Homegrown Terrorism Cases, 2001-2012

The New America Foundation and Syracuse University’s Maxwell School have examined cases of homegrown jihadist and non-jihadist terrorism in the United States since the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.

Key Observations:

• At least 380 people were indicted on terrorism-related charges in the United States between September 11, 2001 and December 31 2012.
• 207 of those people are identified as "jihadist" terrorists, and they subscribe broadly to the ideology of Osama bin Laden's al-Qaeda.
• 174 of those people are "non-jihadist" terrorists, who subscribe to violent, radical interpretations of one of the following ideologies: rightwing, leftwing, animal rights activism, environmental activism, or anarchism.
• 51 rightwing extremists and five anarchists were able to acquire explosives or bomb-making components. Five of the rightwing extremists obtained those weapons through government sting operations. Click here for the data.
• 23 jihadist extremists were able to acquire explosives or bomb-making components, 12 of whom obtained those weapons through government sting operations. Click here for the data.
• The pool of non-jihadists is overwhelmingly made up of rightwing extremists: 80 percent, followed by animal and environmental activists at 15 percent.
• At least 29 people have been killed by non-jihadist extremists since 9/11, while 17 people have been killed by jihadists.
• Just 5 percent of jihadists indicted since 9/11 had carried out some kind of violent attack, while just under 50 percent of non-jihadists committed a violent crime before they were charged.
• Just 16 percent of jihadists were able to acquire weapons before they were indicted, while 38 percent of right or leftwing terrorists possessed weapons (often in large quantities) at the time of arrest.

The tables below show the lethal terrorist incidents in the United States since 9/11.

Deadly Rightwing Terrorist Attacks

Deadly Jihadist Terrorist Attacks    

Extremist Acquisition or Attempted Acquisition of Chemical, Biological, Radiological, or Nuclear Weapons