Terrorism is the unjustified use of lethal or any other form of force against any group of people or a state in order to achieve some definite ends. The major purpose behind these acts is to create coercion or any form of intimidation in the minds of the targeted population. There are numerous acts which are included in it like assassination, bombing, any form of hijacking etc. The major targets of such acts of terror are the government agencies, religious localities, high-fi landmarks, larger cities, or any other types of cyber-attacks. The main purpose of carrying out such nihilistic and prejudiced acts is to create a state of uncertainty in the targeted country or area. These days, the terrorist attacks are also being targeted to some religious gatherings, water and food resources and corporate centers. The use of chemical weapons in carrying out the terrorist attacks has now increased, primarily because of the vast information that is easily available on the worldwide web. These explosives are ported by using human as well as automobiles in order to gain fast access to specific areas. Since the inception of the human race, terrorism has always remained existent in one form or the other. But the last 100 years, have indeed proved to very catastrophic in terms of the underlying consequences. Estimates reveal that several thousand human casualties have been reported in these attacks. Below is the list of top ten worst and deadliest terrorist attacks.
10. Ma-a Lot Massacre
The day on which this attack was carried out is still considered to be the worst day in the history of Israel. As Israel happens to be the only major Jewish state in the whole world, so it is quite substantiated that the attack was religious in nature. As most of you might have guessed till now, the terrorists behind the acts belonged to the land of Palestine. Authorities revealed that they had gained access to the areas through a route from Lebanon. The terrorists had taken more than 100 people as hostages out of which more than 20 were killed by them. The major motive of these terrorists was the liberation and freedom of their land from the hand of the Israeli forces. But the murder of any human whether he is a Muslim, Jew or a Christian is never justified no matter what the circumstances are.
9. The Attack on Manhattan by the FALN Group
This attack was carried out in the famous U.S city by a group self-rationalizing individuals who called themselves as the FALN nationalists. They had gained vast training from several other enemy states for carrying out this treacherous act against the United States of America. The reasons and intentions behind this act were to create a state of panic in the minds of the citizens. It is quite clear that they wanted the government to accept their terms and conditions. They had initiated the attack on the 3rd of August, 1977 which the primary target being the building of U.S defense department. To further aggravate the circumstances and to create uncertainty, the terrorists had announced that they had placed similar bombs in the world trade center and other major buildings. Although one person was killed and only a few injured, but the kind of anxiety and horror this attack had inflicted in the minds of the people is still visible in fragments in their minds. This is the primary reason for ranking this attack on the number 9th spot.
8. The TWA Flight 841 Attack
At number 8 we have the worst terrorist attack that has been carried out in the history of the airplanes. The attack was executed in the TWA flight 841on the 8th of September, 1974. The plane was scheduled to take nearly 79 passengers from Athens to Rome. During the course of its flight it had stopped for approximately 60 minutes in Greece but later on had set for its destination. Sometime afterwards, the crew suddenly reported of an engine failure and that the plane was going down. Finally, it crashed resulting in the death of all the passengers most of which were Americans and Japanese as asserted by the reports that were published later on. After through investigations it was revealed that the engine has been destroyed using a bomb blast.
7. Amerithrax or Anthrax Attacks
This chain of terrorist attacks had been initiated immediately after the 9/11 attacks which were carried out in the United States of America. The impact of these attacks had remained visible in the political and defense initiatives that were taken from the side of the government in response to these attacks. These attacks were more of a biological nature in which the viruses and spores of the disease were added in the letters and posts which were mailed to several dozens of people. As a result of which 5 or more people were killed and several others were saved after collective efforts. These letters were also sent to some senators as well as many media offices located in different cities of the country. This attack is also considered to be one of the most complex attacks that have even been carried out in the history of the terrorism.
6. World Trade Center Bombing 1993
Most of the people think that the world trade center has been the victim of terrorism only once, but this is indeed a false conception primarily due to the lack of information. It was in the year 1993 that the country had faced a wave of terrorist attacks all over the country out of which the world trade center was also a major target. The aim of the attacks was to bring down the center for worldwide trade of the world and thus to create an economic meltdown in the country. Several bombing and other devastating materials were used by the terrorists at the base and other areas of the building, but they weren’t able to bring it down.
5. The Attacks on the border of Chechnya
In the year 2001 this country had been the under the control of several terrorist organizations. These attacks were the retaliation from the side of the citizens of Chechnya against the Russian intervention, as the attacks had been initiated in the years following the second Chechen war. The insurgency phase of terrorism had continued from the year 2000 to 2009. The main area of such acts of terrorism was the border that lied in between. As a result of the three car bomb attacks that were carried out in the Russian cities located very close to the border caused more than 20 deaths.
4. The Wall Street Bombing
At number 4 we have yet another major attack that was carried in the U.S. More than 35 innocent lives had been lost during the course of the attacks. More than 140 people had been reported to be injured in this attack which is the major reason behind the placing of this attack at the number 4th spot in our ranking. The major attack on the area had been initiated on the 16th of September 1920 which resulted in a chain reaction at all levels of the country’s infrastructure. The attack was no doubt a response to the First World War in which the U.S had an active participation.
3. Mumbai Attacks
The focus of the attacks, which took place in the highly populated Indian city, was the Taj Mahal Hotel. It was on November 26 that the country had faced the worst terrorist attacks ever in its history. Numerous casualties had been reported in these attacks including the death of nearly 100 innocent citizens. A total of 11 attacks were carried out in different areas by a group of highly trained terrorists. The attacks had lasted till the 29th of the Month after spreading a great amount of panic and chaos. To give statements about the involvement of neighboring countries in these attacks is justified as the only attacker who was captured in the attack belonged to Pakistan. But at the same time the role of the external and militant groups working in India, can also not be denied.
2. Oklahoma Bombing
This incident had taken place in the Oklahoma City in the year 1995 on the 19th of April. The main target of these attacks was the federal building located in the downtown areas of the city. The building was known by the name of Alfred P. Murrah building in which more than 150 people had been killed including many small children. It is one of the biggest acts of terrorism to be carried out on the American soil. In addition to the loss of precious lives, nearly 600 or more people had been injured in the events.
- 1. The 9/11 World Trade Center Bombing
There is not the slightest doubt in saying that the attack on the world trade center in the year 2001 was indeed a turning point in the history of the world. This attack had resulted in the U.S military intervention in several other countries. Many sources claim that the attacks had been carried out by the militants of Al-Qaeda using a total of four jetliners. These jets were first hijacked and then they were driven into different buildings. One of the planes was hit into the pentagon area while the other two had been hit into selected areas of the world trade center. The last remaining one was crashed in a rural area located in Pennsylvania. More than 3000 people died in these attacks.
