ABSTRACT
From the earliest city-states, such as Somer and Rome, protecting key assets and infrastructure has always been an issue, but this has gained momentum since the last decade of the twentieth century. This was initiated by the threat of al-Qaeda and has been driven further by the transnational threat of the Global Sala Jihad (GSJ) movement. For a supranational entity such as the European Union (EU), this threat does not form part of a supercial mind-set, as was concocted with Y2K. The bombings that took place against the rail networks in Madrid and London show the need for a high level of coordination and commitment against home-grown terrorists as they emerge from the previous hunting grounds of Euskadi Ta Askatasuna (ETA or the Basque separatist movement) and the Irish Republican Army (IRA), respectively. The challenges faced by all countries with intricate transportations systems and infrastructure are indeed complex. Rail networks, like most modern means of transportation, involve large gatherings of peoples in conned spaces. The crossing of multiple borders incorporates different languages, technologies, and policies related to counterterrorism (CT) add to the issue. The EU has offered some foresight in enhancing the security of infrastructure with initiatives such as the European Program for Critical Infrastructure Protection (EPCIP) and the Critical Infrastructure Warning Information Network (CIWIN) but, like many policies, intent does not mean capability. The following chapter elucidates the signicance of infrastructure not only as an important economic tool within society, but more specically, as a terrorist target. The reasons for this are varied and encompass social, economic, and political motives. This chapter focuses mainly on the TEN-R European High Speed Rail Network and the threat posed by GSJ; however, data and case studies from similar networks and terrorist organizations will be taken into account. This topic indeed constitutes a large body of data and analysis, but no attempt
Introduction ...................................................................................................................................... 89 Signicance of Infrastructure as an Important Part of Terrorist Theorization .................................90 Vulnerable and Targeted Infrastructure ............................................................................................ 91 The Rise of the GSJ or Death of Al-Qaeda? ....................................................................................93 London Bombings: Is “New” Terrorism Homegrown? ...................................................................94 Madrid Bombings: The Damage to Infrastructure and Housing......................................................96 TEN-R ..............................................................................................................................................97 Other Potential Impacts from Structures Including Landmarks .................................................... 101 Conclusion ..................................................................................................................................... 104 Suggested Reading ......................................................................................................................... 105 References ...................................................................................................................................... 105
is made here to incorporate all of the evidence and data that are currently at our disposal. This chapter, therefore, is intended to be a compliment to existing research that has been instrumental in formulating a more comprehensive understanding of this particular aspect of violent terrorism and terrorist acts.
