II. INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM AGAINST TRANSPORTATION2
The international terrorist component of attacks against transportation has fluctuated from year-to-year, but indigenous attacks against transportation have steadily increased. This may be explained, at least in part, by the dramatic increase in the last decade of worldwide religious and ethnic violence. Religious and ethnic extremists appear to be motivated by intolerance and hatred rather than the political ideologies of earlier decades. In regions of the world where religious and ethnic conflicts are raging, public transportation has taken on new importance -- one in which these extremists target trains, buses, and ferries to kill large numbers of their designated enemies, and innocent civilians. While no country is immune to religious and ethnic violence, many of the countries in which many of these attacks occur generally have inadequate security, and law enforcement agencies that are understaffed and insufficiently trained in counter-terrorist operations.
2 No one definition of terrorism has gained universal acceptance. For the purposes of this report we have chosen the definition of terrorism contained in Title 22 of the United States Code, Section 2656f(d), which defines "terrorism" as premeditated, politically motivated violence perpetrated against noncombatant targets by subnational groups or clandestine agents, usually intended to influence an audience. The term "international terrorism" means terrorism involving citizens or the territory of more than one country. "Domestic" or "indigenous" terrorism involves groups or individuals whose activities are directed at elements of their own government or population without foreign involvement. Criminal attacks are unlawful acts committed for personal motives and not necessarily political in nature.
