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Issue Description
Terrorist attacks are constantly in the media and for many people in the UK they remain a perpetual fear. What is the impact of international terrorism, and how effective are current counter-terrorism measures? This book looks at the terrorist threats we face today and how they are being tackled.
The information comes from a variety of sources, including government reports and statistics, newspapers and magazine articles, surveys and polls, academic research and literature from charities and lobby groups; articles have been tailored to an 11 to 14 age group. Additionally, at the end of each chapter are two pages of activities relating to the articles and issues raised in that chapter.
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Key Facts
- Most terrorists avoid the terrorist label, preferring to see themselves as irregular military forces [e.g. Irish Republican Army (IRA), Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), Symbionese Liberation Army (SLA), etc.] (page 1)
- As a result of modern transportation, communication and access to resources, terrorism is becoming an ever-increasing threat. Terrorists are not recognised as belonging to any army and seek to weaken or replace existing political systems for political, nationalist or religious goals using violence and intimidation. (pages 2-3)
- MI5 investigates threats to the UK by gathering, analysing and assessing intelligence. 87% of MI5 resources work on counter-terrorism and protective security. (pages 2-3)
- Violent acts on behalf of political change are as old as human history. For example, the Sicarii were a first-century Jewish group who murdered enemies in their campaign to remove their Roman rulers from Judea. (pages 4-5)
- 70% of people taking part in a global issues survey by the Mental Health Foundation named terrorism as their biggest worry, ahead of immigration, climate change, natural disasters and the spread of nuclear weapons. (page 10)
- The actions of an individual or a small group do not necessarily represent the beliefs of a particular religion nor its many believers, and the religion itself cannot be held responsible for such actions. In reality, Islam not only condemns terrorism and suicide missions, but also prohibits them completely. (page 11)
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Table of Contents
Chapter One: Terrorism
Classifying terrorism, Security and terrorism in the UK, History of terrorism, Facts and figures, Head of MI5: terror threat is growing, Terrorists and the Internet, Fear of terrorism, Islam, terrorism and 9/11, The truth about 'animal rights terrorism', Activities.
Chapter Two: Tackling Terrorism
Counter-terrorism strategy, Racial profiling and anti-terror stop and search, FAQs about the terrorist threat, A humane way to fight terrorism, Terrorism Act 2006, Major increase in work to tackle violent extremism, Activities.