terrorism 1996 - fbi

TERRoRISMin the United States

1996Counterterrorism Threat Assessment and Warning Unit

National Security Division

I N T R O DUCTIONUnited States soil was the site of three terrorist incidents during 1996. The pipe

bomb explosion during the Summer Olympic Games in Centennial Olympic Parkthat killed two and the robberies and bombings carried out in April and July 1996 bymembers of a group known as the Phineas Priesthood underscored the ever-presentthreat that exists from individuals determined to use violence to advance particularcauses.

The FBI successfully prevented five planned acts of domestic terrorism in 1996.These preventions thwarted attacks on law enforcement officials, prevented plannedbombings of federal buildings, and halted plots to destroy domestic infrastructure.

The explosion of TWA Flight 800 over the Atlantic Ocean near Long Island, New York, on July 17, 1996, resulted in initial speculation that a terrorist attack mayhave been the cause and served to highlight the potential danger terrorists pose toU.S. civil aviation. The FBI, along with the National Transportation Safety Board,devoted significant resources to the criminal investigation throughout 1996.Evidence did not implicate a criminal or terrorist act by year’s-end.

Threats from domestic terrorism continue to build as militia extremists,particularly those operating in the western United States, gain new adherents,stockpile weapons, and prepare for armed conflict with the federal government. Thepotential for domestic right-wing terrorism remains a threat. Special interest groupsalso endure as a threat that could surface at any time.

International terrorists threaten the United States directly. U.S. persons andproperty are targeted by state sponsors of international terrorism, formalized terroristgroups and loosely affiliated international radical terrorists.

Federal law enforcement efforts received a significant boost with the passage ofThe Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act of 1996 (P.L. 104-132). Thisnew law, signed by President Clinton on April 24, 1996, includes several newmeasures aimed at countering both domestic and international terrorism.

Finally, the success of the U.S. Government in arresting, prosecuting, andconvicting perpetrators of past domestic and international terrorist acts may sparkterrorist reprisals against citizens and property here in the United States.

hose who spawn and foster terrorist activities arebecoming increasingly sophisticated in obtaining and

transferring financial support and in planning futureterrorist attacks. Despite the continued use ofconventional weapons by terrorists, the possibility existsthat unconventional weapons of a chemical, biological ornuclear nature could be employed in future attacks withdevastating results on citizens, police, and emergency“first responders.”

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TABLE ofC O N T E N T S

FBI POLICY AND GUIDELINESDefinitions ● 3Note ● 3

1996 IN REVIEWIncidents ● 4Preventions ● 6Accomplishments ● 9

TERRORISM IN THE UNITED STATESGeorgia ● 12New York ● 13Montana ● 13West Virginia ● 14Washington, D.C. ● 14South Carolina ● 15Washington ● 15

CURRENT THREAT: 1996Domestic Terrorism ● 16Right-Wing Terrorism ● 17Left-Wing Terrorism ● 17Special Interest Groups ● 18International Terrorism ● 18

TOPICAL ISSUESThe Changing Face of Terrorism ● 19Current Trends in the United States ● 23

CONCLUSION

APPENDIXChronological Summary of Incidents in the United States ● 26

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nnerrorism in the United States: nn1996 chronicles the results of the nnFBI’s counterterrorism efforts. Major trends and accomplishments incounterterrorism are presented, as well asthe number of terrorist incidents andpreventions. A current threat assessmentand discussion of topical issues are alsoincluded. In addition, the report providesan overview of FBI responsibilities in thearea of terrorism.

TERRORISM IN THE UNITED STATES 1996 2

• Domestic terrorism investigations are con-ducted in accordance with the Attorney General

Guidelines on General Crimes , R a c k e t e e r i n g

Enterprises, and Domestic Security/Terroism

I n v e s t i g a t i o n s .These guidelines set forth thepredication threshold and limits for investiga-tion of crimes, including criminal activities insupport of terrorist objectives.

• International terrorism investigations areconducted in accordance with the Attorney

General Guidelines for FBI Foreign Intelligence Collection and Foreign Counterintelligence

Investigations.These guidelines set forth the predication level and limits for intelli-gence collection through investigations of U.S. persons or foreign nationals in theUnited States who are targeting U.S. national security interests on behalf of a for-eign power.

FBI POLICY AND

GUIDELINES

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Terrorism is a crime under several existing fed-eral statutes. There are several U.S. Code sectionswhich define the criminality of terrorism (forexample, 18 USC §2332b (g)(5), Acts of TerrorismTranscending National Boundaries; 18 USC §3077,Rewards for Information Concerning Terrorist Actsand Espionage; 18 USC §2331(1), Definition of“International Terrorism;” and 18 USC§921(a)(22), Firearms). Additionally, there areprovisions in The Antiterrorism and EffectiveDeath Penalty Act of 1996 which make fundraisingfor a terrorist organization a criminal offense andcriminalize participation in international terroristactivities on U.S. soil. All suspected terroristsplaced under arrest are provided access to legalcounsel and normal judicial procedure, includingFifth Amendment privileges and a fair trial byjudge and jury.

DEFINITIONSThere is no single definition of terrorism. The

FBI defines terrorism as “the unlawful use of forceor violence against persons or property to intimi-date or coerce a government, the civilian popula-tion, or any segment thereof, in furtherance ofpolitical or social objectives.”

The FBI further classifies terrorism as eitherdomestic or international, depending on the origin,base, and objectives of the terrorist organization.For the purpose of this report, the FBI will use thefollowing definitions:

• Domestic terrorism involves groups orindividuals who are based and operatee n t i rely within the United States andPuerto Rico without foreign direction andwhose violent acts are directed at elementsof the U.S. Government or population.

• International terrorism is the unlawfuluse of force or violence committed by agroup or individual, who has some connec-tion to a foreign power or whose activitiestranscend national boundaries, against per-sons or property to intimidate or coerce agovernment, the civilian population, or anysegment thereof, in furtherance of politicalor social objectives.

THE FBI DIVIDES TERRORIST-RELATED ACTIVITY INTO THREE CATEGORIES:

• A terrorist incident is a violent act or anact dangerous to human life, in violation ofthe criminal laws of the United States, or ofany state, to intimidate or coerce a govern-ment, the civilian population, or any seg-ment thereof.

• A suspected terrorist incident is apotential act of terrorism in which responsi-bility for the act cannot be attributed at thetime to a known or suspected terrorist groupor individual.

• A terrorism prevention is a documentedinstance in which a violent act by a knownor suspected terrorist group or individualwith the means and a proven propensity forviolence is successfully interdicted throughinvestigative activity.

NOTEThe FBI investigates terrorism-related matters with -out regard to race, religion, national origin, or gen -der. Reference to individual members of any politi -cal, ethnic, or religious group in this report does notimply that all members of that group are terrorists.Terrorists represent a small criminal minority in anylarger social context.

nnhe 1996 Summer Olympic Games was nnthe largest Olympics in history. Some 2nnmillion visitors were drawn to Georgiafor the Atlanta Olympics, while anadditional 3.5 billion people worldwidewatched the events on television. With1 5,000 athletes representing 197 countriesand numerous foreign heads of state inattendance, the Summer Olympic Gamespresented a unique security challenge.


t 1:20 a.m. (EDT) on July 27, 1996, a pipe bomb exploded at CentennialOlympic Park, a major attraction of the Olympic Games. The local 911 system

received a telephone call warning of the impending bombing at 12:58 a.m.Unfortunately, the warning did not allow sufficient time tolocate and defuse the bomb, and a woman from Albany,Georgia, was killed. A Turkish cameraman suffered a fatalheart attack subsequent to the blast. The Fulton County(Georgia) Medical Examiner ruled his death a homicide, basedon a determination that the heart attack was precipitated bythe bombing. In addition, the blast injured 112 people.

Since then, a law enforcement task force has interviewedhundreds of witnesses, reviewed thousands of photographs andvideo tapes, and conducted extensive forensic analysis. Theinvestigators determined that the bomb was placed under abench in front of the National Broadcasting Company Towerbetween midnight and 12:45 a.m. The device was enclosed ina green, military-style backpack, commonly known as an“Alice pack.” The case remains a high priority, and the FBI is

offering a reward of up to $500,000 for information, photos, or videotape leading tothe arrest and conviction of the bomber(s).

The second terrorist incident of 1996 occurred on April 1, 1996, with bombingsand a bank robbery designed to further the goals of a group known as the PhineasPriesthood, a violent subset of the white separatist Christian Identity Movement.On that day, a pipe bomb exploded in Spokane, Washington, at the Valley Branchof The Spokesman-Reviewnewspaper. Approximately ten minutes later, a branch of

1996 INREVIEW

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the U.S. Bank in Spokane was robbed of $50,000 ina take-over style robbery. At the conclusion of thebank robbery, one of the perpetrators lit a pipebomb. Both robbers then shouted that theiractions were in retaliation for maltreatment of themembers of the Freemen Organization by federalauthorities.

Approximately three months later, on July 12,1996, two armed males placed a pipe bomb at thePlanned Pare n t h o od office in Spokane, Wa s h i n g t o n .The pipe bomb caused extensive damage to thebuilding. Loss of life and injury to persons wasavoided in this third terrorist act of the yearbecause the office was unoccupied at the time thebomb detonated. Minutes later, the same branch ofthe U.S. Bank that was robbed on April 1, 1996,was taken over by three heavily armed, maskedmen. The robbers carried an AK-47, a 12- gaugeshotgun, a revolver, and a 25-pound propane tankbomb.

The FBI identified Robert Sherman Berry,Charles Harrison Barbee, and Verne Jay Merrell assuspects in the bombings and robberies. The spreeof terrorist bombings and robberies ended when theFBI arrested Berry, Barbee, and Merrell on October8, 1996, near Yakima, Washington. At the time oftheir arrests, Berry, Barbee, and Merrell possessed

several handguns, rifles, and hand grenades, as wellas a letter that was identical to those left at thescenes of the previous crimes. These lettersespoused the domestic terrorism philosophy of thePhineas Priesthood. Phineas members allegedlyconspired to conduct bank robberies as a methodof funding their cause and viewed murder as bibli-cal justification for restoring “God’s law.”Subsequent searches of the subjects’ homes andbusinesses revealed a small arsenal of weaponry andgear.

A fourth member of the “Phineas Priesthood”conspiracy, Brian Ratigan, allegedly planted thepipe bomb that exploded in the PlannedParenthood Clinic on July 12, 1996. He was alsosaid to be a participant in the robbery of the U.S.Bank on the same day. Ratigan did not participatein the April 1, 1996 terrorist incident with Berry,Barbee, and Merrell. At the time his three co-con-spirators were arrested, Ratigan was not present.He was arrested by the FBI some five months later.

The efforts expended by the FBI and local lawenforcement in preventing these domestic acts ofviolence resulted in savings of lives, property, andcapital investments and thereby enhanced the safe-ty of the citizenry.

Success in fighting terrorism was notablyachieved in 1996 in the courtroom. Using themachinery of the criminal justice system, the U.S.Government oversaw the successful prosecution

The year 1996 also includedthe prevention of fiveplanned acts of terrorism.These acts were directedagainst local law enforcementofficials in Montana, an FBIfacility in West Virginia,communications andtransportation infrastructure,and banking facilities inWashington state.

TERRORIST I N C I D E N T S

in the

UNITED STATES1992-1996


and conviction of a number of major terrorist lead-ers who committed acts of planned terror againstU.S. persons and property, both at home andabroad. In 1996, alleged World Trade Centerbomber and mastermind Ramzi Ahmed Yousef wasconvicted on conspiracy charges for plotting tobomb U.S. airliners in the Far East; Shaykh OmarAbdel Rahman and nine co-defendants were sen-tenced for conspiring to bomb New York City land-marks and assassinate political leaders; Abu NidalOrganization member Muhammed Ali Rezaq wassentenced to life in prison for his role in the 1985hijacking of an Egyptian airliner; and TsutomuShirosaki, an alleged adherent of the Japanese RedArmy, was arraigned in Washington, D.C., oncharges stemming from the May 14, 1986 firing of arocket launcher at the U.S. Embassy in Indonesia.

Domestically, Ray Willie Lampley and three co-conspirators were found guilty of conspiring to buildand possess a bomb in connection with plannedattacks on civil rights offices, abortion clinics, andfederal buildings. Edward Nicholas LaurentFlinton, a fugitive and alleged member of theJama’at al-Fuqra (FUQRA) Sunni Muslim radicalsect, was arrested on charges relating to violationsof the Colorado Organized Crime Control Act.

Also in 1996, the FBI successfully concluded astand-off involving members of the FreemenOrganization in Montana. For 81 days in 1996, 16

inhabitants of the Freemen’s “Justus Township” heldfederal law enforcement officials at bay followingthe arrest of two of the group’s leaders on variouscharges, including mail and bank fraud, interferencewith commerce by threat of violence, and the carry-ing of firearms during a crime of violence.

Of significant note in the last year, the FBIestablished its Domestic Counterterrorism Center.The Center concept is designed to have FBI SpecialAgents and Intelligence Analysts work closely withpersonnel from other federal law enforcement agen-cies, intelligence organizations, military branches,and federal departments. This interaction hasincreased the ability of the U.S. Government tocounter domestic terrorism at home, as well as ter-rorism emanating from abroad.

On April 24, 1996, President Clinton signedThe Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Actof 1996 (PL 104-132) which provides federal lawenforcement officials with new tools to fight domes-tic and international terrorists. Highlights of thelaw include measures that block terrorist groupsfrom fundraising in the United States, enhance thepowers of the federal government to deny visas topersons belonging to groups that have been desig-nated as terrorist, and simplify the process fordeporting aliens convicted of crimes. The new lawalso bans all U.S. aid to countries that provideassistance or military equipment to terrorist states,

TERRORIST P R E V E N T I O N S

in the

UNITED STATES1992-1996

PREVENTIONS

During 1996, the FBI, work-

ing in conjunction with state

and local law enforcement,

prevented five major planned

acts of domestic terrorism

aimed at public officials, federal

buildings, banking institutions,

and the railroad system.


provides enhanced standing to allow U.S. citizens to sue foreign nations in federal court for terroristacts committed against U.S. nationals abroad, and authorizes approximately $1 billion over a four-yearperiod to strengthen federal law enforcement efforts in the fight against terrorism. Finally, the omnibuslaw broadens federal jurisdiction over crimes linked to terrorism and includes new federal criminal sta-tus for participating in international terrorist activities on U.S. soil.

THE FREEMEN ORGANIZATION

n March 25, 1996, the FBI arrested two members of the Freemen Organization, Leroy Schweitzerand Rodney Skurdal, near Brusett, Montana. The Freemen consider themselves to be “sovereign

citizens” and not bound by the laws of the United States. Members of the Freemen filed illegal liens onlocal, state, and federal property; set up their own court system; and offered rewards for the arrests oflocal and federal officials. The group additionally produced and utilized forged financial instruments,mostly in the form of money orders. Following the March 25, 1996 arrests, several other members ofthe Freemen group, including women and children, barricaded themselves on a ranch near Brusett,which they called “Justus Township.” On June 13, 1996, the FBI successfully negotiated a peaceful endto the 81-day stand-off as the 16 remaining Freemen on the compound surrendered to the FBI. Thearrests of Schweitzer and Skurdal deterred planned acts of terrorism against two local law enforcementofficials.

THE MOUNTAINEER MILITIA

n October 11, 1996, the FBI arrested Floyd Raymond Looker, commanding general of TheMountaineer Militia (TMM), a right-wing paramilitary organization based

in north-central West Virginia. After exchanging apackage containing photographs of blueprints of theFBI’s Criminal Justice Information Services facilityat Clarksburg, West Virginia, and receiving an enve-lope containing $50,000 from an undercover FBISpecial Agent, Looker was taken into custody. TheSpecial Agent posed as a broker for an internationalterrorist organization. Also arrested as a result of theinvestigation were James Richard Rogers, TerrellCoon, Jack Phillips, and Edward Moore, all membersof TMM. Ohio Unorganized Militia-member JamesM. Johnson and his associate Imam Lewis were alsoarrested.

■ JAMES “RICH” ROGERS

■ EDWARD F. MOORE■ FLOYD RAYMOND “RAY” LOOKER

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■ IMAM A. LEWIS■ JAMES M. JOHNSON

■ JACK PHILLIPS


FBI Special Agents executed search warrants, thus enabling them to recover items of evi-dentiary interest, including C-4 plastic explosives, chemicals used in making bombs, detonatorcord, and blasting caps. Also seized were more than 50,000 rounds of ammunition; thirty-three shoulder weapons, including a .50 caliber sniper rifle; and an Uzi-submachine gun.

The arrests of the militia members involved in the conspiracy, and the possession andtransfer of illegal weapons were accomplished before any destruction took place at the FBIfacility.

WASHINGTON STATE MILITIA

n July 27, 1996, FBI Special Agents and Bellingham (Washington)police arrested eight individuals following the recovery and disarma-

ment of pipe bombs and other explosive devices built by members of thegroup. The subjects had discussed plans to bomb various targets, includ-ing a radio tower, a bridge, and a train tunnel while a train was inside.The particular tunnel the group mentioned is utilized by freight trainsand Amtrak passenger trains.

During the arrests, authorities seized two fully automatic machineguns the defendants had made in expectation of a showdown with lawenforcement authorities. All subjects were charged with conspiracy to possess and manufac-ture illegal firearms and destructive devices. The arrested suspects were affiliated with theWashington State Militia, including John Pitner, the leader of the group.

Special Agents arrested five of the suspects in Bellingham, Washington, before they couldfinalize plans to commit a bombing. The undercover investigation of the group culminatedwith raids on three homes in the Seattle and Bellingham, Washington areas.

PHINEAS PRIESTHOOD

Special Agents prevented the robbery of aU.S. Bank branch in Portland, Oregon, on

October 7, 1996. One day later, PhineasPriesthood members Robert Sherman Berry, CharlesHarrison Barbee, and Verne Jay Merrell were arrest-ed by the FBI and accused of waging a six-monthterrorist campaign.

While under surveillance by the FBI onOctober 7, 1996, Berry, Barbee, and Merrell wereobserved casing the Portland branch of the U.S.Bank. The men began making preparations to robthe bank, employing methods identical to those used in two previous robberiesof a U.S. Bank branch in Spokane, Washington. FBI Special Agents respondedproactively, and the three subjects aborted the planned robbery. Searches ofthe vehicles used by the men revealed machine guns, body armor, ski masks,and grenades.

Berry, Barbee, and Merrell had committed previous criminal acts of domes-tic terrorism and were preparing to commit another when arrested. Their finalattempted criminal act of 1996 would have involved a bank robbery and possi-bly the detonation of grenades (in keeping with their previous practice ofexploding pipe bombs). Brian Ratigan, the fourth member of a conspiracy of“Phineas Priests” was charged with Berry, Barbee, and Merrell in a prior crimi-

■ VERNE JAY MERRELL■ CHARLES BARBEE

■ ROBERT S. BERRY

■ PIPE BOMBS

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nal act of domestic terrorism. Ratigan was not withthe three on October 7, 1996, when the robbery ofthe U.S. Bank was prevented.

ACCOMPLISHMENTShe U.S. Government was highly successful dur-ing 1996 in the prosecution and conviction of

foreign and domestic terrorists who perpetrateddeadly acts aimed at U.S. citizens and property.The FBI’s major accomplishments in 1996 includedthe conviction of Ramzi Ahmed Yousef for conspir-acy to bomb U.S. airliners in the Far East, the sen-tencing of Shaykh Omar Abdel Rahman for terror-ist acts intended to create chaos and disrupt life inNew York City, and the conviction and sentencingof Muhammed Ali Rezaq for the offense of air pira-cy as related to the hijacking of EgyptAir Flight648. Other successes included the arraignment of asuspected Japanese Red Army member for attackson the U.S. Embassy in Indonesia and the convic-tions of Ray Willie Lampley and Edward NicholasLaurent Flinton for the commission of domesticacts of terrorism. With the convictions and sen-tencing of these high-profile individuals, the FBIcontinued to fight the spread of terrorism throughlegal recourse in the courtroom. This segmenthighlights these accomplishments.

YOUSEF SENTENCING

uring early January 1995, FBI investigationdetermined that suspected World Trade Center

(WTC) mastermind Ramzi Ahmed Yousef was inthe Philippines, where he was organizing a conspir-acy to bomb U.S. commercial aircraft transiting theFar East region.

On February 7, 1995, an FBI arrest team locat-ed and arrested Yousef in Islamabad, Pakistan. Hewas transported back to New York City andarraigned on charges relating to the WTC bomb-ing. On April 12, 1995, Yousef was indicted in theSouthern District of New York for conspiracy tobomb U.S. airliners. Yousef was convicted on allcounts of conspiracy to commit acts of terrorismworldwide on September 5, 1996. Sentencing willtake place in 1997. The trial of Yousef on WTCbombing-related charges was also scheduled tobegin in 1997.

SHAYKH RAHMAN SENTENCING

uring an intensive four-month investigation in1993, the FBI uncovered a plot to bomb several

New York City locations, including the UnitedNations Building, 26 Federal Plaza which housesthe New York Office of the FBI, and the Lincolnand Holland tunnels, as well as plans to assassinateseveral prominent political figures, includingEgyptian President Hosni Mubarak. The investiga-tion culminated with the arrest of 15 individualsover a two-month period for participation in sedi-tious conspiracy against the Government of theUnited States. One of the subjects arrested,Shaykh Omar Abdel Rahman, is the spiritual leaderof the Al-Gama’a Al-Islamiyya, an Egyptian-basedinternational radical terrorist organization.

During 1994, one defendant pled guilty andagreed to cooperate with the U.S. Government,one defendant pled guilty to lesser charges, and onedefendant was severed from the case.

One defendant pled guilty to the indictmentand one pled guilty to lesser charges, in 1995. Bothagreed to cooperate with the U.S. Government.

On October 1, 1995, the remaining 10 defen-dants, including Shaykh Rahman, were convictedin the Southern District of New York of seditiousconspiracy for forcibly opposing the U.S.Government through the commission and planningof terrorist acts.

On January 17, 1996, the 10 defendants weresentenced for their roles in the seditious conspiracy.The sentences ranged from 25 years to life impris-onment.

ABOUHALIMA INDICTMENT

n September 18, 1996, an indictment wasunsealed in Federal District Court in

Manhattan charging Mohammed Abouhalima withhelping his brother flee the United States days afterthe February 26, 1993 terrorist attack on the WorldTrade Center. The brother, Mahmud Abouhalima,was arrested in his native Egypt weeks after thebombing and was eventually sentenced to 240 yearsin prison for his role in the attack in the sameFederal Court in Manhattan. According to theindictment, Mohammed Abouhalima allegedlydrove his brother to New York’s John F. KennedyInternational Airport for a flight overseas to help

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him avoid arrest in connection with the bombing.If convicted, Abouhalima could face 15 years inprison.

REZAQ CONVICTION AND SENTENCING

n July 19, 1996, Muhammed Ali Rezaq wasconvicted of Air Piracy for his role in the 1985

terrorist hijacking of EgyptAir Flight 648. Rezaq, amember of the Abu Nidal Organization, systemati-cally shot two Israeli and three American passen-gers in the head following the hijacking. OneAmerican and one Israeli died. Fifty-eight peoplein all died as the result of this terrorist incident.Rezaq was sentenced by a U.S. District Court to lifein prison on October 7, 1996.

MOUSA ABU MARZOOK

n May 8, 1996, the U.S. District Court for theSouthern District of New York ruled that

Mousa Abu Marzook, a leader of the Palestinianextremist group known as the Islamic ResistanceMovement, or HAMAS, could be extradited toIsrael. The ruling was upheld on October 9, 1996,by a U.S. District Judge. (At the time of publica-tion of this issue, resolution had not been reachedon whether Marzook would be extradited from theUnited States to Israel to stand trial.)

The case was initiated on July 25, 1995,when the U.S. Immigration and NaturalizationService detained Marzook at New York’s John F.Kennedy International Airport for suspected ter-rorist activity. Based on additional informationprovided by the FBI and the Israeli Government,the Court issued a provisional arrest warrant forMarzook.

On October 5, 1995, the Israeli Governmentformally filed for the extradition of Marzook toIsrael to stand trial on charges of conspiracy tocommit murder and other offenses related to aseries of terrorist bombings in Israel over the pre-vious five years.

n May 14, 1986, two projectiles containing ahigh explosive were fired from a rocket

launcher at the U.S. Embassy compound inJakarta, Indonesia. The projectiles failed toexplode when they landed on the roof andcourtyard of the Embassy compound.

The U.S. Government charged TsutomuShirosaki, an alleged member of the JapaneseRed Army, for his role in the attempted bomb-ing. Shirosaki was taken into custody abroadand turned over to the FBI on September 21,1996, for removal to the United States.

Shirosaki wasarraigned in the U.S.District Court inWashington, D.C., onSeptember 30, 1996.He is presently await-ing trial.

RENDITION OF JAPANESE RED ARMY MEMBER,TSUTOMU SHIROSAKI

■ MUHAMMED ALI REZAQ

■ TSUTOMU SHIROSAKI

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Lampley is a self-proclaimed “Prophet of theMost High” and militia leader with virulent anti-government views. He wrote letters to public fig-ures prophesying theirdeaths as divine retribu-tion for what he said weretheir “corrupt actions.”Lampley also indicated adesire to stockpile home-made bombs and otherweapons to fight a “for-eign invasion.”

ARREST OF EDWARD NICHOLASLAURENT FLINTON

n September 12, 1996, the FBI arrested fugitiveEdward Nicholas Laurent Flinton in a trailer

park in Lake City, South Carolina. Flinton is amember of a radical Sunni Muslim sect known asJama’at al-Fuqra (FUQRA) that is dedicated topurifying Islam through violence. His fugitive sta-tus stemmed from a violation of the ColoradoOrganized Crime Control Act on various charges,including racketeering; conspiracy involving theAugust 1, 1984 arson of a Denver Hare Krishnatemple; and the January 30, 1990 murder of RashidKhalifa, a controversial Muslim religious leader.

Flinton is presently being detained in Denver,Colorado, where he is awaiting trial.

n April 24, 1996, a court convicted Ray WillieLampley, his wife Cecilia Lampley, John Baird,

and Larry Wayne Crow of one count of conspiringto build and possess a destructive device. RayLampley and John Baird were also found guilty ofcarrying a firearm during the commission of a vio-lent crime. Crow was sentenced on April 24,1996, for his part in the conspiracy. Crow had pledguilty to felony charges in February 1996 and testi-fied against the other subjects. Crow receivedthree years probation, six months community con-finement, and 100 hours of community service.On July 10, 1996, Lampley, his wife and Baird weresentenced to prison terms of eleven and one-halfyears, four and one-half years, and ten years,respectively.

At the time of the November 11, 1995 arrest,Lampley possessed all the components to make anammonium nitrate explosive, including a home-made detonating device.

Lampley and his co-conspirators plotted todestroy various buildings,including the SouthernPoverty Law Centerlocated in Montgomery,Alabama; a B’nai B’rithAnti-Defamation Leagueoffice; and severalunspecified federal build-ings.


GUILTY VERDICT FOR RAY WILLIE LAMPLEY

■ CECILIA KAY LAMPLEY

■ RAY WILLIE LAMPLEY

■ LARRY CROW

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GEORGIABOMBING AT CENTENNIAL OLYMPIC PARK

he Summer Olympic Games presented specialsecurity concerns due to the magnitude of the

Games and the widespread international participa-tion in the event. Eight days into the OlympicGames, a terrorist incident occurred.

A pipe bomb exploded in Atlanta’s CentennialOlympic Park on July 27, 1996. The park was a

major attraction but was not a venue site of the Olympic Games. At the time ofthe bombing, the park was crowded with tourists who were attending a concert fea-turing several bands.

TERRORISMIN THE

UNITED STATES

nnhe year 1996 witnessed a dramatic nnbombing that occurred during thennSummer Olympic Games in Atlanta,Georgia, a series of terrorist bombings andbank robberies in Washington state, andnumerous terrorist-related events. Theseevents included law enforcementprevention actions, along with legal activityaimed at punishing those convicted of actsof terrorism perpetrated on U.S. soil ordirected at U.S. citizens.


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One individual died as a direct result of theexplosion, and a Turkish cameraman suffered a fatalheart attack that was attributable to the bombing.Persons in the park injured by the blast numbered112.

FBI investigation has determined that a bombplaced under a bench in front of the NationalBroadcasting Company Tower between midnightand 12:45 a.m. was responsible for the blast. Thecase remains a high priority for the FBI.

NEW YORKWORLD TRADE CENTER BOMBERS CONVICTED

n September 5, 1996, Ramzi Ahmed Yousef,Abdul Murad, and Wali Khan Amin Shah were

convicted in the Southern District of New York onall counts for their roles in the conspiracy to blowup American commercial airliners transiting the FarEast.

The origins of the case date back to February26, 1993, when a massive explosion occurred onthe B-2 level of the parking garage at the WorldTrade Center (WTC) complex in New York City,killing six people and injuring over 1,000. Propertydamage amounted to over half a billion dollars. FBIinvestigation determined that the bomb consistedof roughly 1,200 pounds of explosives. Immediatelyfollowing the bombing, the FBI and other lawenforcement agencies launched a massive coordi-nated effort to process the crime scene and deter-mine who was responsible for the terrorist incident.

In early January 1995, FBI investigation deter-mined that Yousef, the alleged mastermind of theWTC bombing, was in the Philippines organizing aconspiracy to bomb U.S. commercial aircraft flyingin the Far East. On February 7, 1995, an FBI arrestteam, working with Diplomatic Security ServiceOfficers of the U.S. Department of State, locatedand arrested Yousef in Islamabad, Pakistan. He wasimmediately transported back to New York City,arraigned on WTC bombing charges, and indictedin April 1995 on charges relating to the plot tobomb U.S. airliners.

Yousef is scheduled to go on trial for the WTCbombing in 1997.

SENTENCING OF SHAYKH FOR NEW YORK CITYBOMB PLOT

n January 17, 1996, sentencing occurred forShaykh Omar Abdel Rahman and nine co-

defendants in the Southern District of New Yorkfor their roles in a 1993 plot to bomb the United Nations building, the New York Office ofthe FBI, and the Lincoln and Holland tunnels.The sentences ranged from 25 years to life impris-onment.

This terrorist plot to disrupt life in New YorkCity was uncovered following an intensive FBIinvestigation involving the FBI/New York CityPolice Department Joint Terrorism Task Force, aswell as FBI offices in Newark and Philadelphia.Shaykh Rahman and his followers plotted thebombing campaign as well as the assassination ofseveral prominent political figures.

Rahman is the spiritual leader of the Al-Gama’aAl-Islamiyya, an Egyptian-based international radi-cal terrorist organization.

INDICTMENT OF WORLD TRADE CENTER BOMBER’SBROTHER

ohammed Abouhalima was indicted in FederalDistrict Court in Manhattan in July 1996. The

indictment was formally unsealed on September 18,1996. Abouhalima is the brother of one of the fourmen convicted of bombing the World Trade Centerand was himself charged with helping his brotherflee the United States days after the attack.

MONTANAFREEMEN STANDOFF

n March 25, 1996, the FBI arrested Leroy M.Schweitzer and Daniel Peterson near Brusett,

Montana. Charges against the two included mailand bank fraud, interference with commerce bythreat of violence, aiding and abetting, carryingfirearms during a crime of violence, and other

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firearms-related charges. Schweitzer and Petersonwere leaders of the Freemen, a small group of indi-viduals in central Montana who hold strong feel-ings against the U.S. Government. Individualsmost active in the group had experienced severefinancial problems, and many of their propertieswere the subject of foreclosure proceedings. Theseexperiences led members to view themselves as“sovereign citizens” and a law unto themselves.Their arrest sparked an 81-day stand-off which pit-ted the 16 remaining Freemen inhabitants of the“Justus Township” compound against federal lawenforcement officials.

Members of the Freemen Organization engagedin “paper terrorism” by clogging legal and financialinstitutions in Montana with phoney documentssuch as illegal liens on property and forged moneyorders. Soon the group escalated their tactics bythreatening government employees and conductingcourt proceedings in their own common law courts.During 1994, Freemen-generated documents werecirculated in parts of Montana, offering a bounty of$1 million for the arrest and conviction of theGarfield County prosecutor and sheriff as well asother local government officials.

The stand-off, which began on March 26, 1996,was peacefully concluded on June 13, 1996, withthe surrender of 16 individuals.

WEST VIRGINIAMOUNTAINEER MILITIA MEMBERS ARRESTED

n October 11, 1996, Floyd Raymond Lookerwas arrested in north-central West Virginia.

Looker is the commanding general of a right-wingparamilitary organization known as TheMountaineer Militia.

The group obtained blueprints of the FBI’sCriminal Justice Information Services facility inWest Virginia and attempted to sell the plans toanother terrorist organization. When arrested,Looker had just received $50,000 for the blueprintsfrom an undercover FBI Special Agent posing as afrontman for a terrorist group.

The Mountaineer Militia had been under inves-tigation for possession and interstate transportationof explosive materials. The investigation revealedthat the group possessed unlicensed automaticweapons and silencers.

WASHINGTON, D.C.REZAQ SENTENCED TO LIFE IN PRISON

n June 17, 1996, the trial of Abu NidalOrganization terrorist Omar Mohammad Ali

Rezaq commenced in Washington, D.C. On July19, 1996, Rezaq was convicted on charges of AirPiracy, and on October 7, 1996, he was sentencedto life in prison.

Rezaq’s trial resulted from the November 23,1985 terrorist hijacking of EgyptAir Flight 648 enroute from Athens, Greece, to Cairo, Egypt. Uponlanding in Malta, Rezaq shot two Israeli and threeAmerican passengers in the head and dumped theirbodies on the tarmac. Two of these shooting vic-tims, one American and one Israeli, died. OnNovember 24, 1985, Egyptian commandoes stormedthe aircraft in a rescue attempt. However, in theensuing chaos, 58 passengers were shot or burned todeath aboard the aircraft. On July 15, 1993, an FBIarrest team took Rezaq into custody in Lagos,Nigeria, and brought him back to the United Statesto stand trial on Air Piracy charges.

EMBASSY ATTACKER APPREHENDED

he apprehension of Tsutomu Shirosaki, aJapanese Red Army member, occurred abroad

on September 21, 1996. Shirosaki allegedlylaunched two explosives at the U.S. Embassy inJakarta and onto the Embassy grounds on May 14,1986.

The FBI returned Shirosaki to the United States where he was arraigned onSeptember 30, 1996, in U.S. District Court for theDistrict of Columbia. Charges against Shirosakiinclude assault with intent to murder, attemptedmurder of internationally-protected persons, andattempted destruction of buildings.

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SOUTH CAROLINAFUQRA TERRORIST FUGITIVE CAPTURED

n September 12, 1996, the Columbia FBI FieldOffice arrested Edward Nicholas Laurent

Flinton, also known as Edward Soloman Katz andWilliam Alfred Lemay, in Lake City, SouthCarolina. Flinton, a fugitive at the time and mem-ber of the Sunni Muslim radical sect known asJama’at al-Fuqra (FUQRA), faced charges underthe Colorado Organized Crime Control Act forracketeering, conspiracy, arson, and murder.

The search of a storage locker on September 14,1989, by the Colorado Springs Police Departmentproduced various documents and photographs iden-tifying targets and describing methods of attack.On October 8, 1992, federal andstate authorities conducted asearch of the FUQRAmountain property nearBuena Vista,Colorado.

This search pro-duced additionaldocuments as wellas a cache ofweapons, whichresulted in theindictment ofseven additionalindividuals chargedwith violation of theColorado OrganizedCrime Control Act.

WASHINGTONPHINEAS PRIESTHOOD ACTS OF TERRORISM

n April 1, and July 12, 1996, members of whatis believed to be a white separatist Phineas

Priesthood cell robbed the same branch of the U.S.Bank. Both robberies were preceded by bombingsby the cell. On April 1, a bombing took place at a

building belonging to Spokane’s The Spokesman-

Reviewnewspaper, and on July 12, a pipe bombexploded at an abortion clinic. No one wasinjured in either bombing, but there was significantproperty damage. Law enforcement officials dis-covered white supremacist Phineas Priesthood doc-uments at both crime scenes. These documentsmade clear that the bombings and robberies wereperpetrated in furtherance of the goals of this vio-lent group.

On October 8, 1996, the FBI and the SpokaneTask Force members arrested Robert Berry, CharlesBarbee, and Verne Merrill. (The Task Force wascreated specifically for this case.) The three werecharged with attempted bank robbery and explo-

sives possession. Brian Ratigan was later arrestedby the FBI and charged with planting the

pipe bomb at the abortion clinic and theJuly 12, 1996 robbery of the U.S.

Bank.

WASHINGTON STATE BOMB PLOTTER ARRESTED

n July 27, 1996, the FBI’sSeattle Division arrested

eight individuals nearBellingham, Washington, charg-

ing them with offenses whichincluded the manufacture and pos-

session of explosive devices, conspira-cy, and transfer of illegal weapons. These

individuals, who are affiliated with theWashington State Militia, discussed plans to

bomb various targets, including a bridge, a railroadtunnel used by freight trains and Amtrak, and aradio tower. Although no specific time frame wasset for the attacks, one leader of the group indicat-ed that it would take place in retaliation for theU.S. Government relinquishing control to theUnited Nations.

The arrests of group members involved in theconspiracy occurred before final plans were madefor the bombing campaign.

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nnhe terrorist threat in the United States isnncomposed of two separate nncomponents: domestic terrorists andforeign terrorists. Each presents aseparate and distinct threat.


he current domestic terrorist threat stems in part from the rise of the militiamovement in the United States. Several factors have contributed to the

growth of this movement, including gun-control legislation, fears of increasedUnited Nations involvement in domestic affairs, and several recent clashesbetween right-wing groups and law enforcement.

Concurrently, the FBI has seen an increase in activities among extremists asso-ciated with right-wing groups and special interest organizations. Right-wing terror-ists are usually guided by racist or anti-Semitic philosophy and are concerned withensuring the survival of the white race and/or the United States.

Traditional left-wing domestic extremism has continued to decline from thelevels seen in previous years.

DOMESTIC TERRORISMomestic terrorism involves groups or individualswho are based and operate entirely within the

United States and its territories, and are directed atelements of the U.S. Government or population,without foreign influence. Domestic terrorist groupsrepresent right-wing, left-wing, and special interestbeliefs. Their causes spring from issues relating toAmerican political and social concerns.

Domestic terrorism investigations are conductedin accordance with the Attorney General Guidelines on General Crimes, Racketeering

Enterprises, and Domestic Security/Terrorism Investigations.These guidelines governthe justification, elements, and duration of FBI investigations.

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RIGHT-WING TERRORISMhe major themes espoused today by right-winggroups are conspiracies, such as the New World

Order and gun-control laws, apocalyptic viewsstemming from the approach of the millennium,and white supremacy. Many right-wing extremistgroups also articulate antigovernment and/or anti -taxation and anti-abortion sentiments, and engagein survivalist and/or paramilitary training to ensurethe survival of the United States as a white,Christian nation. A convergence of ideas hasoccurred among right-wing white supremacistgroups. Efforts have been made by these groups toreduce openly racist views in order to appeal to abroader segment of the population and to focusmore attention on antigovernment rhetoric andresistance to anti-Christian court decisions.

Many extremist right-wing organizations gener-ally operate through political involvement withinthe established system. Most activity is verbal andis protected by the First Amendment right of freespeech. Adherents of extremist organizations aregenerally law-abiding citizens who have becomeintolerant of what they perceive to be violations oftheir constitutional rights. Certain extremists,however, such as members of the “militia” or “patri-ot” movement are unable to work within existingstructures of government. These activists wish toremove federal involvement from a host of issues.For example, some militia members do not identifythemselves as U.S. citizens and refuse to pay federalincome taxes.

Membership in a militia organization is not anillegal activity in the United States. FBI interest inthe militia movement is based upon the rise of vio-lence or potential for violence or criminal activitystemming from the militia movement.

Militias are typically loose knit in nature.Adherents often are members of multiple groups,and because leaders of these groups tend to greatlyinflate membership levels, actual group size is diffi-cult to determine.

The most ominous aspect of the militias is theconviction, openly expressed by many members,that an impending armed conflict with the federalgovernment necessitates paramilitary training andthe stockpiling of weapons. Some militia membersbelieve that federal authorities are enacting gun-control legislation in order to make it impossible for

the people to resist the imposition of a “tyrannicalregime” or a “one-world dictatorship.” Many mili-tia supporters believe that the conspiracy involvesthe United Nations as well as federal authorities.

The growth of the militia movement is traced,in part, to an effective communications system.Organizers promote their ideology not only at mili-tia meetings, but at gun shows, patriot rallies, andgatherings of various other groups espousingantigovernment sentiments. Video tapes, computerbulletin boards, and networks such as the Internetare used with great effectiveness by militia sympa-thizers. Exploiting yet another medium, pro-mili-tia fax networks disseminate material from well-known hate-group figures and conspiracy theorists.

Another phenomenon related to militias is theestablishment of so-called “Common Law Courts.”These courts, which have no legitimate legal basis,have self-appointed judges and juries, and haveissued nonbinding “indictments” or “warrants”against law enforcement and government officialswho have investigated or served them legal papers.

LEFT-WING TERRORISMhe United States still faces a threat from someleftist extremists, including Puerto Rican terror-

ist groups. Although Puerto Rico voted in 1993 toremain within the U.S. Commonwealth, someextremists are still willing to plan and conduct ter-rorist acts in order to draw attention to their desirefor independence.

Left-wing groups generally profess a revolution-ary socialist doctrine and view themselves as pro-tectors of the American people against capitalismand imperialism. They aim to bring about a changein the United States and believe that this can onlybe accomplished through revolution, such as well-orchestrated criminal actions rather than participa-tion in the established political process.

In the past, left-wing terrorist groups haveclaimed credit for numerous bombing attacks in theUnited States and Puerto Rico. These attacks havetargeted military facilities, corporate offices, andfederal buildings. Such groups believe that bomb-ings alone will not result in change, but they aretools to gain publicity for their cause and therebyearn the support of the masses.

Over the last three decades, leftist-oriented

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extremist groups posed the predominant domesticterrorist threat in the United States. In the 1980s,the FBI dismantled many of these groups by arrest-ing key members who were conducting criminalactivity. The dissolution of the Soviet Union alsodeprived many leftist groups of a coherent ideologyor spiritual patron. As a result, membership andsupport for these groups has waned, and the threathas diminished.

SPECIAL INTEREST TERRORISM

pecial Interest” terrorism differs from tradition-al left-wing and right-wing terrorism since spe-

cific interest resolutions are sought, rather thanwidespread political changes. Some of the specialinterests of these groups include animal rights, envi-ronmental issues, and Hawaiian independence.

While the causes special interest groups repre-sent can be understandable or even noteworthy innature, they are separated from traditional law-abid-ing special interest groups by the conduct of crimi-nal activity. These terrorist groups are attemptingthrough their violent criminal actions to force vari-ous segments of society, including the general pub-lic, to change attitudes about issues consideredimportant to them. Therefore, special interestgroups will continue to present a threat that couldsurface at any time.

INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM

nternational terrorism against the United Statesis foreign based and/or directed by countries or

groups outside the United States. The activities ofthese countries or groups transcend national bound-aries. The current international terrorist threat toU.S. persons and interests continues from years pastand can be divided into three categories: statesponsors of international terrorism, formalized ter-rorist groups, and loosely affiliated international rad-ical extremists.

The first threat to Americans comes from theactivities of state sponsors of international terrorism.State sponsors include Iran, Iraq, Syria, Sudan,Libya, Cuba, and North Korea. In recent years, ter-rorist activities of Cuba and North Korea havedeclined due primarily to the deteriorating econom-

ic situations in both countries. However, the activi-ties of Iran, Iraq, Syria, Sudan, and Libya have con-tinued.

State sponsors continue to view terrorism as atool of foreign policy. Past activities included directterrorist support and operations by official stateagents. Following successful investigations whichhave identified their involvement in terrorism, statesponsors now generally seek to conceal their supportof terrorism by relying on surrogates to conduct actu-al operations. State sponsors, however, continue toengage in anti-Western terrorist activities by fund-ing, organizing, networking, and providing othersupport and infrastructure to many extremists. Aclassic example of state-sponsored terrorism is theattack on Pan Am Flight 103 in 1988, which killed270 people. Two Libyan intelligence operatives wereindicted for their role in the attack.

The second terrorist threat to U.S. interests isposed by formalized terrorist groups. Theseautonomous organizations have their own infrastruc-tures, personnel, financial arrangements, and train-ing facilities. They are able to plan and mount ter-rorist campaigns overseas and support terrorist opera-tions inside the United States. Extremist groupssuch as Lebanese Hizballah, the Egyptian Al-Gama’aAl-Islamiyya, and the Palestinian HAMAS havesupporters inside the United States who could beused to support an act of terrorism here. Hizballah isone of the most dangerous of these groups.Hizballah has staged numerous anti-U.S. terroristattacks, including the suicide truck bombing of theU.S. Embassy and the U.S. Marine barracks inLebanon in 1983 and the U.S. Embassy annex inLebanon in 1984. Elements of the group were alsoresponsible for the kidnaping and detention of U.S.hostages in Lebanon.

Other formalized terrorist groups include theIrish Republican Army and Sikh terrorist elements.These groups have committed criminal activities inthe United States over the years, including weaponsacquisition, illegal immigration, and provision of safehaven to fugitives.

The final terrorist threat to U.S. interests stemsfrom loosely affiliated international radical extrem-ists, such as Ramzi Ahmed Yousef, and the otherWorld Trade Center bombers. These extremists areneither surrogates of, nor strongly influenced by, anyone nation. They have the ability to tap into a vari-ety of official and private resource bases in order tofacilitate terrorist acts against U.S. interests.

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THE CHANGING FACE OF TERRORISMhere are a broad range of threats confronting the United States. Many areexternal—the result of changes around the world which have brought unrest,

armed conflict, and political instability. The U.S. Government continues to fightterrorism in five traditional ways: diplomacy, sanctions, covert operations, militaryoptions, and law enforcement action. In this modern era of law enforcement, theresponsibilities of the FBI include the protection and safety of American citizensfrom terrorist acts within the United States, as well as the application of itsextraterritorial jurisdiction in instances where Americans are harmed by terroristacts abroad.

On April 24, 1996, just over a year after the Oklahoma City bombing, PresidentClinton signed The Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act of 1996 whichwas designed in part to bolster federal powers to fight terrorism. The House-Senatecompromise bill bans fund-raising activities in the United States by terrorist-linkedorganizations and expedites deportation of aliens convicted of felonies.

One example of federal law enforcement efforts in combating the terrorist threatis FBI participation in the Critical Infrastructure Working Group (CIWG). TheFBI has been a participant since January 1996, by request of the Attorney General.The CIWG was created to assist the Attorney General in reviewing “the vulnerabil-ity to terrorism of...critical national infrastructure and making recommendations to[the President] and the appropriate Cabinet member or Agency head” as required bya Presidential mandate. Infrastructure is the system of interdependent networkswhich is made up of identifiable industries and institutions that provide a continualflow of goods and services essential to the security and welfare of this country. Thecritical infrastructures include electrical power, gas and oil, transportation, telecom-munications, banking and finance, continuity of government, water supply systems,and emergency services.

TOPICALISSUES

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The FBI also uses cooperative measures in countering the broad array of terroristthreats by participating in organized groups of the world’s leading industrialized countries,now known as The Eight (formerly the G-8). The Eight consists of the member states ofGermany, France, Russia, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, the United States andCanada. Following the deadly Khobar Towers bombing in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, whichkilled 19 U.S. servicemen, and the Lyon Summit in June 1996, a Terrorism ExpertsWorking Group convened in Paris, France, to consider specific, cooperative measures torecommend for implementation. At the Ministerial in July 1996, Attorney General Janet Reno presented a statement identifying several key proposals eventually incorporatedinto an amended Declaration of Principles. The Eight member nations have pledged tostrengthen the ability of the international community to stop terrorism before it happensand to respond more effectively if it does occur.

THE FINANCING OF TERRORISM

here has been a steady decrease in the amount of financial support provided to terror-ist groups by state sponsors of terrorism. A noted exception is Iran, which continues

to fund terrorist organizations, both in the Middle East and abroad. However, and in spiteof countervailing measures such as Executive Order 12947, “Prohibiting Transactions withTerrorists Who Threaten to Disrupt the Middle East Peace Process,” terrorists are increas-ingly more sophisticated in their methods of obtaining and transferring funds—utilizingfinancial institutions and front companies to launder the money. Those groups that lackforeign support generally rely on criminal activity to obtain operational support.

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JOINT TERRORISM TASK FORCES

he FBI works to combat terrorism on thedomestic front through its participation in Joint

Terrorism Task Forces (JTTFs). The first JTTF wasinitiated in 1980 in New York. In 1996, there were14 formalized JTTFs operating in the FBI field divi-sions throughout the country. The formation of sev-eral additional JTTFs is in the process of beingestablished.

JTTFs strive to increase the effectiveness andproductivity of scarce personnel and logisticalresources, to avoid duplication of investigativeeffort, and to expand cooperation and liaisonamong federal, state and local law enforcement.

The composition of JTTFs include SpecialAgents of the FBI, other federal agencies (e.g., U.S.Marshals, U.S. Department of State, U.S. CustomsService, the Immigration and NaturalizationService, U.S. Secret Service, and the Bureau of

FBI JOINT TERRORISMTASK FORCES

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Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms), and state andlocal law enforcement personnel. Supervision isshared by the involved agencies with the FBI main-taining overall responsibility for the operation ofthe JTTFs.

JTTFs have the mission of gathering intelli-gence with regard to domestic and internationalterrorist organizations, conducting investigationsrelated to planned terrorist acts, preventing suchacts, if possible, or investigating the facts and col-lecting evidence should a terrorist act occur intheir territorial responsibility. Furthermore, JTTFsattempt to neutralize terrorist groups, and whereapplicable, pursue the effective prosecution of iden-tified offenders.

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UNCONVENTIONAL WEAPONS AND TECHNIQUES

errorists continue to rely on conventional weapons such as bombs and small arms;however, the following examples suggest that terrorists and other criminals may con-

sider using unconventional weapons and techniques in an attack here at some point inthe future.

• On February 28, 1995, a jury in Minnesota convicted Patriot Council mem-bers Douglas Allen Baker and Leroy Charles Wheeler for the manufacture ofRicin, a highly toxic biological substance made from castor beans. They manu-factured the Ricin to use as a weapon against a Deputy U.S. Marshal and aSheriff. These law enforcement officials served papers on an associate of the twomen who was also a member of the Patriot’s Council, a small antigovernment taxprotest group based in Minnesota. The amount of biological agent producedcould have killed over 100 people, if effectively delivered.

• An Amtrak train derailed near Hyder, Arizona, on October 9, 1995. Thederailment of the 12-car Sunset Limited killed 1 person and seriously injured 12others. Investigation by the FBI, Amtrak, and Southern Pacific Railroad person-nel revealed that the train tracks had been deliberately sabotaged, causing thetrain to derail. Four typed letters were found at the scene which mentioned theBureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, the FBI, “Ruby Ridge,” and “Waco.”The letters were signed “Sons of the Gestapo.”

TERRORIST REPRISALS

he FBI has recorded numerous successes against domestic and international terroristsinside the United States and overseas. These successes include prevention of terror-

ist attacks before they occurred, and an effective response leading to the identificationand apprehension of terrorists after attacks against the United States. With the incarcer-ation of Shaykh Omar Abdel Rahman—the spiritual leader of the militant Al-Gama’aAl-Islamiyya—and the detention and pending status of HAMAS leader Mousa AbuMarzook, it is possible that members of formal terrorist groups may consider some form ofretaliation.

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As long as violence is viewedby some as a viable means toattain political and socialgoals, extremists will engagein terrorism.


CURRENT TRENDS IN THE UNITED STATESSPECIAL EVENTS

ajor events taking place inside the United States may be seen as attractive targetsfor terrorism. The Summer Olympic Games were the largest special event held on

U.S. soil. This was followed by the Republican National Convention in San Diego,California, from August 12-15, 1996, and the Democratic National Convention inChicago, Illinois, from August 26-29, 1996. New York City hosted the 50thAnniversary of the United Nations General Assembly from September 19 to October11, 1996. Simultaneously, planning and preparation for the 1997 PresidentialInauguration had also begun. These special events present unique challenges for lawenforcement. All are high-profile events, commanding worldwide media attention.Heads of state and foreign ministers, presidential candidates and distinguished politicalofficials, decorated athletes and enthusiastic fans from all over the world present a pow-erful motivating force for individual zealots or terrorist extremists to use these events asstaging areas for their causes.

The FBI is the lead investigative agency in the ongoing fight against terrorism in theUnited States. In this capacity, the FBI works closely with law enforcement counter-parts and local officials to identify key areas of potential concern and to implementeffective security countermeasures at these events. Unfortunately, the massive mediaattention afforded these events is often viewed as an excellent opportunity in which toexecute a terrorist act or to stage an incident designed to disrupt the event.

THE 1996 SUMMER OLYMPIC GAMES

or the second time in just over a decade, the Summer Olympic Games were held inthe United States. This XXVI Olympiad marked the 100th

anniversary of the modern Olympic Games. The Olympics, last hostedin the United States by Los Angeles, California, in 1984, began inAtlanta, Georgia, on July 19, 1996. The event brought approximately 2million visitors to the Atlanta area, including foreign heads of state andathletes from 197 countries around the world. With an estimated 11million event tickets sold, more than the Los Angeles, Barcelona, andSeoul Games combined, the Atlanta Olympics is the largest peacetimeevent ever held.

The FBI assumed responsibility for identifying areas of security con-cern, implementing additional security countermeasures, and coordinat-ing response plans with law enforcement and other “first responder”agencies. The FBI also had lead agency jurisdiction over any act of vio-lence committed against protected foreign officials, to include the ath-letes, coaches, trainers, and other members of the Olympic family. Inaddition, the FBI coordinated all intelligence collection and dissemination of relevantintelligence concerning threats directed against this event. Despite this massive effort,the event was marred by the tragedy of the bombing at Centennial Olympic Park.

Prior to the bombing at Centennial Olympic Park, there had not been a successfulterrorist attack launched at an international sporting event since the 1972 attack at theOlympics in Munich, Germany, which resulted in the deaths of 11 Israeli athletes. Bythe end of the nearly 20-hour siege, which culminated in an airfield shootout, four ter-

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Railway Line. The latter is a major commuter linerunning from New Jersey to New York City. Atone point, it passes through the parking garage ofthe World Trade Center Complex, where the1,200-pound urea nitrate bomb detonated. Lessthan four months later, a group of followers ofShaykh Omar Abdel Rahman planned to use explo-sives to unleash a campaign of terror on New YorkCity. Their targets included the Lincoln andHolland tunnels, major arteries into and out ofNew York City. Obviously, the worldwide terroristthreat to aviation and other transportation systemsstill exists, both within the United States and out-side. At the time of the explosion of TWA 800 onJuly 17, 1996, worldwide attention focused on thepossibility that this was yet another terrorist threatto aviation security.

In the aftermath of the TWA 800 explosion,President Clinton issued Executive Order 13015 onAugust 22, 1996, directing Vice President Gore tocreate and chair a Presidential Commission to serveas an advisory group on aviation safety and security.The Commission, known as the White HouseCommission on Aviation Safety and Security, wasempowered to study matters involving aviationsafety and security, and to develop recommenda-tions to improve the nation’s aviation safety andsecurity procedures, both domestically and interna-tionally. The President subsequently appointed 21members to the Commission, including FBIDirector Louis J. Freeh.

By their very nature, U.S. transportation sys-tems are vulnerable to terrorist attack. As long asviolence is viewed by some as a viable means toattain political and social goals, extremists willengage in terrorism. However, transportation sys-tems across the United States have increased theirlevels of security, and protection of the nation’scritical transportation infrastructures remains anational security priority. The FBI has been aidedin this counterterrorism mission by the AviationSecurity Improvement Act of 1990 and, morerecently, the Federal Aviation Reauthorization Actof 1996. These initiatives have resulted in securityenhancements at U.S. airports to ensure the safetyof domestic air transportation systems and expand-ed cooperative measures and coordination betweenfederal agencies.

rorists were killed and one policeman and one heli-copter pilot had also died. The tragedy was playedout in front of millions of television viewersthroughout the world. Its impact is evident to thisday, in the high security and concern surroundingmajor international special events.

TERRORIST THREATS TO TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS

nternational aircraft and airports have been ahigh-profile target of terrorist groups through-

out the years. Most recently, our civil aviation sys-tem has been the attention of considerable mediacoverage, with particular attention directed toissues surrounding aviation safety, as well as thesecurity of our ground transportation systems.Airports, and other transportation facilities, bytheir very nature and design, present an attractivetarget to terrorists, where the objective for inflict-ing mass casualties can be obtained. To preventthese actions from occurring, the law enforcementand intelligence communities are increasinglybeing called upon for guidance to assess the securitycountermeasures at our airports, in an effort to fur-ther strengthen and prevent acts of terrorismagainst this important transportation infrastructure.The FBI plays a major role in providing intelli-gence and threat warnings to protect our nation’stransportation systems.

The traditional threat to aviation has stemmedfrom international terrorists. State sponsors of ter-rorism, many formal terrorist groups and looselyaffiliated extremists view the United States as anenemy. Some examples of the aviation threat frominternational terrorists include the bombings of PanAm Flight 103 in December 1988 and UTA Flight772 in September 1989.

Recently, terrorist attacks against aircraft andother transportation facilities, both here in theUnited States and abroad, have taken a disturbingupswing. Examples include the conspiracy byRamzi Ahmed Yousef and others to bomb U.S. air-liners in Asia in December 1994; the derailment ofan Amtrak passenger train near Hyder, Arizona, inOctober 1995, which killed 1 and injured 78; andthe bombing of the World Trade Center inFebruary 1993, which substantially damaged thePort Authority Transportation and Housing

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CONCLUSION

he United States is an attractive target for terrorist attacks andwill remain so for the foreseeable future. Because of threats ema-

nating from domestic and international sources, the prevention of ter-rorist acts before they occur will continue to be the primary mission ofthe FBI’s Counterterrorism Program.

The FBI is committed to combating terrorism on three fronts:international terrorism operations within the United States, domesticterrorism operations, and countermeasures pertaining to both interna-tional and domestic terrorism. The FBI will continue to aggressivelylocate and arrest terrorists who have committed criminal acts of terroragainst U.S. persons and property, both at home and abroad.

Steps taken by the executive, legislative and judicial branches in1996 helped strengthen federal law enforcement in the fight againstterrorism. The FBI will continue to direct its efforts to preventing ter-rorist incidents from occurring in the United States.

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