New research finds NYC is favored target for terrorists

NYC attacks by decade

New York can’t seem to get a break!

Following a report released by Northwestern University – which claimed New York is receiving far less than its fair share of homeland security funding – new research, released by the National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Response to Terrorism (START) at the University of Maryland, reveals that when it comes to launching attacks against Americans in the United States, New York is the destination of choice for all terrorists, across the ideological spectrum.

“New York City has been, by far, the most common target location of terrorists in the United States,” the authors of the report write. “Of the 1347 total attacks in the United States from 1970-2007, more occurred in New York City during this period than in the next 4 most frequently targeted U.S. cities combined (Miami, 70 attacks; San Francisco, 66 attacks; Washington, DC, 59 attacks; and Los Angeles, 54 attacks).”

Examining terrorism in the U.S. generally, and New York specifically, from 1970 to 2007, researchers at START came to some interesting conclusions using the institution’s Global Terrorism Database.  Among the report’s findings:

-       284 terrorists attacks have taken place in the five boroughs over the course of 37 years, with the vast majority occurring in the 1970s;

-       A total of 2,813 people have been killed by terrorism in New York (more then 4,000 have wounded or killed) and 98% of these fatalities occurred as a result of the attacks on September 11, 2001;

-       Although Al Qaeda proved to be the deadliest, almost 40 different terrorist movements have used New York as a staging ground for attacks. The most active groups are primarily non-Islamic and include Puerto Rican separatists, anti-Castro Cubans and the Jewish Defense League. But, the Palestinian terror group, Black September, did strike three targets in New York during the 1970s;

-       Terrorists attacking New York are more likely to use a bomb or explosive than any other means, but they have also been known to use incendiaries and firearms;

-       Terrorists are most likely to attack businesses, followed by government offices and non-governmental organizations. Airports, airlines, law enforcement, private citizens and their property are all equally viable targets for terrorists while media organizations are the least likely, despite the overly-hyped anthrax attacks. Other types of attacks – with five incidences or less – include non-aviation transportation facilities, religious institutions, the food and water supply and the telecommunications;

To download the full report, click here.