From: ERRI DAILY INTELLIGENCE REPORT-ERRI Risk Assessment Services-Monday, August 18, 1997-Vol. 3 - 230
EXCERPTS: F.B.I. REPORT ON
DOMESTIC TERRORISM ...
The threat of domestic terrorism in the United States has shifted
from leftist-oriented extremists to increased activities by
extremists associated with right wing groups and special interest
organizations, according a report of the Federal Bureau of
Investigation (F.B.I.).
In its recently released report on "Terrorism in the United
States -- 1995," the F.B.I. says that supporters of
formalized terrorist groups continue to view the United States as
an attractive refuge and staging area.
Also, it said that extremists with loose affiliations to
organizations continue to view the United States as both a
staging area and target.
The report notes that terrorists studying the attack against the
World Trade Center and the Oklahoma City bombing "could
prompt future terrorists to plan their attacks with greater
care."
"Terrorism in the United States continued a general trend in
which fewer attacks are occurring in the United States, but
individual attacks are becoming more deadly," the F.B.I.
report said.
Following are excerpts of the report discussing the current
threat and current trends in domestic terrorism:
CURRENT THREAT --
Domestic Terrorism
The face of domestic terrorism in the United States continued to
change in 1995. The FBI identified a further decline in
traditional left wing domestic extremism, and an increase in
activities among extremists associated with right wing groups and
special interest organizations.
Left Wing Terrorism
Over the last three decades, leftist-oriented extremist groups
posed the predominant domestic terrorist threat in the United
States. In the 1980s, the FBI neutralized many of these groups by
arresting key members who were conducting criminal activity. The
transformation of the former Soviet Union also deprived many
leftist groups of a coherent ideology or spiritual patron. As a
result, membership and support for these groups waned.
The United States still faces a threat from some leftist
extremists, including Puerto Rican terrorist groups. Although
Puerto Rico voted to remain within the U.S. Commonwealth in 1993,
some extremists are still willing to plan and conduct terrorist
acts in order to draw attention to their desire for independence.
Right Wing Terrorism
On the other side of the political spectrum, right wing extremist
groups -- which generally adhere to an anti-government or racist
ideology -- continued to attract supporters last year. Many of
these recruits feel displaced by rapid changes in the U.S.
culture and economy, or are seeking some form of personal
affirmation. As American society continues to change, the
potential for hate crimes by extremist right wing groups is an
increasing concern.
The militia movement in the United States also continued to
attract supporters. Several factors have contributed to the
increase of this generally anti-government effort. The changing
political environment, issues such as gun-control legislation,
United Nations involvement in international affairs, and clashes
between dissidents and law enforcement are cornerstones of
militia ideology.
One product of the militia movement is common law courts. These
courts -- which have no legitimate legal authority -- consist of
self-appointed judges and juries who sometimes issue fraudulent
indictments and warrants.
Some militia members believe that the U.S. Government is part of
a conspiracy to create a "new world order." According
to adherents, in this new order existing international boundaries
will be dissolved and the world will be ruled by the United
Nations. Other militia supporters believe that the federal
government is either too powerful or simply illegal.
Last year, some of these militants continued to conduct
paramilitary training and stockpile illegal weapons in
preparation for unlawful armed action. A few of these more
extreme militia members pose a potential terrorist threat.
Special Interest Extremists
Special interest extremists continued to conduct acts of
politically-oriented crime last year. Violent anti-abortion
advocates were responsible for almost all of these activities.
Due to the efforts of the Department of Justice's Task Force on
Violence Against Abortion Providers (TFVAAP), the number of
abortion-related crimes decreased from 1994 levels. Although the
number of incidents declined, the TFVAAP still investigated more
than 100 violations of the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances
(FACE) Act in 1995.
Two of the most prominent abortion-related events in 1995
included the following:
-- On February 22, 1995, Dr. Elizabeth Karlin, a physician in
Madison, Wisconsin, received two death threat letters. Vincent
Whitaker -- an inmate at a local county jail who was serving a
67-year sentence for reckless injury with a motor vehicle --
later admitted writing the letters. On September 12, 1995,
Whitaker was tried and convicted of two counts of the FACE Act
and sending threats through the U.S. Mail. On November 21, 1995,
Whitaker was sentenced to an additional 63 months imprisonment.
-- In August 1995, John Salvi -- the suspected murderer of two
receptionists during a December 30, 1994, shooting spree at an
abortion clinic in Brookline, Massachusetts -- was declared
competent to stand trial. Salvi is charged under Massachusetts
law with the murders of Shannon Lowney and Lee Ann Nichols, and
five other counts of aggravated assault.
The Civil Rights Division of the Department of justice, through
the TFVAAP, investigates any instance in which customers or
providers of reproductive health services are criminally
threatened, obstructed, or injured while seeking or providing
services.
International Terrorism
Foreign terrorists viewed the United States as a priority target
last year. Foreign terrorists and their supporters continued to
live in and travel throughout this country.
State Sponsors of Terrorism
The recognized state sponsors of international terrorism -- Iran,
Iraq, Syria, Sudan, Libya, Cuba, and North Korea -- continue to
maintain diplomatic establishments here. In the past, the FBI has
investigated allegations that diplomats from some of these
countries were involved in terrorist-related activities.
During the 1995 seditious conspiracy trial in New York of
Egyptian Shaykh Omar Abdel Rahman and several followers, one
Sudanese national testified that Sudanese diplomats were aware of
the conspiracy to bomb major landmarks in New York City. One
Sudanese diplomat allegedly offered to help the conspirators
place a bomb at the United Nations by providing diplomatic
license plates. The U.S. Department of State, in coordination
with the FBI, declared a diplomat at the Sudanese Mission to the
United Nations persona non grata in 1996.
Formal Terrorist Groups
Supporters of formalized terrorist groups -- such as the Egyptian
Al-Gama'at Al-Islamiyya, HAMAS, and Hizballah -- also continued
to view the United States as an attractive refuge and staging
area. Some supporters in the United States are believed to be
conducting criminal activity -- to include military-style
training -- in support of terrorist groups' objectives. With the
conviction of Shaykh Omar Abdel Rahman -- the spiritual leader of
the militant Egyptian Islamic Group -- and the detention of HAMAS
leader Musa Abu Marzook, it is possible that members of formal
terrorist groups may be considering some form of retaliation.
Loosely-Affiliated Extremists
Finally, loosely-affiliated extremists continued to view the
United States as both a staging area and a target. Some of these
unilateral radicals -- who adhere to the worst excesses of hatred
spawned by a variety of international conflicts -- have
demonstrated the ability to use advanced technology in the United
States, travel undetected here, and circumvent the letter and
spirit of U.S. laws. These militants represent the most difficult
international terrorist challenge to the law enforcement and
intelligence communities.
CURRENT TRENDS IN THE UNITED
STATES
Terrorists Are Improving
Over the past year, terrorist supporters in the United States
continued a trend toward improving their ability to collect
information, raise money, and issue rhetoric. Advanced technology
allowed some extremists to communicate efficiently and securely.
Supporters of terrorist groups also continued to send and receive
information from like-minded zealots overseas.
Public computer databases are becoming ubiquitous in the United
States. Some of these networks are repositories for inflammatory
rhetoric which can influence or inflame extremists. Other
databases contain recipes for bombs, hold information on
unconventional weapons, or offer computer viruses for download.
Terrorists may also have learned from past violence in the United
States, particularly the examples set by the World Trade Center
and Oklahoma City bombings. Studying the attacks -- including the
resulting damage, media coverage, and investigative techniques
used to apprehend suspects -- could prompt future terrorists to
plan their attacks with greater care.
Bombs Are Deadlier
Terrorists in the United States continued a general trend in
which fewer attacks are occurring in the United States, but
individual attacks are becoming more deadly. The 1995 Oklahoma
City bombing was one of the largest explosions ever investigated
by the FBI. That single bombing killed more Americans in the
United States than any terrorist attack in the modem era.
Recipes for large explosives are available for any extremist
willing to research them. It is likely that the United States
will continue to face the threat of "spectacular
terrorism" for the foreseeable future.
Unconventional Weapons
Extremists in the United States continued a chilling trend by
demonstrating interest in -- and experimentation with --
unconventional weapons. Over the past ten years, a pattern of
interest in biological agents by criminals and extremists has
developed:
-- In 1984, two members of the Rajneesh religious sect in Oregon
produced and dispensed salmonella in restaurants in order to
affect the outcome of a local election. Seven hundred and fifteen
persons were affected. There were no fatalities.
-- In April 1991, several members of a domestic extremist group
called the Patriot's Council in Minnesota manufactured the
biological agent ricin from castor beans and discussed using it
against federal law enforcement officers. The amount of ricin
produced could have killed over 100 people if effectively
delivered.
-- In May 1995, a U.S. person illegally obtained three vials of
bubonic plague from a firm in Maryland. He was arrested and
charged with fraud. It is still unclear why he ordered the vials.
These events indicate that terrorists and other criminals may
consider using unconventional weapons in an attack here sometime
in the future.
Terrorist Reprisals
Finally, in 1995, numerous foreign and domestic terrorists were
either apprehended or sentenced to prison. Several known
terrorist groups have publicly threatened to retaliate. Other
groups may be considering revenge, but have not broadcast their
intent.
America and Americans have also been a favorite choice of target
for terrorists. Reprisals for U.S. legal action against domestic
and international terrorists increase the likelihood that
Americans will be the target of terrorist attacks either in the
United States and overseas.
Source: United States Information Agency.