An analysis of terrorist attack perpetrators in England and Wales: comparing lone actors, lone dyads, and group actors.

Kenyon, J., Binder, J.F. and Baker-Beall, C., 2024. An analysis of terrorist attack perpetrators in England and Wales: comparing lone actors, lone dyads, and group actors. Journal of Threat Assessment and Management. ISSN 2169-4842

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Abstract

Three types of terrorist attackers, sentenced between 1983 and 2021, were compared using a sample of 143 individuals convicted of extremist offenses in England and Wales. Attackers were classified as either lone actors, lone dyads, or group actors, and these groups were compared in relation to sociodemographics, ideological affiliation, mental health status, online activities, plot characteristics, and assessments of risk. Data were obtained from coding the content of specialist risk assessment reports. Key findings include that lone actors and lone dyads were significantly more likely to present with mental health issues than group actors. Attackers affiliated with the extreme right wing were more likely to commit attacks alone or in pairs, in contrast to Islamist extremists who were more likely to attack as a group. In terms of trends over time, lone-actor attacks have become increasingly prominent, while the opposite is true for group attacks. The internet was also found to play an important role in radicalization pathways and attack preparation for lone actors and lone dyads, but a lesser role for group-based attackers. No differences were found between attacker groups in assessments of risk by professionals. Gaining an increased understanding of those assuming attacker roles can help guide counterterrorism approaches and future policy.

Item Type:	Journal article
Publication Title:	Journal of Threat Assessment and Management
Creators:	Kenyon, J., Binder, J.F. and Baker-Beall, C.
Publisher:	American Psychological Association
Date:	15 January 2024
ISSN:	2169-4842
Identifiers:	Number Type 10.1037/tam0000224 DOI 1856333 Other
Rights:	© American Psychological Association, 2024. This paper is not the copy of record and may not exactly replicate the authoritative document published in the APA journal. The final article is available, upon publication, at: https://doi.org/10.1037/tam0000224
Divisions:	Schools > School of Social Sciences
Record created by:	Jonathan Gallacher
Date Added:	30 Jan 2024 13:38
Last Modified:	30 Jan 2024 13:38
URI:	https://irep.ntu.ac.uk/id/eprint/50769

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