In the past 8 years, at least 4 lone wolf terrorists have targeted military bases or recruiting centers in the United States and research suggests attack on the US military are increasing globally. The problem was that research had not addressed the lived experiences of survivors of lone wolf attacks or how they could inform procedures regarding a sense of security for military men and women. The purpose of this research was to establish a need to address threats to the security of the military from these attacks, to provide a rich description of survivors' experiences of the attack at Fort Hood, and to identify suggestions for improving military personnel's sense of security while on base. Using the community based approach to public health, the central research question asked how the lived experiences of survivors of the attack at Fort Hood could lead to an increased sense of security on base. This phenomenological research provided a detailed description of survivors' experiences and their reflections on improving military personnel's sense of security. The population consisted of the 31 soldiers injured in the attack. A purposeful sample was used to recruit 5 participants for researcher-constructed interviews. I analyzed data and used NVivo 11 for organization. The study revealed high levels of stress, hyperawareness, and significant negative changes in the lives of these soldiers. The finding suggest an increased show of force by police throughout the base, a designated office to anonymously report suspicious activity, and more training to help soldiers cope with the experiences of combat related trauma. The implications for social change include an increased sense of security for military personnel, better training for dealing with combat related trauma, and deterrents for future lone wolf attacks.

Terrorism - criminological aspects Abstract The submitted diploma thesis deals with criminological aspects of terrorism. The thesis aims to introduce the reader to the concept of terrorism as well as to present its various criminological issues. The thesis seeks to provide plausible answers, especially to the following questions: what terrorism is, who is its perpetrator, what is the process of radicalization, and most importantly, what causes terrorism. Besides, it deals with the specifics of the fight against terrorism and current issues related to terrorism and its current global state. The work provides a comprehensive insight into the criminology of terrorism, both group and individually perpetrated. In the beginning, the thesis deals with the very concept of terrorism, its definition and typology. It thus provides the necessary basis for the following chapters of the thesis. The work continues with analysis of terrorism from the Czech criminal law point of view, and therefore provides practical insight into the possible punishment of perpetrator in the Czech Republic. The thesis then demonstrates the application of the law on one of the cases concerning Czech offender convicted of terrorism in the Czech Republic. At its core, the thesis deals with the criminological aspects of terrorism. It offers...

This thesis focuses on the issue of far-right lone-wolf terrorism in Germany. Lone-wolf terrorism - terrorism perpetrated by individuals, who display no ties to terrorist organizations - is a concept, which is skeptically accepted by many scholars. The main issue with this concept is the emphasis of the "lone" part, especially during the preparation and the attack itself. Scholars, who refuse this concept claim, that in every case, the attacker is a member of a larger group - it can be either ideology-based or it can provide material assistance. Furthermore, lone- wolf terrorism is primarily associated with religious terrorism, probably because of the activities of Islamic state in recent years. However, this thesis approaches lone-wolf terrorism as relevant concept, which refers to a security threat, that is represented by radicalized and hard- to-detect individuals. The thesis focuses on three cases of far-right terrorism in Germany, which were committed by an attacker, that operated alone - Munich shooting (July 2016), Halle synagogue attack (October 2019), and Hanau shooting (February 2020). German society provided significant space for radicalization and spread of far-right ideology, especially because of its friendly politics after the outbreak of refugee crisis. Regarding the cases, the main...

Denna systematiska litteraturstudie ämnar undersöka vilka åtgärder som kan vidtas för att förebygga lone wolf terrorism. Denna form av terrorism har blivit allt mer uppmärksammad de senaste åren och anses vara ett växande problem som utgör ett allvarligt hot mot samhället. Lone wolf terrorism är en brottstyp som är väldigt svår att förebygga, främst på grund av att lone wolf terrorists, i jämförelse med terrorister som agerar i grupp, inte i lika stor utsträckning kommunicerar med andra individer angående sina planer att begå terrorbrott. Ett antal åtgärder med potential att förebygga lone wolf terrorism har dock identifierats. Bland dessa åtgärder kunde två teman urskiljas; internet/sociala medier och samarbete myndigheter och lokalsamhälle/allmänheten. Åtgärder på temat internet/sociala medier baserades på att lone wolf terrorists trots allt ofta använder internet för att kommunicera med likasinnade angående sina radikala åsikter och/eller intentioner att begå brott. Därutöver använder de internet för att bland annat införskaffa radikaliserande material och ritningar över potentiella mål. Därmed kan åtgärder med internet i fokus, såsom övervakning av extremistiska hemsidor och chattforum, spela en viktig roll i det brottsförebyggande arbetet riktat mot lone wolf terrorism. Att involvera lokalsamhällen i det brottsförebyggande arbetet är också viktigt eftersom det är i dessa miljöer individer ofta radikaliseras. Av särskild vikt är att involvera allmänheten då familj, vänner och andra bekanta vanligtvis befinner sig i den bästa positionen för att upptäcka varningssignaler som antyder att någon i deras närhet har radikala åsikter och/eller avsikt att begå terrorbrott. / This systematic literature review aims to investigate what measures can be taken to prevent lone wolf terrorism. This form of terrorism has gained increasing attention in recent years and is considered to be a growing problem that poses a serious threat to society. Lone wolf terrorism is a type of crime that is difficult to prevent, mainly because lone wolf terrorists, compared to terrorists acting in groups, not to the same extent communicate with other individuals regarding their plans to commit acts of terrorism. However, a number of measures with the potential to prevent lone wolf terrorism have been identified. Among these measures two themes could be distinguished; internet/social media and cooperation between authorities and local communities/the public. Measures on the theme internet/social media were based on the fact that lone wolf terrorists after all often use the internet to communicate with likeminded regarding their radical opinions and/or plans to commit acts of terrorism. Additionally, they use the internet to, among other things, obtain radicalising material and drawings of potential targets. Consequently, measures with a focus on the internet, such as monitoring of extremist websites and chat rooms, can play an important role in the attempt to prevent lone wolf terrorism. To involve local communities in crime prevention efforts targeted at lone wolf terrorism is also important since it is in these environments individuals often become radicalized. Of particular importance is the involvement of the public since family, friends and other acquaintances usually are in the best position to detect warning signs that indicate that someone close to them has radical views and/or intentions to commit acts of terrorism.

This master thesis called "The media portrait of the Anders Behring Breivik ́s attack in czech press" focuses on events that took place on the 22nd of July 2011, when a norwegian citizen Anders Breivik detonated a bomb in the centre of Oslo and killed 8 people. Then he shot 69 young people on the Utøya island. This thesis shows how these events were presented in the four most read newspapers in the Czech republic which are Aha!, Blesk, Mladá fronta DNES and Právo. The analysis focuses on the period of time between 22nd of July and 22nd of September 2011 and then also on the period from April to August 2012 when the trial took place. This master thesis combines quantitative and qualitative research design and shows that Mladá fronta DNES published the most articles out of all 287. Blesk used the biggest amount of photographs - 2.9 photographs per article. The most used photographs were of the victims and also the photographs of Breivik himself. The most frequent topics covered were of the trial, information about Breivik and memorial events. The qualitative part of the research focuses on used language means and proves that the visual part and the photographs play a very important role on the whole feel and emotions in the article.

Contemporary social and political discourses often emphasise the security threat of Jihadism towards Europe and the United States as the main terrorist threat. Two decades into the twenty-first century, however, the new threat of right-wing terrorism has emerged as the statistically most prominent form of terror. As these attacks are predominantly carried out through so-called lone wolf tactics, it becomes essential to understand how these actors operate. While there is a growing amount of empirical literature that seeks to understand this phenomenon of lone-wolf terrorism, many follow similar frameworks with explanatory models which are dependent on assumptions and common truisms, such as that lone wolves are loners with depressive personality disorders who are cultivated in a vacuum independent from social ties. This study instead explores group psycho-historical factors through the theoretical framework of Symbolic Convergence Theory, which is applied through discourse analysis. The research thus aims to identify group fantasies and grand narratives which ties these lone wolves to a community on which they depend upon in radicalisation and subsequently, in carrying out the attacks. The findings consequently suggest that the typology of lone wolf terrorism is misleading as the subjects indicate a group consciousness with a cohesiveness which grows stronger as they increasingly interpret a growing danger towards their community dependent on commonly recurring fantasies and narratives.

The existing research on lone wolf terrorism and the use of case study research within this field and criminology is discussed and reviewed. In an attempt to find how an investigated and IS inspired extremist commits an act of lone wolf terrorism without any suspicion of authorities was the key focus. Through the use of a case study utilizing a chronological time-series analysis, Man Haron Monis responsible for the Martin Place Siege in Sydney, Australia in 2014 was examined. The analysis produced eleven significant events contributing to his radicalization. His radicalization process and the causal factors were examined against two radicalization pyramids developed by McCauley and Moskalenko (2014) that placed him at the most dangerous level of a lone wolf about to act. This thesis also indicates the limitations of lone wolf terrorism research and the further steps required in order for authorities to effectively identify and disrupt lone wolf terrorists prior to terrorist acts.

Since the fall of September, 2011, there has been a major increase in awareness and study of global terrorism. Academia, the media, politicians, and the average citizen all have varying definitions, ideas, and concerns about terrorism. The focus has mainly been on international terrorism. Terrorist organizations like Al Qaeda have permeated the discussion. However, there is a growing concern of the "lone wolf terrorist." A lone wolf terrorist acts without a terrorist organization and is capable of having his/her own radical agenda with the audacity and simplicity to carry it out solely and enact great damage. The focus in the United States and globally has been on international lone wolf terrorists. This is important, but a longstanding concern (that often goes without much conversation) is the domestic lone wolf terrorist. Using Gustav Freytag’s Triangle and Rational Choice theory, it is shown that lone wolf terrorism must be examined by the United States government to ensure safety of its citizens. A lone wolf terrorist is characterized as a United States citizen who enacts a terrorist action without being part of an organization or terror group. His motives are extremist in nature. This thesis examines the iii growing phenomena of the domestic lone wolf terrorist. In doing so, the primary function is to look at an even starker reality: that some lone wolf terrorists have served in the military, and during service have shown to portray radical thoughts and actions. Furthermore, these lone wolf terrorists used their military training and weapon insight to enact their catastrophic aims. This thesis uses a case study methodology to examine three lone wolf actors. From the Oklahoma City Bombing, to the 1996 Olympic Summer Games in Atlanta and on to the Ft. Hood shootings the studies find that in all cases the actors did have radical beliefs, military training and used that training in concert with their attacks. This thesis can be used as a discussion about lone wolf terrorism, but also about governance. The findings show an increased need for the Department of Defense to work closely with the Department of Homeland Security and seek greater advice from organizations like the Federal Bureau of Investigation in order to conduct better psychological studies and examinations of military personnel. A disclaimer must be made that this thesis does not, in any way, seek to disparage the amazing amount of work and sacrifice of United States government personnel and agencies. This thesis aims to provide research towards improved understanding and combating of lone wolf terrorism.

Acts of lone extremism are on the rise, yet little is known about who commits these acts. Research in this area has failed to delineate by extremist subtype. This has led to the misconception these acts and actors present with such variance psychosocially that they cannot be predicted. The purpose of this research was to assess whether statistically significant relationships exist between lone extremist subtypes on the psychosocial variables of mental illness, substance use, and having radicalized friends or family members. The conceptual framework for this study was De La Corte's psychosocial principles of terrorism, which addressed the social and political influences of terrorism with the complex psychosocial constructs that may exist. The Profiles of Individual Radicalization in the United States was chosen as the dataset and includes de-identified individual-level information on 1,865 extremists. The research questions that guided this study sought to determine if significant differences exist between 4 lone extremist subtypes across 4 psychosocial variables. Crosstabulation analysis and multiple chi-square tests for independence were used to test the relationship between categorical variables. Statistically significant relationships were found among each lone extremist subtype and having radicalized family members and friends (p=.00). In terms of mental illness, far left extremists were the only extremist subtype that yielded a significant relationship (p=.00). Also, a significant relationship was found between substance use and far right (p=.00), far left (p=.01), and single issue (p=.04) extremists. In terms of social change, this research presented support for studying lone extremism by subtype and also provided a foundation towards constructing a predictive model.

The Master's thesis Delegitimization of the west in Al Qaeda's Magazine Inspire focuses on the techniques of terrorist group's propaganda aimed at individuals of Arab descent and Islam faith residing in one of the western countries. Thesis analyses sixteen issues of digital magazine Inspire published since 2010 by Al Qaeda affiliate in Yemen called AQAP - Al Qaeda in Arabian Peninsula. Terrorist attacks by so called lone-wolfs on the territory of western states have had increasing tendency in the last decade. The phenomenon of online propaganda and radicalisation through social networks is progressively becoming one of the major challenges for western security services. Grasping the sociological and psychological aspects of lone wolfs' drivers for conducting terrorist attacks is thus crucial. The underpinning theory of the thesis is framing analysis together with the concept of delegitimization. Thesis traces the production and use of five framing tools - metaphor, catchphrases, depiction, exemplars and visual images (which are the combination of studies done by Fairhurst & Sarr and Gamson & Modigliani 1989). Second part of the thesis links the framing tools with three stages of the delegitimization of the west - a crisis of confidence, a conflict of legitimacy and a crisis of legitimacy. The...