Task Complex terrorist attacks – which involve multiple offenders conducting a series of coordinated and/or simultaneous attacks – require planning, intent and capability and can have catastrophic consequences if successfully conducted. This assignment will focus on comparing two complex terrorist attacks:
• In September 2001, members of al-Qa’eda conducted a complex and coordinated attack against the United States. Over 2,900 people were killed in the attacks.
• In November 2015, a group of terrorists targeted six locations in Paris, France, killing 130 people. The Islamic State claimed responsibility for the attack in an online statement. Prepare an academic essay comparing the following two complex terrorist incidents:
• New York, Washington DC and Pennsylvania (11 September 2001)
• Paris (13 November 2015) Compare the two incidents using the following factors:
• What was the motivation (ideology) for conducting the attack?
• Who or what were targeted in the attacks?
• What tactics were used?
• Should these incidents be considered acts of terrorism?
• What were the local, regional and international reactions to the incidents?
• What was the impact of the incidents? Did anything change as a result of the incidents? Notes
• When comparing the two incidents, consider what was similar and what was different between the incidents. For example, were the tactics similar (. did both incidents involve bombings?) or were they different (. one incident involved offenders with automatic weapons/firearms and the other involved suicide bombers)?
• The essay should include a clear introduction and conclusion but does not need an executive summary. • To successfully complete this assignment, students must demonstrate a high level of research where a minimum of 15 references are utilised to establish an informed argument.
• All references (in-text and end-text) should be cited using APA 7th edition formatting.
