Outfits of Suicide Terror: A Ready Reckoner
01 Jan, 2003 · 934
Manoharan provides a comprehensive reference on suicide terrorists. Last updated: 8 July 2004
There are nearly 19 terrorist organizations at present that have resorted to suicide attacks, besides other tactics, on their targets. Some have gone into oblivion, but others continue to operate. The table below provides brief information on the following: existence of a separate suicide unit within the organization if any, base(s) of operation, pre-suicide syndrome, the cause it is fighting for, first suicide attack, number of suicide attacks by end 2001, number of suicide attacks so far, motivation, external support and present status of these tactics adopted by the organization. The outfits are arranged in alphabetical order. This information will be periodically updated. (Last updated: 8 July 2004)
|
Outfit |
Separate Suicide Unit |
Base(s) of Operation |
Pre-suicide syndrome |
Cause it is fighting for |
First attack |
No. of suicide attacks |
Mode of attack |
Main motivation |
External support |
Present Status |
|
Al Amal |
None |
Lebanon, Kuwait |
--- |
Shiite rule in Lebanon |
--- |
25[1] |
Trucks, cars, body suits |
Sectarian |
Iran, Syria |
Not known |
|
Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigade |
Whole unit meant for it |
Israel / Palestine |
--- |
Independent Palestine |
January 2002 |
19[2] |
Cars, body suits |
Palestinian nationalism |
PLO, some Arab States |
Active |
|
Al Dawa |
None |
Lebanon, Kuwait |
--- |
Jihad |
1983 |
2 |
Trucks, cars |
Religion |
Iran |
Not known |
|
Al Qaeda |
Reportedly ‘Hamburg Group’ bonded around Muhammad Atta and ‘Saudi Group’ |
Initially in the Middle- east and later all over the world |
--- |
Directed against the United States, Israel and, of late, India. |
7 Sept 98 |
13 (approx) |
Boats, air craft, trucks, cars, body suits |
Religion, anti-West, charismatic leadership. |
Support base runs across the world and partly from personal wealth |
Spreading tentacles all over the world by its intermittent attacks |
|
Armed Islamic Group (GIS) |
None |
Algeria |
--- |
Islamic state in Algeria |
--- |
1 |
Suit case |
Religion |
Iran, Sudan |
Active, but splintered |
|
Barbar Khalsa International (BKI) |
None |
India |
--- |
Separate Khalistan from India |
--- |
1 |
Body suit |
Separate Kalistan |
Sikh diaspora |
Not known |
|
Chechen rebels |
None |
Russia |
--- |
Separate Chechnya |
July 2000 |
15 |
Trucks, cars, body suits |
Religion |
Al Qaeda, some Islamic NGOs |
Active |
|
Egyptian Islamic Jihad (EIJ) |
None |
Egypt |
--- |
Islamic state in Egypt |
--- |
Not known |
cars |
Religion |
Iran, some Islamic NGOs |
Active |
|
Hamas |
Izz a-Din al Kassam squad |
Israel |
Mass killings without attempts to escape. |
Destruction of Israel and establishment of Palestine |
1993 |
25 |
Suitcase, body suits, car, animals |
Religion |
Palestine diaspora, Iran, some Arab states, some Islamic NGOs |
Presently in the limelight due to on-going second intifada |
|
Hezbullah[3] |
None (trained on ad hoc basis) |
Lebanon, Panama, Argentina |
--- |
To oust ‘foreign’ troops from Lebanon and establish Islamic state |
23 October 1983[4] |
25[5] |
Truck, car, body suits |
Religion |
Iran, Syria |
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