Terrorist Organization Profile:
Red Hand Defenders (RHD)

First emerging in 1998, the RHD is believed to be used by larger loyalist groups to enable members to continue to conduct attacks while their organizations observe ceasefires. The RHD emerged at the same time as the Orange Volunteers and is believed to share the same members. There have also been several instances where the two organizations claimed responsibility for the same attack.

Opposed to the Good Friday Agreement, the RHD seeks to derail the peace process by attacking Catholic civilians through the use of pipe bombings, arson attacks, and bomb hoaxes on 'soft' targets such as residences, businesses, and, notoriously, Catholic school staff and postal workers in Belfast.

Learn more about these U.S. Department of State classifications:

Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs)

Terrorist Exclusion List (TEL)