A consortium of researchers dedicated to improving the understanding of the human causes and consequences of terrorism

Weapons and Tactics

Title Investigators Project Period
Advancing U.S. CWMD/CWMT Capabilities in Support of the SIGMA+ Program through Development of Anticipatory Human Social Systems Models and Adversary Weapon Selection Decision Processes Steve S. Sin, Ph.D., Thomas Guarrieri -
Anatomizing Radiological and Nuclear Non-State Adversaries Gary Ackerman, Jeffrey Bale, R. Karl Rethemeyer -
Country Reports on Terrorism - Statistical Annex Gary LaFree, Erin Miller -
Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency SIGMA+ Thomas Guarrieri, Marcus A. Boyd, Steve S. Sin, Ph.D. -
Dissuading Adversaries and their Radiological/Nuclear Pathways: Integrating Deterrence Theory and Analytics in the Global Nuclear Detection Architecture (GNDA) Amy Pate, Brandon Behlendorf, Gary Ackerman, John Sawyer, Steve S. Sin, Ph.D., Hamid Mohtadi, Marcus A. Boyd -
Dynamics of Terrorism and Counterterrorism Campaigns Gary Ackerman, Joseph Young, R. Karl Rethemeyer, Victor Asal -
Empirical Analysis of IED Attacks Gary LaFree, Richard Legault -
Geospatial Analysis of Terror Finance Marcus A. Boyd -
Global Terrorism Database (GTD) Erin Miller, Gary LaFree, Laura Dugan -
Global Terrorism Database (GTD) Acceleration Erin Miller -
Guerilla Insurgency: The Springboard to Terrorism? Mark Lichbach -
Key Dimensions in Understanding Terrorist Bomb Attacks Margaret Wilson -
Modeling Risk of Future Terrorist Attacks Gary LaFree, Laura Dugan -
More Bang for the Buck?: Examining the Effect of Technological Change on Terrorist Use of Weapons of Mass Destruction Gary Ackerman, Jeffrey Bale -
Profiles of Incidents Involving CBRN and Non-state Actors (POICN) Database Markus Binder -
Program to Prepare Communities for Complex Coordinated Terrorist Attacks Erin Miller -
Terrorism and Targeted Violence in the United States Erin Miller, Michael Jensen -
Terrorist and Extremist Organizations (TEO) Database Jonathan Wilkenfeld, R. Karl Rethemeyer -
Terrorist Behavior and Societal Tolerance of Violence Risa Brooks -
Terrorist Groups and Weapons of Mass Destruction Gary Ackerman, Jonathan Wilkenfeld, R. Karl Rethemeyer, Victor Asal -
Tracking Cartels: Exploiting Open Sources to Identify Trends Marcus A. Boyd, Samuel D. Henkin -
Two to Tango: Government and Terrorist Group Actions in Colombia Barnett S. Koven -
Understanding and Combating Mass Casualty Terrorism (MCT) Gary Ackerman, Victor Asal -
Unifying Approaches to Adversarial Modeling H. Brinton Milward, Ronald Breiger -
Weapons Availability and Civil War Onset Barnett S. Koven -
Project Title Publication Date Publication Type
A Quantitative Overview of Biological Weapons: Identification, Characterization, and Attribution 2008-05-01T12:00:00 Book Chapter
A Strategic Analysis of Violent Extremist Organizations in the United States Central Command Area of Responsibility 2020-03-01T12:00:00 White Paper
An Overview of Bombing and Arson Attacks by Environmental and Animal Rights Extremists in the United States, 1995-2010 2013-05-01T12:00:00 START Reports
Analyzing Catastrophic Terrorist Events with Applications to the Food Industry 2007-01-01T12:00:00 Book Chapter
Apparent Intended Lethality: Toward a Behavioral Model of Intention to Harm in Single Issue Bombing Campaigns 2010-09-01T12:00:00 START Reports
Apparent intended lethality: Toward a model of intent to harm in terrorist bomb attacks 2013-04-01T12:00:00 Journal Article
Application of a Profile Similarity Methodology for Identifying Terrorist Groups That Use or Pursue CBRN Weapons 2017-09-01T12:00:00 Book Chapter
Bombings at the 2013 Boston Marathon 2013-04-01T12:00:00 Background Report
Catch Them Coming and Going: Probabilistic Pathway Projection to Counter Foreign Fighters 2016-03-01T12:00:00 START Reports
CBRN Activity and Attacks by Insurgent Organizations 2015-10-01T12:00:00 Research Brief
Common Sense or Gun Control? Political Communication and News Media Framing of Firearm Sale Background Checks after Newtown 2015-11-01T12:00:00 Journal Article
Contributing Factors to North Korea’s Different Treatment of 2006 and 2009 Missile Launches 2009-01-01T12:00:00 Report
Correcting the Record: Civilians, Proportionality and the Jus ad Vim 2017-06-01T12:00:00 Book Chapter
Developing An Empirical Understanding of Improvised Explosive Devices: A Social and Behavioral Science Perspective 2009-08-01T12:00:00 START Reports
Disrupting Terrorist Assassinations Through Situational Crime Prevention 2017-07-01T12:00:00 Journal Article
How Community Ties Influence Terrorist Targeting of Civilians 2013-11-01T12:00:00 Research Brief
Human and Social Forces in the Spread of the IED Threat: Innovation, Diffusion and Adaptation 2009-04-01T12:00:00 START Reports
Integrated United States Security Database (IUSSD): Data on the Terrorist Attacks in the United States Homeland, 1970 to 2011 2012-12-01T12:00:00 START Reports
Intersections of Illicit Trafficking and Counterfeit Parts Workshop 2022-01-01T12:00:00 Report
Investigating the Applicability of Situational Crime Prevention to the Public Mass Violence Context 2019-12-01T12:00:00 Journal Article
Islamic State Chemical Weapons: A Case Contained by its Context? 2018-03-01T12:00:00 Journal Article
Jihadists and Weapons of Mass Destruction 2008-11-01T12:00:00 Book
Jihadists and WMD: a re-evaluation of the future threat 2014-10-01T12:00:00 Journal Article
Making the Wrong Connection: The Determinants of Terrorist Targeting of Airplanes and Airports 2010-02-01T12:00:00 Conference Paper
Maritime Insurgency 2020-05-01T12:00:00 Journal Article
Modeling Costly Learning and Counter-Learning in a Defender-Attacker Game with Private Defender Information 2014-09-01T12:00:00 Journal Article
Modelling Terrorist Technology Transfer 2019-04-01T12:00:00 White Paper
Momin Khawaja: Mechanisms of Radicalization 2016-08-01T12:00:00 START Reports
North Korean Media Reaction to Ulchi-Freedom Guardian Exercise 2008 2008-12-02T12:00:00 Report
Nuclear Weapons and Existential Threats: Insights from a Comparative Analysis of Nuclear-Armed States 2014-10-01T12:00:00 Journal Article
Probabilistic Pathway Projection to Counter Foreign Fighters 2016-04-01T12:00:00 Research Brief
Research Highlight: Bombing and Arson Attacks by Environmental and Animal Rights Extremists in the United States, 1995-2010 2013-05-01T12:00:00 Research Brief
Ricin Letters Mailed to President and Senator 2013-04-01T12:00:00 Background Report
Simultaneous Attacks by Terrorist Organisations 2013-12-01T12:00:00 Journal Article
START Annual Meeting 2016: Quick-Fire Presentation - Terrorism and Radicalization 2016-10-01T12:00:00 Presentation
Strategic Terrorism: The Framework and Its Fallacies 2007-01-01T12:00:00 Journal Article
Temporal Sequencing, Incident Sophistication, and Terrorist Outcomes 2016-08-01T12:00:00 Research Brief
Terrorism and the North Caucasus: An Overview 2013-04-01T12:00:00 Background Report
Terrorism in Belgium and Western Europe; Attacks against Transportation Targets; Coordinated Terrorist Attacks 2016-03-01T12:00:00 Background Report
Terrorism in Mali 2015-11-01T12:00:00 Fact Sheet
Terrorist Attacks Involving Package Bombs, 1970 — 2017 2018-10-01T12:00:00 Fact Sheet
Terrorist Attacks on US Coalition Supply Convoys and Bases in Iraq 2023-06-27T12:00:00 Research Brief
Terrorist Attacks Targeting Critical Infrastructure in the United States, 1970-2015 2016-06-01T12:00:00 START Reports
Terrorist behavior in hostage taking: Policy issues and research directions 2005-11-01T12:00:00 Book Chapter
Testing a Rational Choice Model of Airline Hijackings 2005-11-01T12:00:00 Journal Article
The Drone Debate: A Primer on the U.S. Use of Unmanned Aircraft Outside Conventional Battlefields 2015-12-01T12:00:00 Book
The Provisional Irish Republican Army and the Development of Mortars 2016-03-01T12:00:00 Journal Article
The Psychology of Terrorist Hostage-Taking 2003-03-01T12:00:00 Book Chapter
The Softest of Targets: A Study on Terrorist Target Selection 2009-07-01T12:00:00 Journal Article
The Strategy of Terrorism: How it Works, and Why it Fails 2007-12-01T12:00:00 Book
TOC as a Growing Threat to Regional, Global Security 2022-01-01T12:00:00 Journal Article
Toward a Model of Terrorist Behavior in Hostage-Taking Incidents 2000-08-01T12:00:00 Journal Article
U.S. Arms Transfers to Ukraine: Impact Assessment 2023-01-12T12:00:00 START Reports
U.S. Assistance to Ukraine in the Information Space: Intelligence, Cyber, and Signaling 2023-02-28T12:00:00 START Reports
U.S. Military Training Assistance to Ukraine 2023-02-27T12:00:00 START Reports
Weapon Choice and American Political Violence: A Comparison of Terrorists and Other Felons in Federal Custody 2009-08-01T12:00:00 Journal Article
When terrorists target schools: An exploratory analysis of attacks on educational institutions 2013-06-01T12:00:00 Journal Article
Title
START co-hosts workshop on the security of critical system supply chains
UMD Report: Conspiracy theories fueled more terror attacks in 2020
CALCE and START co-host Intersections of Illicit Trafficking and Counterfeit Parts Workshop
Egle Murauskaite appears on virtual panel on military mobility in Europe
GRU team gives virtual talk on cartels for National Security Forum
New START model forecasts the flow of foreign fighters
START study leads to support for SLTT officials
Intern team authors peer-reviewed journal article on Hamas
Scavenger hunt activity helps START team assess capability of mobile radiation detectors
START launches online course on terror-crime nexus and CBRN
Terrorist attacks involving firearms more likely to be lethal than other types of attacks
A closer look at the 2,600 terrorist attacks in US, 1970-2012
Despite fewer attacks in Western world, global terrorism increasing
Discussion Point: The Prospective Military Power of Al Qaeda Affiliated Groups in the Syrian Conflict
START adds third course to summer line-up
Researcher analyzes how community ties impact terrorist groups’ targeting of civilians
START seeking 2014 Outstanding Article Award nominations
START Newsletter: Violent hate crimes and lone-actor terrorism; Cultural values and terrorism; Al-Shabaab
Lone-actors fueled by grievance, personal crises, weapons use
START study assesses attacks by environmental and animal rights extremists
Jeffrey Lewis discusses history and culture behind suicide bombings
Discussion Point: From the Caucasus to Boston and Beyond
Hegghammer explains variation in western jihadists
Trends in terrorism in the U.S.: New report analyzes terrorist attack data 1970-2011
Discussion Point: Black Swans and Burstiness—Countering Myths about Terrorism
START director to lecture on contrasting nature of terrorism
Research Roundtable event features START researcher Brandon Behlendorf
Student researches ties between terrorism and the Olympics
Al-Qaida's fatal terrorism under Osama bin Laden
START Releases 2011 Research Review
START Assesses Impact of 9/11
START Researchers Present at American Political Science Association Annual Conference
START Investigators Participate in 2011 American Sociological Association Annual Conference
START Researchers Featured in Journal of Homeland Security
Exciting Winter Courses Now Offered ONLINE
Press Release: START Panel Addresses Key Questions in Terrorism
**START Releases 2010 Update to the Global Terrorism Database**
***Background Info: Moscow Subway Bombing***
Winter 2010 START Bulletin Now Available
START releases first Research Review
***Background on Terrorism and Public Opinion in Indonesia***
**Far-Right Attacks on U.S. Law Enforcement and Security Guards**
***Terrorist Attacks on Religious Figures, Religious Institutions, and Military Targets***
START Announces 2009-2010 Undergraduate Research Program Award Recipients
Background Information on Terrorism in India
Global Terrorism Database Data Files Now Available through Terrorism and Preparedness Data Resource Center
New Fall 2008 UMD Course: Innovation and Terrorist Tactics
START Announces Fellowships for 2005-06
Title Job Title Institution
Koven Barnett S. Koven Data Science Manager, Deloitte Government & Public Services
Brandon Behlendorf Brandon Behlendorf Assistant Professor, College of Emergency Preparedness, Homeland Security and Cybersecurity, SUNY Albany University at Albany, State University of New York
Miller Erin Erin Miller GTD Program Manager, START University of Maryland
Gary Ackerman Gary Ackerman Associate Professor, SUNY Albany University at Albany, State University of New York
Tinsley_Herbert Herbert Tinsley Analyst, Government Accountability Office
Jeff Jeff Gruenewald Associate Professor and Director of the Terrorism Research Center, University of Arkansas University of Arkansas
Sawyer John John Sawyer Director of Strategic Corporate Research Relationships University of Maryland
Laura Dugan Laura Dugan Ralph Mershon Professor of Human Security and Professor of Sociology The Ohio State University
person-default Nathan Meehan Director of Research and Development, Second Sight Training Systems, LLC Second Sight Training Systems, LLC
Prabhakar misra Prabhakar Misra Professor of Physics Howard University
person-default Rebecca (Becca) Earnhardt PhD student
Research Associate, Stimson Center 		University of Maryland
person-default Rhyner Washburn Cyber Intelligence Researcher, START University of Maryland
Steve Sin Steve S. Sin, Ph.D. Assistant Research Scientist & Director, Unconventional Weapons & Technology Division
Chief Academic Officer, Platinum East
Adjunct Professorial Lecturer, School of International Service, American University 		University of Maryland
Guarrieri Thomas Guarrieri Director of Undergraduate Studies
Assistant Research Scientist, Unconventional Weapons &
Technology (UWT) Division, START 		University of Maryland
Clark tyler Tyler A. Clark Data Scientist, Doctoral Student University of Maryland
Asal_Victor Victor Asal Associate Professor of Political Science and Chair of Public Administration University at Albany, State University of New York
Abbreviation Thumbnail Image Title Direct Link
Advancing U.S. CWMD/CWMT Capabilities in Support of the SIGMA+ Program through Development of Anticipatory Human Social Systems Models and Adversary Weapon Selection Decision Processes
Anatomizing Radiological and Nuclear Non-State Adversaries
Country Reports on Terrorism - Statistical Annex
Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency SIGMA+
Dissuading Adversaries and their Radiological/Nuclear Pathways: Integrating Deterrence Theory and Analytics in the Global Nuclear Detection Architecture (GNDA)
Dynamics of Terrorism and Counterterrorism Campaigns
Empirical Analysis of IED Attacks
Geospatial Analysis of Terror Finance
Global Terrorism Database (GTD)
Global Terrorism Database (GTD) Acceleration
Guerilla Insurgency: The Springboard to Terrorism?
Key Dimensions in Understanding Terrorist Bomb Attacks
Modeling Risk of Future Terrorist Attacks
More Bang for the Buck?: Examining the Effect of Technological Change on Terrorist Use of Weapons of Mass Destruction
Profiles of Incidents Involving CBRN and Non-state Actors (POICN) Database
Program to Prepare Communities for Complex Coordinated Terrorist Attacks
Terrorism and Targeted Violence in the United States
Terrorist and Extremist Organizations (TEO) Database
Terrorist Behavior and Societal Tolerance of Violence
Terrorist Groups and Weapons of Mass Destruction
Tracking Cartels: Exploiting Open Sources to Identify Trends
Two to Tango: Government and Terrorist Group Actions in Colombia
Understanding and Combating Mass Casualty Terrorism (MCT)
Unifying Approaches to Adversarial Modeling
Weapons Availability and Civil War Onset