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A terrorist organisation is an organisation that engages in terrorist tactics, they are also (perhaps more neutrally) referred to as militant organisations.
The following groups are considered to be terrorist by a significant number of observers, though opinion is not uniform.
At least two features make objective assessment of which organisations are terrorist difficult:
- the definition of terrorism is disputed and
- the facts about the actions and motives of these groups are disputed.
The cliché, "One man's terrorist is another man's freedom fighter" has some relevance as, while Terrorism can technically be defined as politically motivated violence against non-combatants, use of the term is uneven and dependent on the observer's political perspective and moral judgement. Use of the term often carries moral weight beyond its technical use. "Militant" is a more neutral term to describe so-called "terrorist" groups. Militant groups themselves rarely claim to be committing terrorism and often justify their acts as defence against state oppression or terrorism by opposing groups.
This list does not include government actions that could be labelled terrorism; instead, see state terrorism.
Religious Terrorists
Zacariah Cutcliffe
Christian
- Nagaland Rebels (1948-present) Active in predominately 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.
- Tripura Resurrection Army (1993-1997) A splinter group of the NLFT that surrendered to the Indian Army in 1997.
- Ku Klux Klan A racist organisation of mainly Anglosaxon Protestant Christians with a history of violence against Afro-Americans, Jewish People, and Catholics.
- Lord's Resistance Army Christian/Pagan terrorist group, supported by Sudan.
- 'Anti-Abortion Terrorists
Sikh (Khalistan)
- Babbar Khalsa
- International Sikh Youth Federation
- Dal Khalsa
- Bhinderanwala Tiger Force
- Saheed Khalsa Force
- Khalistan Liberation Tiger Force
- Khalistan Commando Force
- Khalistan Liberation Front
- Khalistan National Army
All of these groups demand a Khalistan (land of the pure) in the Indian state of Punjab for Sikhs. Most have a small amount of support from abroad Sikhs have been in existance since the 1980s. Many have weakened and prominance and have cut down on activities, yet they continue. Their actions have led to the deaths of over 250,000 people.
Hindu
- Shiv Sena Not nearly as much Hindu as it is ethnic, it is a right-wing political party in India designated only by one nation (Pakistan) as a terrorist group.
Jewish
- Jewish Defense League - United States
- Kach and Kahane Chai - Israel and United States. The Hatikva Center is a Kahane Chai front organization.
Islamic
- 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.
- Is partnered with Jemaah Islamiyah and Al-Qaeda.
- Al-Gama'a al-Islamiyya (Late 1970s-present; Islamists; Egypt)
- Seeks to establish Islamist rule in Egypt. Usually targets secular establishments, government buildings, police, the military, Coptic Christians, tourists, Jews, and “morally offensive” buildings.
- Armed Islamic Group (1992-present; Islamists; Algeria)
- Seeks to establish Islamist rule in Algeria. Began operations in 1992 after the Algerian government ignored election results that gave victory to Islamist political parties.
- In recent years has lost influence as the Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat gained power.
- Ansar al-Islam (December 2001-present; Islamists; Iraq)
- In Arabic, "Supporters of Islam."
- Also known as "Partisans of Islam or Helpers of Islam."
- Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigade, part of Fatah.
- 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.
- Asbat al-Ansar (early 1990s-present; Lebanese Sunni Islamists; southern Lebanon)
- In Arabic, "the League of the Followers."
- Hamas (1987-present; Islamists and Palestinian nationalists; Israel and the Palestinian territories) *
- In Arabic, "zeal" or "courage."
- Acronym for "Harakat al-Muqawama al-Islamiya," or Islamic Resistance Movement.
- Hezbollah (Lebanese) (1982-present; Lebanese Shiite Islamists; Lebanon and worldwide)
- Jama'at al-Tawhid wa'al-Jihad - Abu Musab al-Zarqawi's Sunni network, operating in Iraq
- Egyptian Islamic Jihad - Egypt (active since the late 1970s)
- Harakat ul-Mujahidin (HUM) - Pakistan and Kashmir
- Islamic Front for the Liberation of Bahrain
- Islamic Movement of Central Asia - Central Asia
- Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan - Uzbekistan
- Jaish-e-Mohammed - Pakistan
- JKLF Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front - Pakistan and Kashmir
- Jemaah Islamiyah - Southeast Asia
- Lashkar-e-Jhangvi - Pakistan
- Lashkar-e-Toiba - Pakistan
- Maktab al-Khadamat - Afghanistan
- Moroccan Islamic Combatant Group - Morocco and Spain
- Muslim Brotherhood - international
- Palestinian Islamic Jihad - Gaza Strip/West Bank/Israel
- 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
- Hofstad Network - Netherlands
- National Development Front (NDF) Kerala , India
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)
Other religious terrorists
- Aum Supreme Truth (Aum Shinrikyo) - Japan (homicidal religious cult)
- Anti-Abortion Terrorists - United States
Nationalistic Terrorist Organizations
Lebanese
- Lebanese Hezbollah (1982-present; Shiite Lebanese Islamists and Palestinian nationalists; Lebanon)
- In Arabic, "Party of God." Hezbollah claims that it has never committed any acts of terror, and normally restricts its operations to Israeli military targets in Lebanon and the Shebaa Farms. However, it is alleged to have been involved in the bombing of Jewish civilian targets in Argentina in 1992 - the Israeli embassy, killing 29 - and in 1994 - the Argentine-Israeli Mutual Association building (Asociación Mutua Israelita Argentina, or (AMIA), in Spanish), a Jewish community centre, killing 85. See AMIA Bombing.
- Also known as Hezbollah, Hizbullah, Huzbollah, Hizbalah, Organization of the Oppressed on Earth, and the Revolutionary Justice Organization.
Palestinian
Main article: Palestinian_terrorism- Hamas (founded 1987)
- Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) (founded June 1964)
- Sub-groups of the PLO
- Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) (founded 1967)
- Abu Nidal organization (ANO) (founded 1974)
- Fatah (founded early 1960s)
- Groups associated with Fatah
- Al Aqsa Marytrs Brigade
- Tanzim (founded 1995)
- Force 17 (founded early 1970s)
- Hawari (1980s-1991)
- Ahmed Abu Reish Brigade
- The Popular Resistance Committees
- Splinter groups of the PLO
- Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine - General Command (PFLP-GC) (founded 1968)
- Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine (DFLP) (founded 1969)
Pre-Independence Irish Nationalists
- Fenian Brotherhood (19th century, disbanded)
Irish Nationalists (Northern Ireland)
- Irish Republican Army (IRA) (1916-present) **
- Provisional Irish Republican Army (PIRA) (1969-present)
- Splinter group of the 'Official' IRA.
- 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 1997
- 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 Belfast Agreement.
- Continuity Irish Republican Army (CIRA) (1986-present)
- Irish National Liberation Army
Sri Lanka
- Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam aka LTTE - Sri Lanka. One of the largest terrorist group with 10,000 Tamils who wanted liberation from Singhalese government. The group has carried out 240+ suicide bombings since early 80s in the process of their freedom struggle.
Northern Irish Loyalists (Northern Ireland)
- 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.
- 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).
- Ulster Defense Force (UVP) **
- Loyalist Volunteer Force
- Orange Volunteers
Other nationalist terrorists
- East Turkestan Islamic Movement - Central Asia and China
- ETA (Basque Fatherland and Liberty) - Spain and southern France (founded 1959)
- Croatian Revolutionary Brotherhood - Yugoslavia (disbanded)
- Front de Libération Nationale- Algeria
- Front de Libération du Quebec - Canada (founded 1963)
- Grey Wolves - Turkey
- Kosovo Liberation Army - (KLA)
- Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK/KADEK/KONGRA-GEL) - Turkey
- Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam - Sri Lanka
- Los Macheteros - Puerto Rico (founded 1976)
- National Front for the Liberation of Corsica (FLNC) - France
- Sons of Liberty - United States (disbanded)
Left-wing terrorists
- Action Directe - France
- Armenian Secret Army for the Liberation of Armenia (ASALA) - Lebanon and Armenia
- Chukaku-Ha - Japan
- Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) - Nepal
- Ejército de Liberación Nacional - Colombia
- GRAPO - Spain
- Japanese Red Army (Sekigun) - Japan
- Khmer Rouge - Cambodia (disbanded)
- Manuel Rodríguez Patriotic Front - Chile
- Montoneros - Argentina (disbanded)
- National Socialist Council of Nagaland - India
- Naxals or Naxalites - India
- NPA or New People's Army - Philippines
- Revolutionary Organization 17 November (17N) - Greece
- People's War Group - India
- Red Army Faction (popularly known as the Baader-Meinhof Gang) - Germany (founded 1967, disbanded)
- Red Brigades (Brigade Rosse) - Italy (founded 1969)
- Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) - Colombia
- Shining Path (Sendero Luminoso) - Peru (active since the late 1960s)
- Symbionese Liberation Army - USA (disbanded)
- Tupac 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)
Right-wing terrorists
Neo-Nazis and white-supremacists
- Boeremag - South Africa
- Combat 18 - United Kingdom
- Creativity Movement - USA
- Ku Klux Klan - USA (founded in 1865 and revived several times since). A tiny British KKK also came into being recently.
- National Socialist Movement - United Kingdom
- The Order - USA (disbanded)
- Organisation de l'Armée Secrète - France, Algeria (disbanded)
Racist terrorists
- Army for the Liberation of Rwanda - Rwanda (Hutu emancipatory; possibly genocidal)
Anti-Communists
- Alianza Anticomunista Argentina - Argentina
- Autodefensas Unidas de Colombia - Colombia
- Contras - Nicaragua (disbanded)
- Death squads - El Salvador
- Omega 7 - anti-Castro Cuban exile group - Florida, Cuba
- Alpha 66 - anti-Castro Cuban exile group - Florida, Cuba
- Mongoose Gang - Grenada
- Ranvir Sena - India
Others
- The Angry Brigade - United Kingdom (anarchists) (disbanded)
- Army of God
- Buffalo Battalion - Mozambique
- EOKA (Ethniki Organosis Kypriakou Agonistov) - Cyprus (anti-Turkish, pro-Enosis)
- 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
- 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
External links
- Australia government list of terrorist groups
- Canada government list of terrorist organisations
- UK Home Office list of terrorist groups
- US State Department list of designated foreign terrorist organizations