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Transit police, security, and operations personnel, in cooperation with local law enforcement agencies, implement a variety of security programs to protect transportation agencies, their customers, and employees. Collectively, these programs have demonstrated considerable effectiveness in reducing violent crime and improving customer perceptions of security. These programs, designed to manage traditional security concerns, must now address the threat of transit terrorism. Since the word terrorism was first used to describe the Jacobin excesses of the French Revolution, it has been the explanation for a wide range of acts and motivations around the world. Specific definitions of terrorism vary, but a common element among them is the assessment that terrorism is a form of intimidation designed to influence an audience beyond the immediate victims. The goal of terrorism is not just the impact of a given act of violence on the intended target, but also the psychological impact that violence creates on citizens and politicians.To ensure that acts of terrorism are appropriately identified and investigated, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has been given jurisdiction over terrorism in the United States. The FBI defines terrorism as: "The unlawful use of force or violence, committed by a group(s) of two or more individuals, against persons or property to intimidate or coerce a government, the civilian population, or any segment thereof, in furtherance of political or social objectives." That is, to be considered an act of terrorism, the FBI definition requires three components:
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Due to the limited scope of this definition, FBI statistics point to low levels of terrorist activity in the United States (less than 50 incidents between 1990 and 1997 meeting the FBI definition were reported). The FBI definition generally excludes many violent acts that others who cope with the consequences of terrorist activity believe should be included. For example, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (BATF) reports that more than 2,500 criminal bombings have occurred in the United States each year since 1990. BATF statistics include those events, such as the Fulton Street Firebombing on the New York City Subway, that are not considered "terrorist" acts by the FBI definition. Due to the dramatic increase in criminal bombings, and the related violence associated with explosives and firearms, many transit organizations consider a wider range of activities, more applicable to the transit environment, to guide planning and response activities. This range generally includes both acts of terrorism (according to the FBI definition) and quasi-terrorism. Quasi-terrorist acts are those not meeting the FBI standards for classification as terrorism, but having the following characteristics:
The Changing Threat In public transportation, the changing terrorist threat is best observed through the following four trends: |
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