Lone Wolf Terrorism and Homegrown Extremism
Lone wolf terrorists or homegrown extremists are phrases used to describe individuals who commit violent acts against humanity on their own, without the assistance of others. In other words, increased incidences of violence and harassment committed by individuals who do not represent or get support from any certain group or religion in order to kill or injure innocent people. The terms are used to describe individuals who act on their own without the support of any external group, or who work remotely for a group or terrorist organization. They just operate without a formal framework to perform out violent activities. A lone wolf person may be, however, swayed or enthused by the creed of an external agency and may operate according to the will of such agency. Strictly speaking, a lone wolf terrorists or a homegrown extremist spends time alone at most of the times instead with a group.
Increase in Lone Wolf Terrorism
From the few years, lone wolf terrorist activities have increased at a very fast pace throughout the world especially in the United States and Europe (Frontline, 14 July 2016). Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) uses the terms to identify the people who carry out such acts. For instance, Eric Rudolph is a lone wolf terrorist because he is a self-made militant who went on a rampage with the civilians and government authorities. Rudolph hated homosexuality and abortion and that is why he went on against the system. After his arrest by a 21-year-old Murphy Police Officer, Jeff Postell, he admits to carrying out a series of bombings at Atlanta's 1996 Olympic festivities, a lesbian bar and abortion clinic in Atlanta, and an abortion clinic in Birmingham, Ala. He killed two people and caused injuries to more than 100 people, Rudolph confessed. The terrorist fits into the lone wolf category as he operated on his own without any external support from any terrorist organization.
Omar Mateen and the Orlando Nightclub Shooting
Similarly, 29-year-old Omar Mateen, an American of Afghan descent Muslim killed 49 and injured 53 people in Orlando nightclub shooting on 12, June 2016 (Tsukayama, Goldman, Holley, & Berman, June 12, 2016). He fired mercilessly at the Pulse gay nightclub, shattering the lives of the innocents. The terrorist disclosed his relation to ISIL during the attack. Mateen carried out the intentions of ISIL by working remotely on the American soil. Although being a part of the society, he went on killing his fellow citizens as if he was a machine without caring about humanity.
Jerad and Amanda Miller: Anti-Government Extremists
A couple, Jerad and Amanda Miller, anti-government conspiracy theorists & former Bundy Ranch protesters, fired at two Las Vegas police officers and killing them on the spot at a restaurant right before entering into a Walmart, where they also killed a civilian on June 8, 2014 (Reuters, 2014). During the shooting Jerad was killed by the police while Amanda committed suicide. The couple seemed to hate the police and were intended to shot and kill the officers. They were not working for any external group neither was any known support for them. They fit into the category of homegrown extremists.
Anders Behring Breivik's Massacre in Norway
Anders Behring Breivik, a Norwegian, killed 77 unarmed people in two attacks on July 22, 2011 (Kimmel, 2013). He placed a heavy car-bomb at the center of Norwegian government headquarters in Oslo that caused the death of eight people. Approximately, after sixty minutes, Breivik was spotted at the island of Utøyaat in a summer camp of the Worker's Youth League, the youth organization of the Labour Party, and fired for almost 90 minutes killing 69 people. Breivik was heavily armed who carried a massacre against the Worker's Youth League of the Labour Party. It is unknown whether he was lined or working for any external terrorist group or organization.
The Nature of Lone Wolf Terrorism and Homegrown Extremism
Lone wolf terrorists or homegrown extremists represent a sect of the people who are violent towards the innocent people by killing and injuring them. Though, the terrorists or extremists may or may not represent a specific organization but, their intention is always to harm others. Eric Rudolph, Omar Mateen, Jared and Amanda Miller, and Anders Behring Breivik include a few people who fit into the category of lone wolf terrorists or homegrown extremists. All these people have in one or the other blown the very essence of humanity by carrying out mass killings and life threats to many people of the same society they inhabit. Such incidents do fall into a broader category of domestic terrorism because all the above-mentioned individuals belonged to the same societies in which they carried out their violent acts. However, it is important to mention that such violent acts against humanity do pose some important questions – why do these people carry out such acts? What do they get from carrying out such acts? Is there always a motivational factor that encourages and prepares them for violence? Does the intervention of the government agencies could minimize the frequency such incidents? All these questions could be addressed by understanding the very nature of lone wolf terrorism or homegrown extremism which exists within the American and European societies.
References
"Killers of Las Vegas cops harbored anti-government ideology". Reuters. 9 June 2014. Retrieved 08 September 2017.
Kimmel, M. (2013). Angry White Men: American Masculinity at the End of an Era. Avalon. pp. 228–9.
"Lone Wolf Attacks Are Becoming More Common -- And More Deadly". Frontline. 14 July 2016. Retrieved 08 September 2017.
Tsukayama, H; Goldman, A; Holley, P; Berman, M. (June 12, 2016). "Terror in Orlando: 50 killed in shooting rampage at the gay club; gunman pledged allegiance to ISIS". The Washington Post. Retrieved 08 September 2017.
