Terrorism is the commission of serious violence or the threat of violence for a political or religious purpose. In the late 1970s there was hardly any terrorism. Nowadays the world has entered into a number of waves of terror and no one knows when they will stop. Unfortunately, this form of violence and threat has also come to the Netherlands. It has even gotten to the point where our status regarding terrorism is almost at the highest level.
Types of terrorism
Terrorism can occur in many ways. However, when we think of terrorism, people often immediately think of shootings or hostage takings. Yet there are also other types of terrorism:
- Hijacking;
- Scale;
- Kidnapping;
- Bomb threats;
- Poison letters;
- Etc.
Individual terrorism and groups
Some terrorists work individually. They are often strongly convinced of a certain political preference or have strong religious views on certain topics. In order to warn the world about other views that they believe are wrong, they try to draw attention by force. A good example of such a person is Anders Breivik . He committed two attacks in July 2011 that left 77 dead.
Some examples of terrorist groups are:
- Ku Klux Klan, United States, Christian orientation;
- Al Qaeda, worldwide, Islamic orientation;
- Hamas, Pakistan, Islamic orientation.
- Islamic State (IS), Islamic orientation.
State terrorism
Another form of terrorism is by the state itself. States that claim a monopoly on violence often have to deal with state terrorism. Peaceful citizens who want to achieve a religious or political goal often demonstrate. The army or state authorities do not accept this and shoot into the crowd. This scares and warns people. Shooting or committing violence against citizens by the state itself is state terrorism. Syria is currently regularly shooting at its own citizens .
Purpose of terrorism
Often the goal is to enforce political changes through violence. In this way, for example through a hijacking, the act immediately gains international interest. Other goals may include:
- Independence of a people;
- Opposition to existing political or religious structures;
First wave
The first wave of terror began in 1970. Worldwide, the number of terrorist attacks exceeded 300. Before then, it had always remained below 250. The first terrorist act with major international attention was the hostage taking during the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich. A hostage situation of such magnitude was new to the world. Unfortunately, the Netherlands also had to deal with a similar attack two years later. The Japanese terrorist group ‘The Red Army’ occupied an embassy in The Hague for a number of weeks. This first wave was characterized by hostage takings and religious views.
Second wave
The second wave started about ten years later in 1980. In 1980 the number of attacks worldwide reached 500 for the first time. In 1983 the first car bomb exploded in Lebanon. This is also still the largest car bomb ever. 300 American soldiers were killed. With this, the world once again had to deal with a new type of terrorism: political preferences and car bombs. Later in the 1980s, bombs became more common.
Third wave
The third wave started around 1995. For the first time, the number of attacks decreased and political and religious tensions decreased. In the third wave, which lasted from 1995 to 2000, only 2,130 attacks were committed worldwide. Most were caused by Al Qaeda.
New wave
The new wave of terrorist attacks is the most terrifying and violent wave. This wave is often known for the attacks by Al Qaeda and individual terrorists such as Breivik. The first attack in this wave was committed on September 11, 2001. The terrifyingly well-organized attack in which four planes were hijacked and crashed into the World Trade Center and Pentagon caused more than 2,500 deaths and resulted in years of war. The attack was claimed by Al Qaeda, which also claimed responsibility for the attacks on the train in Madrid and public transport in London. Many schools, cinemas and theaters were also stormed or shot at.
In April 2013, an attack occurred during a running marathon in Boston, United States. Three people were killed.
A frightening fact about this new wave is that the attacks are becoming more violent, bigger and more well thought out.
Terrorism in the Netherlands
In the Netherlands, terror began with the aforementioned occupation of the Red Army. But many Moluccan attacks were also committed in the Netherlands, such as the train hostage-taking.
On May 6, 2002, politician Pim Fortuyn was murdered by Volkert van der Graaf. It is the first murder of a politician in the Netherlands. Less than two years later, on November 2, 2004, Theo van Gogh was murdered by the extremist Mohammed B. His act is seen as a terrorist attack. It is the second attack aimed at a Dutch person with an important status.
In 2009, the Netherlands faced a different kind of terrorism. On April 30, a man drove into the public in Apeldoorn who were watching the procession of the Royal family. Several people were killed and many injured. Less than two years later, on April 9, 2011, Tristan van der Vlis shot six people dead in a shopping center.