Growing Curiosity in Biological and Chemical Attacks, and other Things Terrorists Told Us in 2018 about their Future Plans

An article from Homeland Security today explores some of the themes that emerged in terrorist groups’ messaging over the past year, which may reveal how they and their supporters intend to carry out future attacks. Among these is a curiosity into branching out into biological or chemical attacks, with one media outlet that is supportive of the Islamic State releasing a video in July about how to execute a bioattack in the West “that cannot be detected or tracked” by authorities. “Sprinkle the liquid substances or the basics of bacteria with drinking water to take effect automatically,” the video advised would-be jihadists. In their messaging, terrorist groups also emphasized that anyone can perform acts of terrorism, whether they are pious or immoral or if they have a physical disability. In 2018, there was also an expansion of the ways in which terrorist propaganda was spread, with terrorist groups looking to new technologies that have yet to be restricted by their creators or authorities and messaging being spread by independent media groups instead of the official communications shop. Read the full article at Homeland Security Today.