorists and terrorism could be defeated rather than using terrorism as a catalyst to dig out old international feuds. India-Pakistan hostility still remains, but this is one issue on which they can unite.
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