FACTS

1. Terrorist attacks have been shown to affect mental and physical health of exposed individuals including symptoms of anxiety and depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, and musculoskeletal and gastrointestinal pain. Such health problems may affect the workability of workers and contribute to sickness absence.
2. Terrorism is the use of force or violence against persons or property in violation of the criminal laws of the United States for purposes of intimidation, coercion, or ransom. Terrorists often use threats to:
3. Acts of terrorism include threats of terrorism; assassinations; kidnappings; hijackings; bomb scares and bombings; cyber-attacks (computer-based); and the use of chemical, biological, nuclear and radiological weapons.
4. High-risk targets for acts of terrorism include military and civilian government facilities, international airports, large cities, and high-profile landmarks. Terrorists might also target large public gatherings, water and food supplies, utilities, and corporate centers. Terrorists of spread fear by sending explosives or chemical and biological agents through the mail.
5. Within the immediate area of a terrorist event, you would need to rely on police, fi re, and other officials for instructions.

STATS

• The years 2020 and 2021 had the highest numbers of terrorist attacks and plots. In 2021, there were 73 terrorist attacks and plots in the United States. The number of fatalities increased from 5 in 2020 to 30 in 2021. This level was roughly comparable to 2019, in which there were 35 fatalities from terrorism in the United States.
• The recent increase in domestic terrorist activity began around 2014. From 2014 to 2021, there have been an average of 31 fatalities per year—indicating that the 30 deaths in 2021 were typical of this period. There were only three years in which more than eight individuals were killed in terrorist attacks in the United States.
• Of the 38 white supremacist and other like-minded terrorist attacks and plots in 2021, 16 used firearms, 9 involved explosives and incendiaries, 4 were melee attacks using weapons such as knives or bludgeoning weapons, and 2 were vehicular attacks.
• Of the 31 anarchist, antifascist, and like-minded terrorist attacks and plots in 2021, 19 were melee attacks using weapons such as knives or bludgeoning objects, 3 primarily used explosives or incendiaries, 2 used firearms, and 1 was a vehicular attack. The large number of melee attacks was a diversion from the traditional reliance on explosives and incendiaries by anarchist, antifascist, and like-minded individuals.