Radicalization in the U.S. and the Rise of Terrorism

PURPOSE:

• To address the scope of radicalization, and assess what steps can be taken to mitigate the rise of terror via lone wolf attacks and organized terrorist plots.

BACKGROUND:

• There have been numerous terrorist atrocities conducted by radicalized individuals in cities such as San Bernardino, Orlando, Brussels, Nice, Ankara, and Istanbul, to name a few.
• Such attacks, committed by radicalized Islamic extremists targeting unsuspecting populations in vulnerable public places, appear to be the new template for terrorist activity.  The randomness of these attacks makes it difficult for law enforcement to protect the public.
• Technological advances have enabled vulnerable Homegrown Violent Extremists, both foreign fighters and lone wolves, to be recruited, radicalized, and mobilized for terror attacks via social media in mere days.