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Definition:  Domestic terrorism involves violent, criminal acts committed by individuals or groups to advance ideological goals rooted in domestic influences such as political, religious, social, racial, or environmental motives.

Evolution of Threats:  The nature of domestic terrorism has shifted from organized, large-group conspiracies to attacks carried out by lone offenders. These individuals often radicalize online and rapidly mobilize to violence, making them challenging for law enforcement to detect, investigate, and prevent.

Influence of Extremist Groups:  The Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS) promotes simple attacks by sympathizers within their local areas or encourages travel to ISIS-controlled regions to join as foreign fighters. This message has effectively reached and influenced supporters both in the United States and abroad.

Violent extremists in the U.S. adhere to a range of ideologies that drive them to commit crimes and acts of violence. Key domestic extremist ideologies include:

• Sovereign Citizen Extremists:  Individuals who reject governmental authority and laws, often involving anti-government beliefs.
• Animal Rights and Environmental Extremists:  Groups that use violence to promote animal rights or environmental causes.
• Abortion Extremists:  Those who commit violence in opposition to or support of abortion-related issues.
• Anarchist Extremists:  Individuals advocating for the dismantling of government structures and social order through violent means.
• Militia Extremists: Groups that seek to undermine government authority, often through armed resistance.
• White Supremacy Extremists: Individuals or groups promoting racial superiority and using violence to advance their beliefs.
• ANTIFA Extremists: Members of anti-fascist groups who may engage in violent tactics to oppose perceived fascist ideologies.

Legal Considerations:  Holding extremist beliefs or assembling in groups is protected by the U.S. Constitution, provided that such beliefs do not result in criminal activity or violence. 

Definition:  An active shooter incident involves an individual actively engaged in killing or attempting to kill people in confined and populated areas.

Key Characteristics:

• Increasing Frequency:  The number of active shooter events has risen in recent years.
• Unpredictable Nature:  Victims are often selected without a clear pattern, making these incidents highly unpredictable and rapidly evolving.
• Incident Patterns:
  • Single Shooter:  Currently, most incidents involve only one shooter.
  • Incident Resolution:  56.3% of incidents end due to the shooter’s own actions, such as stopping he/she's shooting, committing suicide, or fleeing.
  • Suicide Rate:  40% of shooters commit suicide.
  • Law Enforcement Response:  60% of incidents conclude before law enforcement arrives.
  • Multiple Locations:  15.6% of incidents occur at more than one location. 

Definition:  Maritime piracy involves the plundering, hijacking, or detention of ships in international waters. This type of maritime crime has evolved over time but continues to challenge international law.

Key Points:

• Maritime Terrorism:  Refers to acts of violence or sabotage carried out at sea, targeting ships, ports, or maritime infrastructure. These attacks can involve hijacking vessels, attacking cargo or passenger ships, or targeting oil platforms and shipping lanes. Key aspects include:
  • Motivations.  Groups may be motivated by political, ideological, or economic goals, often aiming to disrupt trade, harm nations, or instill fear.
  • Targets.  Common targets include commercial shipping, naval vessels, oil tankers, and ports. Attacks can also disrupt global supply chains.
  • Methods.  Tactics range from suicide bombings and hijacking to the use of explosives, small arms, and even cyberattacks on maritime systems.
  • Regions Affected.  Areas with high shipping traffic, like the Strait of Malacca, the Gulf of Aden, and parts of the Caribbean, are particularly vulnerable.
  • Countermeasures.  Maritime security efforts include private security, naval patrols, international cooperation, surveillance technologies, and legal frameworks to combat piracy and terrorism.
• Armed Robbery at Sea:  Occurs within a nation’s territorial waters.
• Piracy:  Takes place in international waters.
• Recent Concentrations:  Notable areas of recent maritime crime and current terrorism include:
  • Southeast Asia
  • The Horn of Africa
  • South America
  • The Gulf of Guinea