Publication
Title
50 Years of terrorism in Belgium : a review of 121 incidents in the global terrorism database
Author
Abstract
ObjectivesBelgium is not only prone to inland terrorism but also attracts terrorist factions aiming at various political, diplomatic, military, and/or religious targets. This study aimed to identify and characterize all documented terrorist attacks in Belgium reported to the Global Terrorism Database (GTD) over a period of 50 years.MethodsThe GTD was searched for all terrorist attacks in Belgium between 1970 and 2019. Analyses were performed on temporal factors, location, target type, attack and weapon type, attacker type, and number of casualties or hostages.ResultsIn 50 years, 121 incidents accounted for 80 confirmed fatalities and 498 injured people. Bombings and explosions were the most frequently identified attack type (46.3%), followed by assassination (16.5%), infrastructure damage (15.7%) and armed or unarmed assaults (14.0%). Governmental and diplomatic institutions were the most frequent target (24.0%). For those perpetrators the GTD did have enough information we saw a timely change from far left and separatist dominating the early decades to Jihadi groups in the last decade, while anti-semitic factions were active in every decade.ConclusionIn contrast to other studies, this study did not show an increase over time. Left-wing perpetrators dominated the eighties. In 50 years of terrorist activity in Belgium, the health care system was spared. Devastating mass casualty attacks challenging the health care system are rare in Belgium.
Language
English
Source (journal)
Acta chirurgica Belgica. - Brussel, 1946 - 1996
Publication
Abingdon : Taylor & francis ltd , 2024
ISSN
0001-5458
DOI
10.1080/00015458.2024.2308400
Volume/pages
124 :5 (2024) , p. 349-355
ISI
001155082400001
Pubmed ID
38265761
Full text (Publisher's DOI)
UAntwerpen
Faculty/Department
Research group
Publication type
Subject
Affiliation
Publications with a UAntwerp address
External links
Web of Science
Record
Identifier
Creation 04.03.2024
Last edited 17.10.2024
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