1st Edition
Targeted Violence A Statistical and Tactical Analysis of Assassinations, Contract Killings, and Kidnappings
Drawn from case examples of incidents from around the world, Targeted Violence: A Statistical and Tactical Analysis of Assassinations, Contract Killings, and Kidnappings is the most complete resource of information on the attack methodologies, tactics used, and groups responsible for targeted killings and kidnappings. The author, a former SWAT and JTTF team member—whose experience includes providing protection to diplomats, high-ranking military personnel, prosecutors, and organized crime informants—presents a wealth of global statistics on assassinations, contract killings, and kidnappings that have occurred from 1950 to the present.
Leaving no stone unturned, the book breaks down the various incidents of targeted violence by region, country, month, day of the week, and time of day. It reports on likely locations for each type of attack, success rates, who is likely to initiate the attacks, and who they are most likely to target. The book’s easy-to-follow format allows readers, experienced or not in personal protective work, to determine the types of attacks known to have occurred in any region.
This complete reference includes 35 case studies that examine attacks on motorcades and pedestrians dating back to 1973—highlighting the lessons to be learned from each example. It analyzes the modus operandi of individual assailants and groups in order to determine commonalities between targeted victims and why certain groups tend to target a specific type of individual. The text concludes with a chapter on victimology.
Just like anyone, assassins and hit men fall into routines and can become creatures of habit. By studying and understanding the collection of historical information contained in these pages, security, military, and law enforcement professionals responsible for providing protection will be better prepared to identify potential threats and develop the tactics needed to thwart such attacks.
Chronology of Attacks
Global Statistics
Attacks against Vehicle-Borne Victims
Attacks against Pedestrian Targets
European Region
North America
Central/South America
Middle East
Russia and the Republics
South Asia
Asia/Pacific
Africa
Attack Methodology
Booby Trap
Drive-by
Improvised Explosive Device
Lone Gunman
Kidnapping
Masked Attacker
Motorcycle Hit Teams
Poison
Ruse
Snipers
Edged Weapons
Suicide Bomber
Suppressed Weapons
The Three- to Five-Gunmen Hit Team
Two-Gunmen Hit Team
Vehicle-Borne Improvised Explosive Device
Vehicle Intercept
Attack Locations
Airport/Aircraft
Bar/Restaurant
Entering/Exiting a Vehicle
Frequented Locations
Hotels
In Transit
Traffic and Intersections
Office
Public Event
Residences
Methods of Operation
Abu Nidal Organization
ASALA
Contract Killers
Colombian Drug Cartels
Euskadi ta Askatasuna (Basque Fatherland and Liberty)
Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarios de Colombia
Government Hits
Hizbollah
Irish Republic Army/Provisional Irish Republican Army
Islamic Extremists
Italian Mafia Organizations
Tamil Tigers
Mexican Drug Cartels
November 17 Organization
Red Army Faction
Red Brigades
Victimology
Introduction
Activists/Dissidents
City/Town Councilors.
Clergy
Corporate Executives
Diplomats
Embassy Staffers
Federal Government Officials
Government Ministers
Governors/Prefects
Intelligence Agents
Judges
Law Enforcement
Lawmakers
Mayors
Military
Candidates for President/Prime Minister
Prosecutors
World Leaders
Protective Details
Case Studies of Attacks on Motorcades
Pierre Gemayel: November 21, 2006, Tuesday, Beirut, Lebanon – Intercept Shooting Attack
Rafik Hariri: February 14, 2005, Monday, 1255, Beirut, Lebanon – Suicide VBIED
Jose Lombardero: October 30, 2000, Monday, 0915, Madrid, Spain – VBIED
Stephen Saunders: June 8, 2000, Thursday, 0715 (approx.), Athens, Greece – Motorcycle Hit
Neelan Tiruchelvam: July 29, 1999, Thursday, 0915, Colombo, Sri Lanka – Suicide Bomber
Giovanni Falcone: May 23, 1992, Saturday, 1800 (approx.), Palermo, Sicily –Buried IED
Alfred Herrhausen: November 30, 1989, Thursday, 0830, Frankfurt, West Germany – Infra Red Triggered IED
Maurice Gibson: April 25, 1987, Saturday, 0830 (approx.), Killen, County Armagh, Ireland – VBIED
Leamon Hunt: February 15, 1984, Wednesday, 1845, Rome, Italy – Two Gunmen Hit Team
Carlo Chiesa: September 3, 1982, Friday, 2125 (approx.), Palermo, Sicily – Motorcycle Hit Team
Boris Goldman: April 12, 2004, Monday, 2000, Moscow, Russia – Roof IED
Nihat Erim: July 19, 1980, Saturday, 1050, Istanbul, Turkey – Two Gunmen Hit Team
Airey Neave: March 30, 1979, Friday, London, England – Booby-Trap
Francisco Jose Guerrero: November 28, 1989, Tuesday, 0940, San Salvador, El Salvador – Three Gunmen Hit Team
Siegfried Buback: April 7, 1977, Thursday, 0900 (approx.), Karlsruhe, Germany – Motorcycle Hit
Luis Carrero Blanco: December 20, 1973, Thursday, 0950 (approx.), Madrid, Spain – Buried IED
Aldo Moro: March 16, 1978, Thursday, 0900 (approx.), Rome, Italy – Kidnapping
Case Studies of Attacks on Pedestrians
Edgar Gomez: May 8, 2008, Thursday, 0230, Mexico City, Mexico – Lone Assassin
Lakshman Kadirgamar: August 12, 2005, Friday, 2300, Colombo, Sri Lanka – Sniper
Andrei Kozlov: September 13, 2006, Wednesday, 2100, Moscow, Russia – Two Gunmen Hit Team
Edward Lampert: January 10, 2003, Friday, 1930, Greenwich, Connecticut – Kidnapping
Antonio Esposito: June 21, 1978, Wednesday, 0834, Genoa, Italy – Lone Gunman
Zoran Djindjic: March 12, 2003, Wednesday, 1230, Belgrade, Serbia – Sniper
Lawrence Foley: October 28, 2002, Monday, 0720, Amman, Jordan – Two Gunmen Hit Team
Wilhelmus Fortyun: May 6, 2002, Monday, Daylight Hours, Hilversum, Netherlands – Lone Assassin
Rehavam Ze’evi: October 17, 2001, Wednesday, 0630 (approx.), Jerusalem, Israel – Two Gunman Hit Team
Fred Capps: June 5, 2000, Monday, 0550 (approx.), Burkesville, Kentucky – Lone Gunman
Rajiv Ghandi: May 21, 1991, Tuesday, 2220, Srierumbudur, India – Suicide Bomber
Sidney Reso: April 28, 1992, Tuesday Morning, New Jersey – Kidnapping
Fathi Shqaqi: October 26, 1995, Thursday Morning, Sliema, Malta – Motorcycle Hit Team
Umaru Dikko: July 5, 1984, Tuesday, 1200 (approx.), London, United Kingdom – Kidnapping
Georgi Markov: September 7, 1978, Thursday, 1330, London, United Kingdom – Poisoning
Margaret Thatcher: October 12, 1984, Friday, 0254, Brighton, United Kingdom –Cached IED
Barnett Slepian: October 23, 1998, Friday, 2200, East Amherst, New York – Sniper
Conclusion
Bibliography
Biography
Glenn McGovern, district attorney investigator, Special Deputy U.S. Marshal, police officer, deputy sheriff, law enforcement specialist, began his law enforcement career in 1986 as an eighteen-year-old member of the U.S. Air Force Security Police. It was here that he first began his studies of terrorism, tactical operations, and protective details. Europe, at the time, was on fire as groups such as the Sicilian mafia, November 17, Red Army Faction, Hizbollah, and many others were conducting their terrorist attacks. As a newly minted law enforcement member who was also assigned to a police unit that had a combat mission and was deployable worldwide, the study of the tactics used by these groups was mandatory. It was during this time that he had his first introduction to close personal protection operations, first with Soviet diplomats visiting under the SALT II treaties, then later in Panama with the commanding general of all U.S. forces in South America. He was also involved in an unusual protective operation in that he was locked in with the protectee, which in this case was over $16 million in cash en route to the U.S. military installations in the Pacific.Upon completion of his military service, he went to work for the Orange County Marshal‘s Department, assigned to courthouse security as well as bailiff functions. Upon completing the sheriff‘s academy, he was assigned as a deputy sheriff working in the jails. Approximately two years later he obtained a position with the Pacific Grove Police Department in Monterey County. While there he worked as a patrolman, detective, and corporal. He also held a collateral assignment as a member of the SWAT team. Although the Pacific Grove Police Department was small, as were many of the departments on the coast, being on one of only three SWAT teams in the entire county, he had the opportunity to participate in a variety of operations, from hostage situations to barricaded gunmen to many hig
Author Glenn P. McGovern has aggregated 900 incidents spanning from 1950 through 2008. These attacks include assassinations, contract killings, and kidnappings perpetrated around the world. He provides a global statistical breakdown of these incidents regionally and globally, further broken down by the month, day of the week, and hour in which the attack took place. Amazingly, this analysis reads well and is presented in an easy-to-understand format, making it simple for the reader to put the data in practical perspective.
One of the book's more interesting sections addresses attack methodologies, closely examining the primary tactic or technique employed by attackers attempting assassinations, contract killings, or kidnappings. Other sections deal with the methods of operation and victimology, breaking down terrorist groups, past and present, and looking at those targeted.The book's final sections feature 35 case studies examining attacks on motorcades and pedestrians dating back to 1973. McGovern offers a complete analysis after each case study. Targeted Violence is a study well worth reading for all security, executive protection, and asset protection professionals. Each of us, regardless of level, must be able to both identify and compromise these threats.
— Frederick D. "Rick" Arons, CPP, CRT, President and CEO of American Eagle Investigations & former member of the U.S. Army Special Forces, in Security Management, March 2011
