Technology and terrorism / edited by Paul Wilkinson.

Includes bibliographical references (pages 140-148) and index.

Foreword / Paul Wilkinson -- Politics and Policies -- Strategies -- Terror Group Operations -- Current Trends and Future Threats -- Misconceptions -- Counter-terrorism.

The role of technology is crucial to any adequate assessment of the terrorist threat and the measures needed to combat it effectively. Technology and Terrorism fills a huge gap in the literature and reflects the latest thinking of scientists, technologists and analysts of terrorism. Among the key questions they address are: What part has technology played in the causation of terrorism? Have terrorists been primarily innovative or conservative in their use of technologies? Does modern technology tilt the balance in favour of the terrorists in their constant battle to defeat the efforts of counter-terrorist agencies, or vice versa? How can we assess the feasibility and probability of terrorists in certain circumstances resorting to nuclear, chemical or biological weapons? Bearing in mind that terrorists have already resorted to mass murder in the form of sabotage bombing of airliners, tragically demonstrated in the 1988 bombing of Pan Am 103 over Lockerbie, how effective have the aviation authorities been in using technology and other measures to combat this threat? There have been significant advances in the aviation security policies of Britain, America, Canada, Australia and several other countries. But what are the problems involved in strengthening many weak links in the international aviation security system?