Incident Summary:
02/24/2015: Assailants abducted 234 Assyrian Christian civilians from an unknown number of villages in Al-Hasakah district, Al Hasakah governorate, Syria. The assailants also set fire to churches in the different villages. Over the course of the year, three of the hostages were killed and the other 231 were released by the assailants, with the last 43 victims being released on February 22, 2016. The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) claimed responsibility for the attack and demanded a ransom in exchange for the victims.
Overview
GTD ID:
201502240012
When:
2015-02-24
Country:
Syria
Region:
Middle East & North Africa
Province/administrative
region/u.s. state:
Al Hasakah
City:
Al-Hasakah district
What
Attack Information
Type of Attack () |
Hostage Taking (Kidnapping) |
Type of Attack () |
Facility/Infrastructure Attack |
Successful Attack? () |
Yes |
Target Information ()
Target Type: Private Citizens & Property |
Name of Entity |
Not Applicable |
Specific Description |
Assyrian Christian Civilians |
Nationality of Target |
Syria |
Target Type: Religious Figures/Institutions |
Name of Entity |
Mar Bisho Church |
Specific Description |
Church |
Nationality of Target |
Syria |
Additional Information
Hostages |
Yes |
Number of Hostages |
234 |
US Hostages |
0 |
Days of Kidnapping |
363 |
Outcome |
Combination |
Ransom |
Yes |
Total Ransom Amount Demanded |
Unknown |
Ransom Amount Demanded from US Sources |
0.00 |
Total Ransom Amount Paid |
Unknown |
Total Ransom Amount Paid by US Sources |
Unknown |
Ransom Notes |
There are conflicting reports regarding ransom demands. On May 5, 2015, it was reported that the assailants demands $100,000 for each prisoner, totaling $23,000,000 (Cross Map 05/05/2015). On October 9, 2015, it was reported that the assailants demanded $50,000 for each prisoner, totaling $14,000,000 (Christian Post, 10/19/2015). Later, reports noted that the assailants demanded $18,000,000 for the release of the hostage victims (San Francisco Chronicle, 2/22/2016). Finally, it was noted that less than $9,000,000 was paid for the release of the hostage victims (San Francisco Chronicle, 2/22/2016). |
Property Damage |
Yes |
Extent of Property Damage |
Minor (likely < $1 million) |
Value of Property Damage |
Unknown |
How
Weapon Information
Type |
Sub-type |
Incendiary |
Arson/Fire |
Unknown |
|
Additional Information
Suicide Attack? | No |
Part of Multiple Incident? | No |
Criterion 1 () |
Yes |
Criterion 2 () |
Yes |
Criterion 3 () |
Yes |
Doubt Terrorism Proper () |
No |
Additional Information |
Hostage numbers for this incident conflict across sources. Following GTD protocol, the most recent reliable estimates are reported here. At least 19 hostages were released on March 1, 2015 and another five were freed on March 4, 2015. An additional 52 victims were released on March 10, 2015 whereas two more were released on May 26, 2015. Another 22 hostages were released on August 11, 2015 while three were killed on September 24, 2015. On November 7, 2015, 37 more hostages were released whereas 10 others were released on November 24, 2015. Another 25 victims were released on December 25, 2015 and 16 others were released on January 14, 2016. The remaining 43 hostages were released on February 22, 2016. |
Who
Perpetrator Statistics
Number of Perpetrators |
Unknown |
Number of Captured Perpetrators |
0 |
Casualty Information
Total Number of Casualties |
3 Fatalities / 0 Injured |
Total Number of Fatalities |
3 |
Number of U.S. Fatalities |
0 |
Number of Perpetrator Fatalities |
0 |
Total Number of Injured |
0 |
Number of U.S. Injured |
0 |
Number of Perpetrators Injured |
0 |
Sources
Sources
"Islamic State frees 19 of 220 abducted Assyrian Christians," BBC Online, March 1, 2015. |
"220 Assyrians taken as shields," The Australian, February 26, 2015. |
"IS frees last group of Syrian Christians abducted in 2015," Belfast Telegraph, February 22, 2016. |
Criteria
Criteria 1
The act must be aimed at attaining a political, economic, religious, or social goal. In terms of economic goals, the exclusive pursuit of profit does not satisfy this criterion. It must involve the pursuit of more profound, systemic economic change.
Criterion 2
There must be evidence of an intention to coerce, intimidate, or convey some other message to a larger audience (or audiences) than the immediate victims. It is the act taken as a totality that is considered, irrespective if every individual involved in carrying out the act was aware of this intention. As long as any of the planners or decision-makers behind the attack intended to coerce, intimidate or publicize, the intentionality criterion is met.
Criterion 3
The action must be outside the context of legitimate warfare activities. That is, the act must be outside the parameters permitted by international humanitarian law (particularly the prohibition against deliberately targeting civilians or non-combatants.
Doubt Terrorism Proper
The existence of a "Yes" for "Doubt Terrorism Proper?" records reservation, in the eyes of GTD analysts, that the incident in question is truly terrorism. Such uncertainty, however, was not deemed to be sufficient to disqualify the incident from inclusion into the GTD. Furthermore, such a determination of doubt is subsequently coded by GTD analysts as conforming to one of four possible alternative designations: 1) Insurgency/Guerilla Action; 2) Internecine Conflict Action; 3) Mass Murder; or 4) Purely Criminal Act.
Alternate Designation
The determination of "yes" for "Doubt Terrorism Proper" by GTD analysts is coded as conforming to one of four possible alternative designations: 1) Insurgency/Guerilla Action; 2) Internecine Conflict Action; 3) Mass Murder; or 4) Purely Criminal Act.
Successful Attack
Success of a terrorist strike is defined according to the tangible effects of the attack. For example, in a typical successful bombing, the bomb detonates and destroys property and/or kills individuals, whereas an unsuccessful bombing is one in which the bomb is discovered and defused or detonates early and kills the perpetrators. Success is not judged in terms of the larger goals of the perpetrators. For example, a bomb that exploded in a building would be counted as a success even if it did not, for example, succeed in bringing the building down or inducing government repression.
Type of Attack
This field captures the general method of attack and often reflects the broad class of tactics used. It consists of the following nine categories:
- Assassination
- Armed Assault
- Unarmed Assault
- Bombing/Explosion
- Hijacking
- Hostage taking (Barricade Incident)
- Hostage taking (Kidnapping)
- Facility / Infrastructure Attack
- Unknown
Target Information
This field captures the general type of target. It consists of the following 22 categories:
- Abortion Related
- Airports & Airlines
- Business
- Government (General)
- Government (Diplomatic)
- Educational Institution
- Food or Water Supply
- Journalists & Media
- Maritime (includes Ports and Maritime facilities)
- Military
- NGO
- Other
- Police
- Private Citizens & Property
- Religious Figures/Institutions
- Telecommunication
- Terrorists
- Tourists
- Transportation (other than aviation)
- Unknown
- Utilities
- Violent Political Parties