List of designated terrorist groups
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Most organisations who are accused of being a "terrorist organization" will deny using terrorism as a military tactic to achieve their goals, and there is no international consensus on the bureaucratic definition of terrorism. Therefore, this list is of organisations who are, or have been in the past, proscribed as "terrorist organizations" by other organizations, including the United Nations and national governments, where the proscription has a significant impact on the group's activities. [1][2][3][4][5][6][7]
This listing does not include States or governmental organisations which are considered under State terrorism.
Religious Terrorists
Religious terrorism is a form of religious violence. As with other forms of terrorism, there is no real consensus as to its definition. Groups are frequently classified as practitioners of religious terrorism for any one of the following reasons:
- The group itself is defined by religion rather than by other factors (such as ideology or ethnicity).
- Religion plays some part in defining or determining the objectives or methods of the group.
- The ultimate objective of the group is religiously defined.
Controversy concerning classification is often found because:
- Religion and ethnicity frequently coincide. Ethnic conflict may thus appear as religious, or religious conflict may appear as ethnic.
- Religious groups, like other groups, frequently pursue political goals. In such cases it is often not clear which is uppermost, the political goal or the religious motivation.
Groups which have used principal religious motives for their terrorist acts and were deemed as such by supranational organizations and governments are listed here.
- Shiv Sena: A violent Hindu political group, Shiv Sena or "The Army of Shiva". Activities involve attacking shops selling valentine's day cards.[8][failed verification]
- Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) An organisation behind some of the religious violence in India.[9][10]
- Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) an offshoot [12] of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh
- Bajrang Dal : A violent Hindu political group.
- Army of God
- Freedomites (1902-present) Active in Canada, notable for their longevity
- God's Army A terrorist group in Myanmar.
- Ku Klux Klan a white supremist organization, designated terrorist by Charleston, South Carolina, USA [13]
- Lord's Resistance Army Christian/Pagan/Muslim terrorist group that operates in northern Uganda, it seeks to overthrow the Ugandan government and create a country based on the ten commandments.
- Nagaland Rebels (1947-present) Active in predominantly Christian state in Hindu majority India. Involved in several bombings in 2004. Goal: Independence from India after annexing parts of neighboring Indian states and Burma if it has Christian majority.
- National Liberation Front of Tripura (1989-present) A group that seeks the independence of Tripura from India to create a Christian Tripura.
- Abu Sayyaf (1991-present; Islamist separatists; the Philippines)
- Based in the southern islands of Jolo, Basilan, and Mindanao.
- Branched off of the Moro National Liberation Front.
- Allegedly partnered with Jemaah Islamiyah and Al-Qaeda.
- Aden-Abyan Islamic Army (Yemen)
- Al-Gama'a al-Islamiyya (Late 1970s-present; Islamists; Egypt)
- Seeks to establish Islamist state in Egypt. Usually targets secular establishments, government buildings, police, the military, minorities, tourists, and “morally offensive” buildings.
- Armed Islamic Group (1992-present; Islamists; Algeria)
- Seeks to establish Islamist state in Algeria. Began operations in 1992 after the Algerian government ignored election results that gave victory to Islamist political parties.
- Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades
- Ansar al-Islam (December 2001-present; Islamists; Iraq)
- In Arabic, "Supporters of Islam."
- Also known as "Partisans of Islam or Helpers of Islam."
- Al-Qaeda (1988-present; Islamists; Afghanistan, Pakistan, and worldwide)
- In Arabic, "the foundation" or "the base."
- Also known as Qa‘idat al-Jihad, Islamic Army for the Liberation of the Holy Places, World Islamic Front for Jihad Against Jews and Crusaders, Islamic Salvation Foundation, and the Osama bin Laden Network.
- Related: Alneda (former web site), As-Sahab (affiliated public relations organization),
- Cells: Buffalo six, Hamburg cell,
- Asbat al-Ansar (early 1990s-present; Lebanese Sunni Islamists; southern Lebanon)
- In Arabic, "the League of the Followers."
- Acronym for "Harakat al-Muqawama al-Islamiya," or Islamic Resistance Movement.
- Jama'at al-Tawhid wa'al-Jihad/Al-Qaeda in Iraq - Abu Musab al-Zarqawi's Sunni network, operating in Iraq
- Egyptian Islamic Jihad - Egypt (active since the late 1970s)
- Hamas - Israel, West Bank, Gaza Strip. Listed as a terrorist organization by Australia, Canada, the European Union, Israel, and the United States
- Harakat ul-Mujahidin (HUM) - Pakistan and Kashmir
- Hezbollah - Lebanon; attacks Israel and advocates its destruction
- Hizbul Mujahideen - Pakistan and Kashmir
- Hofstad Network - Netherlands
- Islamic Front for the Liberation of Bahrain - Defunct
- Islamic Movement of Central Asia - Central Asia
- Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan - Uzbekistan
- Jaish-e-Mohammed - Pakistan
- Jaish Ansar al-Sunna - Iraq
- Jemaah Islamiyah - Southeast Asia
- Jihad Rite - Australia (linked with Al Qaeda. Founded in 2001)
- Lashkar-e-Jhangvi - Pakistan
- Lashkar-e-Toiba - Pakistan
- Lord's Resistance Army Christian/Pagan/Muslim terrorist group that operates in northern Uganda, it seeks to overthrow the Ugandan government and create a country based on the ten commandments.[14]
- Maktab al-Khadamat - Afghanistan - Defunct
- Moroccan Islamic Combatant Group - Morocco and Spain
- Moro Islamic Liberation Front - (Islamic separatists; the Philippines)
- Muslim Brotherhood - international
- Palestinian Islamic Jihad - Israel, West Bank, Gaza Strip
- People Against Gangsterism and Drugs - South Africa
- Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat - Algeria
- Sipah-e-Sahaba Pakistan - Pakistan
- Takfir wal-Hijra - Egypt/Sudan/Algeria
- Kurdish-Hizbullah - Turkey
Islamist Fronts
- Al-Barakaat (Al-Qaida front)
- Al-Wafa Humanitarian Organization (Al-Qaida front)
- Benevolence International Foundation (Al-Qaida front)
- Global Relief Foundation (Al-Qaida front)
- Holy Land Foundation for Relief and Development (Hamas)
- Konsojaya Trading Company (Jemaah Islamiyah front)
- Gush Emunim Underground - (1979-1984) Israel. Sometimes called the (Jewish Terror Organization), formed in 1979 by prominent members of Gush Emunim. Their principal terrorist actions were carried out between 1980 and 1984.[citation needed]
- Jewish Defense League - designated by US FBI. [15]
- Kach and Kahane Chai - Israel and United States. The Hatikva Center is a Kahane Chai front organization. Note- organizations are now both defunct.[16]
- Lehi - (1920-1948, defunct) Israel.
- Babbar Khalsa
- Bhinderanwala Tiger Force of Khalistan
- International Sikh Youth Federation [17]
- Dashmesh Regiment
- Khalistan Commando Force
- Khalistan Liberation Force
- Khalistan Liberation Front
- Khalistan National Army
- Khalistan Zindabad Force [18]
- Saheed Khalsa Force
All of these groups demand a Khalistan (Land of the Pure) in the Indian state of Punjab and adjoining areas for Sikhs. Most have a variable amount of support from Sikhs abroad and have been in existence since the 1980s. Many have been weakened and have cut down on activities, yet they continue. The militancy in Punjab has claimed approximately 100,000 lives, according to estimates put forward by Amnesty International: this figure involves killings by both Sikh militants and the Indian forces. With the exception of the first two, the other groups have only been proscribed in India.
Other religious terrorists
- Aum Supreme Truth (Aum Shinrikyo) - Japan (homicidal religious cult)
Nationalistic Terrorist Organizations
Irish Nationalists (Northern Ireland)
- Irish National Liberation Army (1974-present)
- Splinter group:
- Irish People's Liberation Organisation (1986-1992, defunct)
- Splinter group:
- Irish Republican Army (1922-1969)split into- 'Official IRA' and 'Provisional IRA'.
- Official IRA (defunct)
- Provisional Irish Republican Army (PIRA) (1969–2002) [11]
- Supporters of the PIRA split from 'Official' Sinn Féin to form Provisional Sinn Féin. Provisional Sinn Féin was later known simply as Sinn Féin (while 'Official' Sinn Féin eventually became the Workers' Party).
- Under ceasefire since the Good Friday Agreement of 1998
- Ended armed campaign in September 2005.
- Splinter groups:
- Continuity Irish Republican Army (CIRA) (1986-present)
- Also known as the "Continuity Army Council" and "Óglaigh na hÉireann" (Gaelic for 'Volunteers of Ireland')
- Real Irish Republican Army (RIRA) (1997-present)*
- Also known as the True IRA and Óglaigh na hÉireann (Gaelic for Volunteers of Ireland).
- Does not recognize Good Friday Agreement.
- Continuity Irish Republican Army (CIRA) (1986-present)
Ulster Loyalists (Northern Ireland)
- Ulster Volunteer Force (original UVF 1912-1921, current UVF has existed since 1966)
- Ulster Defence Association (created in 1971)
- Red Hand Commandos {created in 1972) allied with the UVF
- Loyalist Volunteer Force (created in 1996)
- Red Hand Defenders (created in 1998) an affiliate organization with both the UDA and LVF who are allies
- Ulster Freedom Fighters (created in 1972) an affiliate of the UDA
- Ulster Resistance 1986-1990 Created by the Democratic Unionist Party, now defunct
- Orange Volunteers
[
- Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (Amanullah Khan) -- (Note: The JKLF faction headed by Yasin Malik has renounced all violence since 1995)[citation needed]
- Student Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) -- Banned by Indian Government in 2002. Recently, it has been accused of helping Pakistani based terrorists organization organize bomb blasts in Mumbai, India.[citation needed]
Northern Irish Loyalists (Northern Ireland)
- Loyalist Volunteer Force (1996-2005)
- Orange Volunteers (1998-present)
- Red Branch Knights (1992)
- Ulster Defence Association (UDA) (1971-present)**
- Also called the "Ulster Freedom Fighters," or UFF.
- On February 22, 2003, announced a "complete and utter cessation" of all acts of violence for one year. It said it will review its ceasefire every three months, although in February 2006, the Independent Monitoring Commission reported that the UDA continued its paramilitary activities, as well as involvement in organized crime, drug trafficking, counterfeiting, extortion, money laundering and robbery
- Splinter group:
- Red Hand Defenders (1998-present)**
- UDA splinter group. Opposes ceasefire.
- Red Hand Defenders (1998-present)**
- Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) (May 1966-present)
- Very closely linked with the Red Hand Commandos (1972-present).
- Abu Nidal
- Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades
- Baloch Mujahideen [citation needed]
- Black Hand (Palestine)
- Black September (group)
- Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine (DFLP)
- Fatah
- Hamas
- Irgun (1931-1948) - regarded as a terrorist group by the British authorities and the mainstream Zionist organizations (not during most of World War II).
- Lehi (1940-1948) - regarded as a terrorist group by the British authorities.
- Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP)
- Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine-General Command (PFLP-GC)
- Palestine Liberation Front
- Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) (1964-present) - On December 14, 1988, the PLO officially renounced the use of terrorist tactics to convince Israel to cede territory. In 1993 it became the PA (Palestinian Authority). Although it claims it does not support terrorism, documents show that the PA/PLO has actively supported and sponsored various terrorist groups in Israel. [12] [13] [14] [15] [16] [17] [18] [19] [20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31][32]
- Popular Resistance Committees
- The Holy Jihad Brigade
- Tanzim
Pre-Independence Irish Nationalists
- Fenian Brotherhood (19th century, disbanded)
- Irish Republican Army (1916-1922)
- Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE, aka Tamil Tigers)- Sri Lanka. One of the largest groups with an estimated 24,000 Tamil cadres who fight for separation from Sri Lanka. The group has carried out 240+ suicide bombings since the early 80s in the process which they describe as their freedom struggle. Members of the group were convicted for the suicide bomber assassinations of Sri Lankan President Ranasinghe Premadasa (1988-1993) and former Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi [19]. UNHCR has reported that this organisation recruits under-aged children by force.
Other nationalist terrorists
- an gof - Cornwall - (inactive)
- Abkhaz Separatists - Georgia
- East Turkestan Islamic Movement - Central Asia and China
- East Turkistan Liberation Organization (China)
- ETA (Basque Fatherland and Liberty) - Spain and southern France (founded 1959)
- Scottish National Liberation Army (SNLA) - Scotland (defunct)
- Croatian Revolutionary Brotherhood - Yugoslavia (disbanded)
- Front de Libération du Quebec - Canada (founded 1963)
- Cells: Chenier Cell, Liberation Cell,
- Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK/KADEK/KONGRA-GEL) - Turkey
- Los Macheteros - Puerto Rico (founded 1976)
- National Front for the Liberation of Corsica (FLNC) - France
- African National Congress (historical) - South Africa
- Armed Islamic Group (GIA) - France, Algeria
- Algerian National Movement (MNA) - France, Algeria (disbanded)
- National Liberation Front (FLN) - France, Algeria
- Organisation armée secrète (OAS) - France, Algeria (disbanded)
- Olmecs Terrorist Army - Mexico
- Sons of Liberty (18th century) - United States
- VMO (1950-1970 and 1971-1983) - Flanders
Anarchist
Communist, Socialist, Maoist and Marxist
- Action Directe - France
- African National Congress - South Africa (renounced violence)
- Armenian Secret Army for the Liberation of Armenia (ASALA, disbanded since 1986) - Lebanon, Armenia and the USA
- CCC - Belgium
- Chukaku-Ha - Japan
- Communist League September 23rd - Mexico
- Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) - Nepal
- Ejército de Liberación Nacional - Colombia
- Popular Forces 25 April (FP-25 Abril) (Portuguese:Forças Populares 25 de Abril) - Portugal (disbanded)
- GRAPO - Spain
- Japanese Red Army (Sekigun) - Japan
- June 2 Movement - West Germany (disbanded)
- Khmer Rouge - Cambodia (disbanded)
- Manuel Rodríguez Patriotic Front - Chile
- Montoneros - Argentina (disbanded)
- National Front for the Liberation of Vietnam - South Vietnam
- National Socialist Council of Nagaland - India
- Naxals or Naxalites - India
- NPA or New People's Army - Philippines
- Revolutionary Organization 17 November (17N) - Greece
- Pan-Africanist Congress - South Africa (renounced violence)
- Pathet Lao - Laos
- People's War Group - India
- Red Army Faction (popularly known as the Baader-Meinhof Gang) - Germany (founded 1967, disbanded)
- Red Brigades (Brigate Rosse) - Italy (founded 1969)
- Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) - Colombia
- Revolutionary People’s Liberation Party-Front (DHKP & DHKP/C) - Turkey
- Sandinista National Liberation Front - Nicaragua
- Shining Path (Sendero Luminoso) - Peru (active since the late 1960s)
- Symbionese Liberation Army - USA (disbanded)
- Túpac Amaru Revolutionary Movement (MRTA) - Peru
- United Freedom Front - USA (founded in 1976, now disbanded)
- United Liberation Front of Assam - India
- Weathermen - USA (founded in 1969, now disbanded)
- Spin-off: May 19th Communist Movement (active 1978-85)
Ethnic terrorists (including neo-Nazis and white-supremacists)
- Army for the Liberation of Rwanda - Rwanda (Hutu emancipatory;genocidal)
- Aryan Nations - United States
- Boeremag - South Africa
- Combat 18 - United Kingdom
- Column 88 - United Kingdom
- CSA
- Creativity Movement - USA
- Ku Klux Klan - USA (founded in 1865 and revived several times since). A tiny British KKK also came into being recently.[citation needed]
- Mouvement d'Action et Défense Masada - France (disbanded). This was a French neo-Nazi organization, disguised as a Zionist extremist group, which attacked Arab targets.
- National Socialist Movement - United Kingdom
- The Order - USA (disbanded)
- White Aryan Resistance - United States
- Alianza Anticomunista Argentina - Argentina
- Autodefensas Unidas de Colombia - Colombia
- Ranvir Sena - India
Cuban exile groups
- Coordination of United Revolutionary Organizations - Cuba (CORU - includes Orlando Bosch and Luis Posada Carriles)
- Omega 7 - anti-Castro Cuban exile group - Florida, Cuba
- Alpha 66 - anti-Castro Cuban exile group - Florida, Cuba. [20][21][22]
Ecologist
These groups are active on environmental issues, using sabotage (monkeywrenching) as their means of struggle. They have a commitment for property damage only, and not harming life (human or animal).
- Animal Liberation Front (ALF) - operates worldwide. Property damage and animal release, related to animal rights issues. Listed as one of the top domestic threats by United States Department of Homeland Security, FBI and ATF.
- Earth Liberation Front - Founded 1992; operates in US, Canada, and UK. Property destruction, related to environmental issues. Listed as one of the top domestic threats by United States Department of Homeland Security, FBI and ATF.
- Environmental Life Force - Disbanded in 1972. Used explosive and incendiary devices in defense of the environment.
Others
- Buffalo Battalion - Mozambique
- Front for the Advancement and Progress of Haiti (FRAPH) - Haiti
- Interahamwe - Rwanda
- Janjaweed - Sudan
- Mungiki - Kenya
- National Revolutionary Front for the Liberation of Haiti - Haiti
- Quantrill's Raiders led by William Quantrill - USA (pro-Confederate guerillas)
- Revolutionary United Front - Sierra Leonean rebels
- Tonton Macoutes - Haiti
See also
- Category:Terrorists for individual terrorists.
- Definitions of terrorism
- state terrorism
- Category:Designated terrorist organizations
- List of organizations
- List of guerrilla movements
- Foreign Terrorist Organizations designated by the United States Department of State
- United Kingdom Terrorism Act 2000 list designated by the Secretary of State
- Charities accused of ties to terrorism
References
- ^ European Union. "Common Position 2005/847/CFSP" (PDF). Retrieved 2006-07-03.
- ^ United States Department of State. "Terrorist Exclusion List". Retrieved 2006-07-03.
- ^ United States Department of State. "Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs)". Retrieved 2006-07-03.
- ^ United Kingdom Home Office. "Proscribed terrorist groups". Retrieved 2006-07-03.
- ^ Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Canada. "Entities list". Retrieved 2006-07-03.
- ^ Australian Government. "Listing of Terrorist Organisations". Retrieved 2006-07-03.
- ^ Arab Times (Kuwait). "Terror' list out; Russia tags two Kuwaiti groups". Retrieved 2006-08-02.
- ^ [1]
- ^ [2]
- ^ [3]
- ^ For example, the U.S. State Department removed the PIRA from its list of terrorist organizations in 2002. [4]
- ^ 22 USC 5201(b) - "Therefore, the Congress determines that the PLO and its affiliates are a terrorist organization and a threat to the interests of the United States, its allies, and to international law and should not benefit from operating in the United States."
- ^ Public Law 100-204 regarding the PLO. [5]
- ^ [6]
- ^ Document in .txt form [7]
- ^ http://www.cfr.org/publication/10159/#6
- ^ The 9-11 Commission [8] - "In the 1970s and 1980s, terrorism had been tied to regional conflicts, mainly in the Middle East. The majority of terrorist groups either were sponsored by governments or, like the Palestine Liberation Organization, were militants trying to create governments."
- ^ Strategic Insights, Volume IV, Issue 7 (July 2005) (A US Navy publication) [9] - "Some historical context is appropriate here. The motivation behind Hamas’ practice of suicide terrorism can be traced back to September 1972, when members of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) massacred 11 Israeli athletes at the Munich Olympics."
- ^ "A Military Guide to Terrorism in the Twenty-First Century", 15 August 2005, page 5 (A US Army handbook)[10] - "Radical leftist organizations such as the Japanese Red Army, the Red Army Faction in Germany, the Red Brigades in Italy, as well as ethno-nationalist terrorist movements such as the Palestine Liberation Organization, the Irish Republican Army and the Basque separatist ETA group, conformed to this stereotype of the 'traditional' terrorist group. "
- ^ Section 1005(b) of title X of PL 100-204 [11] provided that: "(b) Termination. - The provisions of this title shall cease to have effect if the President certifies in writing to the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House that the Palestine Liberation Organization, its agents, or constituent groups thereof no longer practice or support terrorist actions anywhere in the world."
- ^ http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Peace/recogn.html
- ^ http://www.usip.org/library/pa/israel_plo/pa_israel_plo.html
- ^ http://www.state.gov/p/nea/rls/22579.htm
- ^ http://almashriq.hiof.no/israel/300/320/327/israel-plo_recognition.html
- ^ http://www.tampablab.com/cat/israelplo/
- ^ http://www.cnn.com/WORLD/9510/mideast_peace/10-06/index.html
- ^ http://www.britannica.com/eb/art-18073
- ^ http://www.ejil.org/journal/Vol4/No4/art7.html
- ^ http://www.palestinefacts.org/pf_1991to_now_pa_origin.php
- ^ http://www.israel-mfa.gov.il/MFA/Peace%20Process/Guide%20to%20the%20Peace%20Process/Israel-PLO% 20Recognition%20-%20Exchange%20of%20Letters%20betwe
- ^ http://www.merip.org/palestine-israel_primer/oslo-accords-pal-isr-prime.html
- ^ http://www.jerusalemites.org/reports/21.htm