Terrorism is the use of force or violence against person or property for
the purpose of intimidation, coercion, or ransom. Terrorists often use violence
and threats to create fear among the public, to try to convince people that
their government is powerless to prevent acts of terrorism, and to get immediate
publicity for their causes. Acts of terrorism can range from threats to actual
assassinations, kidnappings, airline hijackings, bomb scares, car bombs,
building explosions, mailings of dangerous materials, agro terrorism, computer-based
attacks, and the use of chemical, biological, and nuclear weapons-weapons
of mass destruction (WMD) .
From: Talking About Disaster: Guide for Standard Messages. Produced
by the National Disaster Education Coalition, Washington, D.C., 2004.
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