In the wake of the recent bombings at the Boston Marathon, a team of START researchers based at the University at Albany, SUNY, compiled and answered some frequently asked questions about the relationship between hate crimes and terrorism. Their answers below are based on the research from their report, "Analysis of Factors Related to Hate Crime and Terrorism," authored by Kathleen Deloughery, Ryan King, Victor Asal and R. Karl Rethemeyer.
In examining the more than 500 terrorist attacks occurring between 1992 and 2008 in the United States, the researchers found that in the weeks following a terrorist attack, the number of anti-minority hate crimes increased if the attacks were made against symbols of core American values (such as the Pentagon) or perpetrated by groups with a religious motivation.
To downaload the Q&A, click here.